Response to Diego: Yes, I live in North Park and do know the area well but don’t feel comfortable doing this on my own–I recognize this so I would use a realtor. I have an “inner sense” of what I feel something is worth or what I’d be willing to pay but I prefer to pay a professional for guidance and expertise, at least for my first home.

I appreciate reading about your experiences. I know many folks on this site are very knowledgeable and I”m sure others have done this on their own, too. Thanks to all the posters here, I’ve learned a lot. And I recognize there’s a lot I don’t know. And I don’t know what I don’t know, so I have to find and trust someone to take care of that for me.