Start with an ordinary Tuesday
Write down where you work, how long you can commute, whether you need a school and what you want to do after work. Pick three non-negotiable needs. Keep everything else as preferences, so an attractive view does not displace what matters.
From country to actual address
Shortlist countries, then cities, then two neighbourhoods in each city. Pick an example address in each neighbourhood and map your daily journeys. Compare the same length of stay, accommodation size and household composition.
Separate facts from expectations
Record the basis of each conclusion: an official source, accommodation offer, your own observation or an assumption. Liking a city is different from knowing that an address works for your job. Turn important unknowns into questions for a visit, not positive scores.
Finish with a next action
You do not need to choose a home for years immediately. The outcome may be a trial trip, a request for rental terms or dropping an unsuitable option. Keep two finalists and one unanswered question that could most change your decision.