After an initial period of remote living in the San Juan mountains, Eliese and Ron Ghaffari craved land where they could build a better life for themselves and their children. Thanks to a combination of their daughter’s love for horses, passion for the outdoors and the opportunity to be closer to Ron’s customers, the family sought a dramatically different lifestyle for their family. Their search led them to the beautiful “Flying G Ranch” in Montrose, Colorado.
For suburb born and raised, Eliese, the move was refreshing. She shared how all the homes in her previous neighborhoods looked the same, contrasting them with their current natural surroundings. Rural Vermont native, Ron, knew he wanted to return to rural living. “This was something I had always dreamt of,” he said. “We’re working hard but I think we are truly living,” Eliese said.
The family’s journey to Colorado began with Ron’s work in Telluride and Eliese’s desire to ski, hike, bike and all the adventurous things she loves. Their previous home offered hiking trails at their backdoor, but the demanding caretaking roles meant constant work, leaving them with little time to explore any hobbies. “We realized we weren’t getting to do the things that drew us there,” Eliese said. Flying G Ranch changed everything. Ron lovingly refers to their new home as his “vacation home,” a sunny retreat after a long day battling snow in Telluride.
The property suits the family well, especially with its existing horse-riding facilities. This was a dream come true for Ron and Eliese’s daughter, Aspen. Through sheer determination, selling plums from their orchard and eggs from their chickens, she saved $1,100 to purchase two rescue horses. “It was amazing to see her learn through that experience,” Eliese said. Ron said, “instead of demanding screen time, she’s outside working with the horses, learning on her own and getting an important foundation.”
Navigating the financial complexities of purchasing their dream property was daunting. Eliese shared how they were worried they weren’t going to be able to make this purchase happen. A personal recommendation led them to Rural 1st®. “Our team was able to provide all the solutions we needed,” Ron said. He remembers receiving the call confirming their approval while they were still visiting the property and that it felt like a door opened for them.
Today, the family spends their days enjoying horseback riding, gardening and exploring a vibrant local community. The ranch functions as a dynamic classroom for their children; from harvesting produce to assisting with hay production, caring for the horses to building a beach on their pond, they’re immersed in their surroundings. “When you look around, there’s so much to learn about right in front of us,” Ron said. “The property fosters independence and a deep-seated connection to nature, allowing us and our children to enjoy the results of the hard-work they put into projects around the property.”
Rural 1st offered more than just financial assistance; they provided invaluable guidance, answering questions the Ghaffaris hadn’t even considered. “They helped get us in the right mindset of what it would be like to own a piece of rural property,” Eliese said. Rural 1st’s partnership and unique interest rate conversion option*, which allows customers to quickly convert their existing loans to a lower rate once annually, provided them with peace of mind traditional lenders couldn’t. The couple said, “Rural 1st made our dream a reality. There’s no doubt about it.”
Ready to finance your own rural classroom? Connect with a Rural 1st loan officer today to learn more.
*Provided that eligibility requirements are met. Conversion has a one-time fee of $750. Terms and Conditions may apply. The fee is subject to change without notice.
