From a friend who recently purchases a condo at Hayes Valley (who lived in the Beacon), here is some tips:

• For tax purposes, you want to take out a mortgage of up to $750,000. That is the max amount you can deduct from your taxes (well, the interest payments for it. It is important to note it doesn’t matter the interest percentage… which is sort of strange, it just matters on the principle loan)
• Escrow company for him was recommended by the seller’s real estate agent
• Had to sign real copies of contracts at the end (including a finger print!)
• The payment to the real estate agents (both buy and sellers) is from the seller of the property (so they add 5% to the selling price, and give 2.5% to each real estate agent)
• Had 3 viewings. 2 were stage with furniture, and one is empty
• My friend put slightly more than 50% down payment
• Apparently he had a horrible time with Bank of America (he used them for the mortgage). They were basically a week late with the paper work.