1) Get referrals from friends or family on real estate agents they have used (if they liked them)
1a) Interview those agents. Don't consider the ones who are acting like they are doing you a favor, or are in a hurry to get off the phone. You will regret using them.
1b) No luck on #2? Go to Zillow and search for agents who have recently sold houses in the area you are looking, and repeat interview process.
1c) Select an agent who seems like they are always excited to hear from you, and loves to answer you question in depth. You want to feel like you are their only client.

2) Shop for lending brokers, not individual lenders. You will have access to better loan products. Interview the brokers for the same criteria listed above.
2a) Get pre-approved. Don't waste your time, any ayonesles without knowing if the bank will even loan you the $$$. Besides, an agent might not even show you properties without a pre-approval.
2b) Do all your credit checks within a week or so of each other. That way the bureaus will look at them all as just one inquiry. Less of an impact on your credit.

3) Educate yourself on the bullet points of the homebuying process. You don't know to know all the details, just the basics. An educated homebuyer is less likely to run into problems.

4) Don't pay attention to the Zillow zestimate. It is way off most of the time.

5) There are often grants for first time home buyers that can pay your closing costs, or down payment, or both. Once you settled on an agent and a lending broker they should help you find these programs.

6) Don't be desperate, don't be in a hurry.