The home buying process can be a fun, but stressful one.  This will give you an idea of what the process is like and what fees you may encounter along the way.

1) Talk to a lender and get prequalified.
This means you go and meet with a mortgage lender and determine what you can afford.  You will not be applying for the loan at this time, but getting a general sense of how much money your loan amount can be based on any money you may use as a downpayment as well as your current monthly income and monthly debts.  

You will also want to ask for a prequalification letter as well as a good faith estimate.  At The Buyer's Agent, we will put your prequalification letter with any offer we make on a house to indicate that you have spoken with a lender.  This makes your offer a more competitive one.  The good faith estimate is a tool you can use to compare lenders and their rates.

2) Meet or talk with Realtor.
Talk to a Realtor and let them know what you are looking for in a new home.  Go ahead and describe your dream home as well as your price range.  Your Realtor should be able to tell you what is realistic.  Make sure that the Realtor is sending you listings on a regular basis so that you can get an idea of what is available in your price range.  Also ask if your Realtor is willing to work with For Sale By Owner properties.  If they are, this will give you additional inventory and options to choose from.

3) Get out and see some properties.
Once you start seeing properties it will help you determine your priorities and preferred style.  You may find yourself adjusting those ideals that you first said were most important to you.  Though you may see that house of your dreams first you may want to see a couple more to give you some comparisons.

4) Have your Realtor do some research on the property you like most. 
Your Realtor should do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to determine what similar houses in the area have sold for within the last year.  Your Realtor should also determine if there are any Home Owners' Association fees or limitations associated with the property.

5) Write up an Offer to Purchase and Contract.
Your Realtor will write up an offer on the property you have chosen.  Each real estate company may have additional addedums that they use to accompany each offer.  Additionally, they may include the prequalification letter you got from a lender.  A closing date will be set (typically at least 30 days from the offer on a mortgaged property).

6) Undergo negotiations.
You and the seller may go through a negotiation process until you come to a mutual agreement on the price and terms of the contract.  If you cannot come to an agreement than you will want to get back out and see what other properties are out there.  Once under contract your Realtor will forward the paperwork to a NC attorney.

7) Home inspection, pest inspection and radon inspections.
You will want to have your Realtor set up a home and pest inspection.  This will help determine any repairs you will ask the seller to take care of prior to closing.  Radon is common in Western NC.  It is a naturally occuring radioactive gas that occurs from uranium in the rocky soil that can cause potential health risks.  A home inspector can test for this.  If the radon level exceeds the EPA recommended limit you or the seller can install a radon mitigation system.

8) Apply for loan.
As soon as you get the property under contract, you will want to apply for a loan.  This is when you will need to have all sorts of documentation such as pay stubs and tax returns.  The lender will also set up your appraisal to make sure the appraised value is equal to or higher than the sales price.

9) Set up a homeowner's insurance policy.
You will need to contact an insurance agency to set up your homeowners' insurance policy.  You may want to get several quotes from several different agencies in order to find the most affordable.  I suggest starting with the agent that has your car insurance as they can usually do a package deal.  You will be insuring the structure as well as your belongings.  You will want to have the MLS listing sheet in front of you as the agent will ask square footage, heat source, etc.

9) Close with a NC attorney.
Your Realtor will forward a copy of the contract to the attorney.  The attorney will set up a title search and your title insurance as well as create the HUD-1 or financial settlement statement and record the deed.  You will go to the attorney's office on the day of closing to sign all of the documents as well as get the keys to your new home.  You can do a mail away closing if you cannot be there in person. 

10) Move in to your new home.
Hopefully you have been able to transfer all utilities into your name in advance of closing.  Now you can unpack and enjoy your new home.  Make sure you keep a copy of the HUD-1 form as some of the fees associated with your mortgage are tax deductible.

Buyer Expenses (costs will vary):
Home Inspection: $250-$375 depending on size of structure
Pest Inspection: $60-$75
Radon Inspection (if you choose to): $100-$150
Attorney Fees: $400-$600
Insurance Policy: price can vary significantly (start with the agent that has your car for a qoute)
Flood Insurance (if needed): price can vary significantly
Proration of Property Taxes: based on number of months left in the year
Title Insurance: $2 per $1000 on price of home/land

Additional Buyer Expenses if a Mortgage is Obtained (costs will vary):
Mortgage Title Insurance Policy
Service Fee or Origination Fee (based on loan amount)
Recording Mortgage: $50-$100
Credit Report: $60
Appraisal Fee: $300-$500
Escrow Account (taxes and insurance per lender): price will vary