Agency commissions are generally at your charge.
If you have appeal to a credit for the purchase of
your house, know that as a rule the
refunds spread out between 15 and 30 years. Your deposit
will be approximately 20 % of the cost price and the
land taxes are about 1.3 % of the cost price of the
property a year.
As the complexity of the law, even for Americans, it
is recommended that you consult a lawyer before paying
a deposit. Check that you are life
insured if you have asked for a credit for your
house (it is not automatic in USA). It is also safer
to subscribe to an insurance for civil responsibility,
because the real risks of pursuits, and also to complementary
policies (umbrella policy).
There are many real estate companies in San Francisco
that will walk you through the process of buying an
apartment. Once you have decided on the area you would
like to live in, contact the agents that specialise
in housing in that neighborhood.