Because we were moving back from overseas, we bought houses in Denver and Minneapolis just from looking at the MLS photos. We did it again when we came to The Villages because we wanted to have a place waiting when we arrived with the U-Haul.
We've been very happy in all three of the unseen homes, so no regrets. It's an added bonus for me because going to open houses is, like, one of the world's most tedious tasks. "No, no, you go. Whatever you like is fine with me, hon."