Hi, and please forgive me for the newbie questions. I am reading as much as I can but the more I read the more confused I get. I recently purchased a domain and its content (a fairly large and busy community forum) and this is the first time I have done this. I want to switch the forum to a different server than it is currently on. Where I'm confused is what order to initiate things to avoid forum downtime related to DNS propagation. I was told that if I initiate the domain name transfer and I am not ready to immediately switch hosts thereafter, I will experience downtime. I do understand that the DNS propagation can take up to 72 hours but am reading that this can be less if the TTL is decreased (I'm still trying to understand all this, but I'll figure that part out). What I am confused about is the correct order to do things. Should I wait to get the domain in my name until I am ready to actually download the files/database onto the new server? I am still waiting to receive the files from the seller, who is working on that now. Or should I start the domain name transfer process now? I'm worried that if that process finishes before I have the files and database set up on the new server and ready to go, that I will experience even more downtime. Any help that someone could offer for this newbie would be much appreciated. Also, is it possible to just leave it where it is, and would that avoid the delay? (if the seller is willing?) Is it possible to take over his hosting package (although I think he hosts other sites there as well, but none nearly so large)?