I am in the same situation as you, except I'm not in school. I haven't completed the journey yet, I'm only half way through, but here are the steps I took, that so far, I've found helpful:
1.) Get pre-qualified. This just takes a 10 minute phone call to the bank (I like SunTrust), and it tells you the range you can afford.
2.) Research first-time home buyers programs. I've found so many tips this way!
3.) Take a home buyers ed course. You can do this online or find a seminar.
4.) Find a good buyers agent, who is patient and will answer all your questions. (I found mine by reading his blog).
5.) Just do your research in general. Learn about how your local market is working, make a list of what you want and list your priorities.
Good luck! We're in this together! :) - Wed Jan 30 2008, 17:14
MVPs or 'Most Valuable Players' are key Trulia Voices members who have been contributing high-quality content throughout 2008 and providing valuable advice to consumers and real estate professionals.