Moving to a rural setting is all about intentionality, and that shift to a slower pace begins with your dreams. Whatever your calling for broader horizons—returning to family land, having room to grow, or seeking peace and quiet—giving yourself the time to visualize this next step is a key part of the process. Not rushing isn’t just a sound personal move, it’s also an informed financial one—this is a big investment, so make it in the life that you truly want. With the help of Rural 1st®, the leader in rural lending, we’ve put together some prompts for picturing your next chapter before you start browsing property listings or creating floorplans.
Harness the Power of Inspiration
The best way to turn an idea into something real is to first create a clear picture of what you want your rural life to look like—either physically or digitally. Whether you use a vision board app, build a bookmarked folder of photos on social media, or paste cut-out pictures to posterboard, the process of selecting geographical locations, land types, and home designs that call to you will inform your next steps. You can also create a must-have and nice-to-have list, with all your dream home’s features (Finished basement! Wraparound porch! Koi pond!) falling into one of the two categories—it’ll help you prioritize what really matters and plan for items you can add in the future.
Leaning into the fun of this part will allow you to challenge your preconceptions. Finding yourself drawn again and again to the look of a traditional farmhouse even though you always imagined living in a cabin. Follow it, you may end up with a plan that’s more authentic to what you truly desire.
Browse Your Land Options
Pose every possible question about the rural lifestyle you want to live and the acreage you hope to acquire, then rank your answers by priority. Is a great view of the utmost importance? Or is it the proximity to a small town square? Do you need lots of land to roam and adventure on? Do you prefer a certain climate? Once you have a clear idea of your ideal rural living setup, you’ll be able to take the next step in finding the property that checks all of your boxes.
Partner with a Lender That Gets It
The idea of moving to the country is peaceful and picturesque, but the reality also requires important questions and decisions that can be overwhelming without the right help. This is where the team of specialized rural lending experts at Rural 1st comes in. Unlike traditional lenders, Rural 1st loan officers understand the value of bare land and can guide you every step of the way. Partnering with a trusted lender at the beginning of your journey is yet another intentional step on your path to experience life in the country.
“If you’ve never built a home, you feel like you’re walking blindly,” says Roy VanEsselstine, a Colorado-based Rural 1st customer. “There’s some humility in realizing that we’re building a house, but it takes a lot of help…It’s very important to have people who know what they’re doing and can support you.”
Consider Your Legacy
Whether you’re hoping to give the gift of a slower pace of life to your children and grand-children, or you’re looking to create a space that will preserve the land for generations to come, knowing your immediate and long-term “why” are key parts of rural living.
“We joke about the fact that, although this is our house, we are really building it for our grandkids,” Roy says. “It gave us the opportunity to build a stepping stone towards giving our future generations something.” His wife Danielle agrees. “We’re trying to build something that will last…” she says. “We want this to be a place where our family can get away and have a place where they feel comfortable raising their children. I hope my grandchildren continue making memories the same way my children and I did.”
