^^ Not a waste! You got a better feel of the housing environment there, and next time you'll come in with more knowledge of how to approach! Now you know the market moves fast. Get your loan approval before going so that if you like a place, you can put in an offer right when you decide on it. Also, depending on how badly you want out of FL (and I know, you want out BAAD), maybe it's even worth doing virtual tours remotely!
I'm the lead cheerleader for your Florida exit.