bring someone with more experience than you to have a look at it, maybe even a professional
scout out the area (on foot) during the day, evening and night
visit local businesses like cafés, restaurants, bakeries etc.
look at statistics like crime and air quality
have a talk with the neighbors, get a sense of the community if you can, otherwise just observe while taking walks
if applicable, call the home owner’s representative (or whatever the equivalent is where you live), ask them about the home, neighborhood, community, expenses, plans for the future etc.
have a set budget of how much you want to spend on it before you move in, don’t overstep that amount