Noting mosquitoes and other wildlife that can make existence miserable, I think it often pays to rent for a year in a given location before choosing to buy.
There are aspects of a location which only become apparent on a seasonal basis so people that have traveled through that area or even stayed there for months will not have a true grasp of what it's like to live there 365 days a year. Some places might seem idyllic yet no sooner do you take the for-sale sign down but you find out that the local law enforcement or councilors are total fuckwits, or that for the 3 summer months a year you have logging trucks constantly engine braking past your house from 5 in the morning to 6 at night.
If you can afford to re-sell and eat the loss then it's no big deal, but otherwise you might be better off shelling out rent for 12 months just to be sure.
There are aspects of a location which only become apparent on a seasonal basis so people that have traveled through that area or even stayed there for months will not have a true grasp of what it's like to live there 365 days a year. Some places might seem idyllic yet no sooner do you take the for-sale sign down but you find out that the local law enforcement or councilors are total fuckwits, or that for the 3 summer months a year you have logging trucks constantly engine braking past your house from 5 in the morning to 6 at night.
If you can afford to re-sell and eat the loss then it's no big deal, but otherwise you might be better off shelling out rent for 12 months just to be sure.
The public will judge a man by what he lifts, but those close to him will judge him by what he carries.