Beautiful photographs are easy. A workable base is quieter work: access to airports, school options, medical proximity, and the kind of week you actually want to live.
Test ordinary days, not holidays
Visit or research as if you already lived there. Where would you buy bread? How long is the school run?
Hold climate against access
Warm winters may matter deeply, so may the ease of returning for family or business. Map those trade-offs before housing search narrows options too early.
The right base is the one that still feels right after the novelty fades.
Shortlist before you fall in love with a house
Keep two or three places in honest comparison until the family rhythm and professional context are clear.
