Get a referral to a REALTOR*  you connect with and then have them refer you to their trusted lender ( like Jason E. Gordon ) for loan pre-approval.

Basically Kat Palmiotti and Brian England gave you the 1-2 punch of Step one.

By the way Daniel Elton if you post anonymous but then reply, you pull back the curtain on the wizard 😁😂🤣

You should get pre-qualified for a home loan Mr./Mrs. Anonymous.  You can't shop before you know how much you have to spend, right?

Hiring an experienced real estate professional. That person will walk you through all the steps in the buying process.

Seek mortgage pre-approval, not pre-quafication. Next seek the counsel of a local agent.

YouTube.
Fix and flip reality shows.
Your Uncle Ebner who used to be 'in real estate.'
List the smiley faces you see on billboards.
That reflects the path so very many take.
What YOU should do depends on your situation. Seriously, as one using anonymous, your first step may be contact an attorney.

Hire a Realtor® & a mortgage broker/lender

Hire a great real estate agent to represent you.  

The first step for most buyers is to search the internet to become an expert in all things real estate. (Of course, I am only half-serious with this suggestions but I know many people think this is the necessary first step.)

Second, contact a local Realtor. Perhaps one who has well served a friend or family member in the past.

Third step is to follow the Realtor's advice to get approved for a mortgage. 

Then, with the Realtor having ascertained your wants and desires for a home, start looking at homes with your Realtor. 

Know and understand your credit rating and its reports from Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. This is especially true if you are a complete novice about your creditworthiness. Start by obtaining your 3 free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com or calling their toll free # 877.322.8228. As of now and through April 2021 weekly reports are available free from each of the repositories due to the scams associated with COVID-19.

Deciding that you are tired of renting.

Talk to a lender and see what amount of a mortgage you can get.

Hire a local realtor to assist you.  She/he then will be able to guide you. 

Analyze your current situation. Decide where you would like to live. talk to a loan officer to see if you can qualify for a mortgage and for how much.

Get your financial together - find out what you can afford (cash or financing)

and after start looking. Best of luck.

Step 1.  Schedule an appointment with a member of my team to discuss your home buying needs.

Get Underwriting approval on a specific dollar amount, find excellent Realtor, know what and where you want to buy. 

Get Pre-approved before you even start looking. Many Lenders can get you pre-approved on a TBD house {To Be Determined}. Most of these commitments are good for 60-90 days. After that, a new Credit and Income verification may be needed. You also become a very STRONG buyer, only a CASH buyer can beat you! 

While it might sound self-serving (coming from a Mortgage Lender), I truly believe the logical first step in the homebuying process (assuming you are not paying "all cash") is to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan.

Assumptions are deadly.  Why not iron out the numbers ahead of time and then shop for a home with confidence?

pay your bills on time

Don't overlook or dismiss the "want to" stage which triggers seeking, asking and investigating. An education along with searchingwhat you are looking for awaits you called ...the finding or purpose of it. Travel well & deep + fun

As well my opinion here is the first step of the home buying process:

Find the right agent

An important partner in your home-buying process, a property agent is the first person you should hire. Look for an agent who is well-versed and has experience in the localities of your choice. Pick an agent with good business acumen about the current real estate market. Their knowledge about the localities and surroundings and home-buying processas a whole coupled with negotiation skills can prove to be boon for you as a homebuyer.

Begin to identify properties

An agent, once hired, will be your partner from the very beginning of the process. Along with your agent, begin to find the potential property options in the localities of your choice. Make sure the properties you choose fits the list of your key parameters of home buying. Figure out your expectations from your homes such as amenities, features, and specifications. Start touring these properties and strike out the ones that are not fulfilling all the key parameters you want in your home. Make a list of all the things you saw in each property, take pictures and make videos. Sit down and put all of these together to shortlist.

I hope the answer is helpful

Research the process. In doing the research, the first step is generally getting pre-qualified.

Select an agent and a mortgage loan officer.

The first step is to get pre-approved for the needed financing.

Select the best REALTOR you can find, and let them guide you through the process.  They will recommend three good lenders, and you will be on the road to being a homeowner.