Good news, everything you need is right at your fingertips.
This topic (and many many specific sub topics of it) have been discussed at length on AAM. Throw the word "rent" into the search tool (top right corner) or just flick through the pages (of the mortgages & home buying section) and you'll find answers to most (if not pretty close to all) questions you may have.
You'll have to make the call on issues like using a property agent or renting yourself..... but advise on things like that is also in some of the available threads.