With all the tools and advice available today ranging from books and magazines to online advice like this lesson - it would be possible for you to buy your home almost completely without the aid of real estate professionals.
However, that is not recommended. There are so many factors to weigh when purchasing or selling a home that if you try going at it alone; it could cost you dearly. The housing market, like politics, is basically local, and each state, city, and even neighborhood has a thicket of local laws or customs that you need to understand. For that, it helps to have a team of professionals to guide you. I wouldn't ask a doctor to forego a procedure stating that I have researched it myself and feel that I can do it on my own. I wouldn't claim to know all the ins and outs of your profession.
You might want to start by finding an agent who can represent your interests in the search. This is not as simple as it sounds. Sure, 85 percent of sellers list their homes through an agent - but those agents are working for the seller, not you. They're paid based on a percentage, usually 5 to 7 percent of the purchase price, so their interest will be in getting you to pay more.
What you need is what's known as an "exclusive buyer agent." Sometimes buyer agents are paid directly by you, on an hourly or contracted fee. Other times they split the commission that the seller's agent gets upon sale. A buyer's representative has the same access to homes for sale that a seller's agent does, but his or her allegiance is supposed to be only to you.
To complicate matters, there are hybrid agencies called either single-agency or dual-agency brokers. In both cases, an individual agent in the firm may represent either sellers or buyers, sometimes both, in the same transaction. Potential conflicts of interest abound in this situation, so if you are seeking a buyer agent but no exclusive buyer agent is available, make sure to ask the agent about conflicts of interest.
Next start looking for a mortgage lender. Take your time, since you could be paying this loan for 30, even 40, years. Never look for a Lender through the Internet. Two places come to mind when someone starts talking about getting a loan. 1. The bank you currently use now. If you have a good relationship with them, give them a chance to gain your business. 2. Ask your Realtor that you plan to use. If they have been in business for any time at all, they will know exactly where to send you based on your current financial situation. Over the years I have met and represented numerous clients that had done their homework, went to a lender either online or local and thought they had a great deal. Wrong! 8 times out of 10, I have been able to get them a better deal, because for the past 7 years I have been seeking out the best deal for my clients. From interest rate to closing costs.