RURAL 1st® HOME LOANS

Rural 1st® offers specialized financing for country living.

Welcome to Living Rural - a bi-weekly podcast on home financing and mortgages for rural living. Our podcast explores the topics related to buying, building, and financing homes in rural areas, as well as accessing your home's equity and investing in bare land and other investment properties.

Our aim is to cover the ins and outs of the home buying process, starting from prequalification and preapprovals to loan estimates and closing disclosures. Additionally, we'll dive into financing home improvements, shouses, barndominiums, and second homes.

With our expert guests and in-depth analysis, we'll provide valuable insights to help you make informed decisions and choose the right financing partner. Whether you're a homebuyer, real estate professional, or simply interested in what it takes to move to a rural area, this podcast is for you.

Search for "Living Rural" on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to be alerted on new episodes!

Buying Land for Your Dream Home

Buying land for your dream home is a big decision, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. In this episode, we're joined by Emily Swinford, a real estate agent with Better Homes and Gardens, to discuss everything you need to know about buying land for home construction. Emily covers a wide range of topics, including what to look for, different types of land loans, zoning and permitting process, utilities and more!

Rural Home Construction, Tips from a Local Custom Builder

In this episode of Living Rural, we discuss the ins and outs of building a custom home. We talk to Andrew and Poppy Grove of Grove Custom Homes, who share their insights on the challenges and rewards of the process, as well as the importance of managing expectations and communication. We also discuss some tips for choosing the right custom home builder.

Navigating Rural Construction Financing: What You Need to Know

If you're planning to build your dream home in a rural area, this episode is a must listen. Our host takes us through the ins and outs of their unique construction loan product, designed to meet the specific needs of rural customers. From understanding the application process and disbursement schedules, to obtaining credit approval and ordering appraisals, this episode covers the major steps involved in financing and constructing your rural dream home.

Demystifying Home Loan Appraisals: A Conversation with a Rural Appraiser

Want to learn the ins and outs of property appraisals? Tune in to this enlightening episode of Living Rural, where an appraiser from Farm Credit Services of America, shares her expertise. Discover the essential elements of an appraisal report, including property features, comparables, and market value. Gain a deeper understanding of how factors such as location, acreage and utilities influence the appraisal process for rural properties.

Exploring the Rise of Shouses and Barndominiums in Rural Living

Join us as we talk about the growing popularity of Shouse and Barndominiums in rural areas. Discover the key differences between these unique structures and learn from our guest, Kirsten from Critel Buildings, about their company's specialization, including their use of post frame construction.

Rural Mortgage Application Process

The mortgage world is always changing. And it can be difficult to find a lender who understands agriculture and its unique income stream. We provide the latest information on applying for a mortgage, including for the self-employed. Learn about the differences between pre-qualification, pre-approval and hard approval. We also discuss down payments.

How Much Can You Afford?

We discuss ways to understand how much you can afford, including your goals, your budget, and the different income sources and the types of statements that help determine that.

Preparing to Buy a Rural Home

Start here with your first steps to learn how to prepare to buy a home, or buying land for your dream home. Where do you start? What are things to keep in mind? How much can I afford?

Expertise with Farm Credit Services of America

Deeper dive into who is Farm Credit Services of America and how we brought in specialized expertise to serve consumer lending market.

Who’s Farm Credit and Rural 1st?

Join us as we talk through who Farm Credit is, what it means to be a “Cooperative”, and the highlights of Rural 1st consumer lending products.

Ready to Talk?

Contact us if you have questions or need more information. Fill out the form, or connect with your local office using the Office Locator.

FCSAmerica serves farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. For inquiries outside this geography, use the Farm Credit Association Locator  to contact your local office.