1) Go see a loan rep at a mortgage company. (I think better than a bank) Call first and ask what you need to bring with you. (income/expense info, savings history, job history, etc) You might qualify for an FHA loan, which could give you a zero down payment. The loan rep is a very valuable resource and can steer you in the right direction. They also are familiar with realtors in the area because they work with them and can help you find a good one.
2) Find a good realtor.
3) Keep your expectations reasonable since this is your first home. Don't expect to get everything you want the first time around. No house has everything you want. Do try and focus on things that can't be changed, like square footage and lot size. Cosmetic fixes that aren't too expensive, you can live with and modify over time. Major repairs or renovations can be
very expensive. The loan company will require an inspection, but be sure and get a feasibility study if there are repairs to be made before you commit. (in the purchase and sale agreement, stipulate a time frame that you need to get a contractor to give you an estimate on anything you need to have done) A good realtor will advise you of this and other important matters.
You can often get a big bang for your buck with a town home vs. a single family or even a condo. Often, not always, they have no HOA dues, which condos usually have.
If you're going for a single family home, the further away from the heart of town, the less expensive. So, weigh the pros and cons and decide how far away from town you can live and expect that if you want to be close to town, you'll have to settle for less square footage... or less up to date or something in need of repairs.
Don't permit this to stress you out too much. It should be an adventure and you should be proud of yourself for even branching out and looking into being a home owner. Just remember, maintaining a home has it's ongoing costs and work, where renting is the landlords problem. Some people prefer renting for that reason. I've made money buying and selling houses over the past 4 decades or so. Most of the time, that happens. But lately, with the economy being what it is, what it may come to, that may or may not happen. But I think you'll get a lot of satisfaction from owning your own home.