Two to three months prior to your desired move date is a great time to get out and view homes in person. This should give you enough time to view several homes and not feel rushed in your decision. Typical closings take 30 days, so you'll need to get your gome under contract by then.
When you decide it's time to get out and look, give us a call with the list of properties you'd like to see. One days notice should be sufficient to get appointments scheduled. Try to limit yourself to five to ten homes in one outing. Anything more than this can be tough to remember and compare as well as exhausting!