First off adoption can be very expensive or it can be almost free depending on the route you choose. If you do private adoption and if you are open to accepting an african american or bi-racial child they have grants that help with the cost, if you go the fostercare/adoption route it can cost you next to nothing. Of course international is in my opinion the most expensive (this is my opinion not sure what others here feel). AS far as not having many agencies near you, you will have to choose one to complete your home study but then you can look into other states to adopt from their agency. My agency works with other states you would have to travel here though to get the child.
You will most likely have to have a profile put together describing yourselves and your families etc. The birthparents will review them and will chose the family but YOUR time will come where you are chosen
My situation was different the birthmother told the agency to choose the family and DH and I were willing to accept any race child as you can see from my siggy picture my baby boy is Full African American from beginning to end (home study start to placement) was about 6 months! My house is not huge either we have a small 2 bedroom ranch, I do childcare from my home and DH works outside the home but we are comfortable we are not rich either and I'm sure birthparents are not expecting an Angelina Jolie to adopt their children they just want to be sure someone will love them and give them the life they cannot give them for whatever reason.
Never doubt when your child will come mine came sooner than I expected and now that he is here time is really flying by so relax, your time will come.
Don't know where to start.. 
