How long in advance do I start to look for a property

[Samuel Dukes]

Hi all! Life time renter, potential first time buyer here. I currently live in Boston, MA and am planning on being here for the rest of the year. In 2024, I'm planning to move to the Baltimore area, specifically somewhere between Baltimore city and north of DC to be closer to my daughter. Due to certain circumstances, I feel confident that she will be there until at least the end of 2025, so my stay in the area may be as little as 2 years. I don't want to purchase a single family home just for myself with such an unsure timeline, but I thought house hacking could be a viable alternative to renting. I'd be looking to buy sometime in the first half of 2024, so 12-18 months from now. How far out should I start the process of finding a local agent and letting my goals/needs be known? Any advice about getting financially/personally ready for a home purchase in general would also be appreciated. I feel like my research so far has been fruitful, but wanted to pick this lovely community's brain anyway.