First things first, get a mortgage advisor/ broker. Go for a "whole of market" broker NOT one attached to an estate agents (such as countrywide) as they only deal with a selection of mortgage providers, meaning you may not get the best deal available to you. Personally I recommend L&C (London and Country) as they are free, impartial and whole of mortgage. Some people don't like them as you do it all over the phone and via email, but I like that aspect too.
Once you know how much you can borrow you know how much you can spend - mortgage amount + deposit - fees (solicitors, surveyors, moving costs etc) = max house price. I always recommend leaving a contingency of a few thousand pounds in case you move in to your new house and something goes wrong, like the boiler breaking or a leak.
Once you have your budget get looking on rightmove (other websites are available and you can also go direct to estate agents). Call estate agents and book viewings. Depending on your area you may have to move fast. Where I am good houses go under offer within a week.
Get quotes off local conveyancing solicitors and choose one. Remember a quote is based on 'average costs' and if you start a purchase and pull out you'll have to pay for the work already done and then for the full work on the next house.
Whilst looking for house make a list of 'must haves' - these are things you cannot change about a house or changing would be financially prohibitive e.g. area, parking, number of bedrooms and size of rooms. Agree the condition of the property you want and how much work you are willing to do - do you want a finished house or are you able to take on a renovation or would you do a new bathroom but no electrics? Have a list of nice to haves - an extra room, off road parking (whatever is important to you but not necessarily a deal breaker).
View houses. Spend time on viewings. This will be the biggest purchase you make (possibly forever). It should be afforded more time and consideration than buying shoes, but most people don't. If you are in a fast paced market it may be the only viewing you get. Check behind the sofa, open the wardrobes (is there mould, are they concealing a chimney breast and are actually unusable). Flush the toilet and turn on the shower (check for noises and water pressure). How old is the boiler? When was it last serviced? How old are the windows, any condensation between the panes? Do they have locks? Is the garden boggy? Any signs of mould or damp? Does the floor seem even, are the door frames level? Look beyond the décor and the furniture. Is there plumbing for a washer, space for a dryer (again, what is important to you?). Go across the road and to the back of the garden and look at the roof, is it good condition, are there missing tiles.
Go with your gut. Unless you have a very limited budget and you need to buy the 'best available' then you should want the house, you should feel like it's going to be home.
Make an offer. The offer should be how much you think it is worth (to you and in the current market/ compared to other houses in the immediate 1/4 mile area), how much work needs doing and whether the asking price has taken this in to consideration. If it is popular and a fast market make your offer competitive and a level you are comfortable with but do not expect to be asked to increase it. If the property has been on a while or the market in your area is slow, you can go in low and work up if you like. Whether a house goes for under or over asking is dependent on a number of factors, mainly the market in your area.
Offers are made to the estate agent. Expect them to see copies of ID, evidence of the mortgage in principle and they will very strongly try and persuade you to see their mortgage broker - you can say no and they cannot refuse to put your offer forward (tell them you know that is against the law if they suggest that).
Once the offer is submitted sit on your hands and wait. Continue to look for and view other properties - you might miss a gem whilst waiting to hear.
If the offer is rejected but the house is still on offer decide if you want to increase your offer.
Once an offer is accepted give the solicitor details to the estate agents. Ask for the property to be removed from the market (it should go 'under offer' 'sold subject to contract' or STC).
Call your solicitor and advise them you have had an offer accepted but advise them not to start work.
Get a survey - look on RICS or RCSP to find one in your area. Depending on the age of the house you'll want either a full structural or homebuyers survey. Once the survey is back and you are happy to proceed then instruct your solicitor to start work (but get the survey in fast, within a week if possible or the sellers may think you are messing them around). Do not rely on the mortgage valuation survey. The survey can be used to renegotiate the price, but the seller can refuse and it would not be reasonable to ask them to reduce it for something you could reasonably expect to see on a viewing (e.g. boiler is old or roof has missing tiles) as your offer should have reflected this.
Whilst doing this, complete your mortgage application - the broker will tell you how. You'll likely need three months bank statements and ID.
The conveyancing process takes an average of 12 weeks, but is very dependent on how fast your and the seller are at responding to requests, how long the mortgage application takes and how many people are in the chain (the chain is you, your seller, who they are buying off and so on, until the end, which is either a new build or vacant house).
Check in with oyour solicitor frequently, weekly or more depending on wherein the process you are.
You can withdraw from the purchase at any time up to exchange but incur costs of solicitor fees, mortgage application fees, searches and survey fees depending on exactly where in the process you are.
As a first time buyer in rented do not hand your notice in until you have exchanged contracts. Exchange often doesn't happen when you think it will and you could be homeless.
Get over to the moneysavingexpert forum for more info!