I think if we were to do it now, we would still do the same thing, as we are instant decision people, we never wait.. However, we where not looking to live in the area permanently. I think if we were going to do that, we would rent first, as places are different in Winter.
I see the new member Rosied bought in Ovacik and now is moving to Calis, where she had never been to in the four years she had lived in Ovacik, she said that Ovacik is too cold in Winter, too hilly, everything closes and the Dolmus run on restricted hours, So, after reading that, I would think it's best to rent and see what a place is like in all seasons.