The Leader in Rural Lending
Empower your client with specialized rural financing solutions. Join other professionals who trust Rural 1st as their rural lending partner.
Why Rural 1st
As the leader in rural lending, we can provide you with a wide range of solutions designed specifically to make your client’s rural dreams a reality.
Unique Lending Options
Our custom financing meets the specific needs of rural property purchases or construction projects.
We Understand Rural Financing
Our experience and focus on rural lending allows us to offer unique loans and financing packages. We understand your clients’ dream of country living because we live it ourselves every day.
Loan Conversion Program
Rural 1st allows your clients to convert their existing loan to a lower rate annually for a small fee*, and doesn’t affect their loan term or maturity date.
Our Loan Products
We offer a full range of specialized solutions for every step of bringing your client’s rural dream to life.
Home Loans
Help your clients purchase or refinance a home on acreage with a variety of fixed- and adjustable-rate options, affordable down payments, and no PMI.‡
Learn more about home loans
Construction Loans
Your clients can go from construction to permanent financing with one simple loan package—no refinancing required.*
Learn more about construction loans
Land Loans
We lend on bare land, giving your clients the ability to choose the term and down payment that is right for them.
Learn more about land loans
Lot Loans
We value both the acreage and any barns or outbuildings on the property to help your clients qualify for the maximum loan amount.
Learn more about lot loans
Barndominium Loans
Unlike other lenders, we have a deep-rooted understanding of barndominium financing and construction. It’s what allows us to finance most barndominiums the same way we would a conventional-style home.
Learn more about barndominium loans
Vacation / Second Home Loans
Whether your clients are looking for views of the mountains, easy access to a lake, or a cabin for hunting season, Rural 1st has a second home loan to meet their needs.
Learn more about vacation home loansTools & Resources
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Customer Stories
Rural 1st helps our customers achieve their goals of owning rural property. Here’s what they had to say about their experience.
“The process for withdrawing funds for each stage of construction was seamless, thanks to Rural 1st’s digital draw tool that helped Bree track progress and manage her budget.”
Bree Shroyer
Harrison County, IN
Ready to Partner With Us?
Join our exclusive network of rural property professionals and start benefiting from our cooperative advantage today.
Our partnership team is available Monday–Friday, 8 AM–6 PM Central time to answer any questions about joining the Rural 1st network.
If you have questions, please contact us at 1-844-GO-RURAL or [email protected]
Our Service Areas
Rural 1st finances properties located within eastern Arkansas, select counties in northern, eastern and southern California, Colorado, Hawaii, central and southern Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, western Minnesota, southeast Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, central Wisconsin, and Wyoming. If the land or home you are interested in financing is outside these areas, please contact our Customer Care Team at 1-844-467-8725 or [email protected] to explore your eligibility options.
Get in touch with a Rural 1st Loan Officer
Frequently Asked Questions
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The completed value is determined utilizing the plans, bids, and specifications provided compared to other homes with similar characteristics. The more complete the plans, bids, and specifications, the more accurately the appraiser can value the completed home.
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Please fill out this form and we will connect you with a Rural 1st Loan Officer in your area.
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At Rural 1st we do not require our customers to use a specific builder, but we do have requirements builders must meet to ensure as smooth of a construction project as possible.
Residential construction must be the builder’s full-time occupation and the builder must be able to manage the scheduling of all subcontractors and ordering of all materials. We may also request two to three addresses of other homes the builder has built for verification.
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Rural 1st finances a wide variety of home builds. The standard ‘stick-built’ or modular constructed homes are the most common types. We can also finance more unique homes including barndominiums, machine shed, berm, log and post-frame homes.
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Rural 1st offers a 12-month construction period to build the home. If a construction loan is not fully disbursed within the 12-month construction period, additional fees will apply to the loan.
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Lenders offering construction loans will have either a one-time or two-time close process. Rural 1st uses the one-time loan closing because it allows customers to close with a fixed low interest rate, a lower down payment, and only one set of closing costs. The one-time closing process does not require another loan application or approval process when the build is complete. The one-time loan closing occurs prior to construction beginning and the loan funds are disbursed over the course of the construction.
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Yes, we finance most barndominiums! We don’t charge a higher rate or require a larger down payment or have shortened terms.
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Yes, many of our customers building log homes and barndos use kits to build the home of their dreams.
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Rural 1st does not offer a first-time buyer program, however our loan officers are a valuable resource. Connect with a loan officer to learn more.
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Rural 1st has the ability to use both internal and third-party appraisers to get the right appraiser for the job. Factors include the specific geographical area and property type. Interested in joining our appraiser panel? Visit our For Appraisers page for more information.
‡Subject to review and approval.
*Provided that eligibility requirements are met. Conversion has a one-time fee of $750.00. Terms and Conditions may apply. The fee is subject to change without notice.
