Why Working With a Buyer Specialist Matters
Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make — and one of the most emotional. Between mortgage pre-approval, contract review, inspection negotiations, and closing paperwork, it’s easy to feel like you’re learning a new language while making a six-figure decision. That’s exactly why first-time buyers benefit most from working with an agent who specializes in guiding people through this exact experience, not just an agent who happens to be available.
The Braswell Team has built our practice around first-time buyers. We don’t just show homes — we walk you through the entire process step by step, translate the data and disclosures into plain English, and help you understand what you’re actually signing and why. Our goal is for you to feel informed and confident at every stage, not overwhelmed. Grant Braswell and the team have guided countless first-time buyers from “just looking” to closing day, and that experience shows up in the small things: knowing which questions to ask a co-op board, how to read a building’s financials, or when a contingency actually protects you.
As a Compass agent, Grant is powered by the Compass technology platform — giving our clients access to better market data, smarter pricing tools, and a smoother, more transparent transaction from search to signing. On top of that, Grant serves as an advisor to PreMarket.NYC, which means our buyers often get early access to listings before they hit the open market — alongside access to Compass Private Exclusives. For a first-time buyer, that head start can be the difference between competing in a bidding war and finding the right home with room to think it through.
Buying your first home shouldn’t feel like a solo research project. It should feel like you have someone in your corner who’s done this hundreds of times and genuinely wants to see you succeed. That’s the role we play for every first-time buyer who works with us.
Understanding Closing Costs
Closing costs vary depending on the type of home you’re purchasing. We’ve broken down what to expect for each property type below.
Condo purchases include bank fees, building processing fees, and NYC/NYS transfer taxes. Download our full condo closing cost estimate sheet.
Co-op purchases skip the deed transfer taxes but add board package and recognition agreement fees. Download our full co-op closing cost estimate sheet.
Townhouse purchases carry their own mix of mortgage, title, and municipal search costs. Download our full townhouse closing cost estimate sheet.
Closing Costs for Townhouses & Multi-Family Homes
*(Full downloadable PDFs to be hosted — see notes below.)*
Required Disclosures
New York State requires every real estate licensee to provide buyers with a written disclosure explaining agency relationships — who the agent represents, and what duties are owed to you as a buyer versus the seller. This protects you by making clear, in writing, whose interests your agent is legally obligated to represent.
New York State Agency Disclosure Form
Outlines your rights as a buyer under federal, state, and New York City fair housing law, and reflects Compass’s and The Braswell Team’s commitment to equal housing opportunity for every client, in every neighborhood.
REBNY Financial Statement
Understanding the REBNY Financial Statement
Most co-op (and many condo) boards require buyers to submit a REBNY-standard Financial Statement as part of the board package. Visit our dedicated page for a full walkthrough of the form, what each section means, and how we help you complete it accurately.