Do you dream of living out in the country under Indiana’s big, beautiful skies, far from the bustle of city life? Maybe you are thinking about buying a rural home with a USDA loan, but you are not sure how to overcome the challenges of rural living. It’s true that there are fewer amenities in the countryside than there are in the city. But a lot of the challenges of rural living are overstated. And for those that are not, there are still usually workarounds.
- Groceries and supplies. Out in the country, you will have a smaller selection of grocery stores and shops nearby. To get to specialty shops or larger department stores, you may have to drive to town. You will probably adapt to this more quickly than you expect. You will discover so long as you have a small town nearby, you can get the majority of what you need there. For the rest, you can order online. Since you may have significant acreage, you also could consider growing some of your own food.
- Medical care. Medical care is one of the biggest actual challenges of rural living, because many rural areas really are under-served. Do some research on the area you’re thinking of moving to, and consider your personal risk factors. Rural living may or may not be suitable, depending on your scenario. On the bright side, you may feel less stressed living out in the country. Access to nature, seclusion, and tranquillity can be good for your mental and physical health.
- Services. Some types of services may also be less accessible in rural areas. This could include anything from auto mechanics to Uber or Lyft. Nevertheless, you probably can still find most or all of the basic services you need. As far as things like Uber or Lyft go, you may need to rely on neighbors occasionally, and be willing to help them out in return. But you will find that people in the country find ways to get by.
- Transportation. Public transportation is limited in rural areas, though there may still be a bus available, depending on where you live. You will need to be willing and able to own and drive an automobile. Some people worry about having to travel long distances to access amenities. One thing to keep in mind is that even though you may be crossing more miles, you often can reach what you need in a similar amount of time as you could in the city. The reason is the case is because cities are typically clogged with traffic. So, say the nearest town is fifteen miles away, and relatively small. It might take you the same length of time to drive to the store from your home as it would to get into a crowded parking lot at a lengthy stop-light much closer by in the city. For that reason, you do not need to be intimidated by the longer distances in the country. The drive is usually much more pleasant since it is free of traffic, and you should get better fuel efficiency too since you’ll be driving at more optimal speeds.
- Jobs. There can be fewer jobs out in the country. As with the medical, this can be a very real challenge. Then again, it depends what industry you are in. For example, rural areas being under-served with medical care means there is often a high demand for medical professionals in the countryside. So, there may actually be some great opportunities, depending what field you work in. And if you work remotely, you have more freedom to live where you want, including rural parts of IN.
- Social support. You might be concerned about whether there are any social services in rural regions. It may surprise you to learn that there are actually often quite a few social services aimed directly at rural communities. They can help with mental wellness, jobs, housing challenges, domestic abuse, and more. You also may be able to get additional support through hotlines.
Buy a Home in Rural Indiana
Grandview Lending is based in Indianapolis. We can help you buy a rural home with a USDA mortgage anywhere in the state. We can also help you purchase a home in Indianapolis or another city or town in Indiana. If you are ready to begin, please give us a call at (317) 255-0062 to schedule your consultation.
