I was very lucky, I found exactly what I wanted. However, I knew what I wanted and told everyone I knew. One day, a few months later, a guy I work with told me his wife was a real estate agent and she was putting a sign up on property nearby that I might like. I went and looked at it over my lunch break and told the agent I wanted it. Before the afternoon was over, there were two more offers. But I was first!! And it was perfect, bordering a state park, near a river, and with a historic house. Large oak trees, room for a garden, and CHEAP.
My advice: Decide what you want. Fantasize freely. Tell everyone. Be ready to pounce when the universe provides. (Cheesy but true).