As this thread proves opinions are like @$$holes. Everybody has one.
My opinion … Zero in on an area you want to buy and test drive it by renting in as place as close to the situation that you would choose for 6 months. Don’t fret over paying a bit more rent for a shorter-term lease, it’ll save you in the long run.
If you are spending a lot of time already (at work or in your rental prop) near where you think you think you want to live, your personal experience and comfort trumps what might appear better on paper … or from random comment from this blog (including mine).
