Country Living Blog Brief

➡ Right: Mac and Ashley Ward stand next to their fireplace in their new home.

financing, it was a matter of finding a lender who recognized the value of the land, which was being rented to a farmer who will continue this coming season. The Wards closed in August 2020 on 10 acres of the 100-acre farm with plans of buying the rest at a later date. The property includes the house and two barns – one was partially fallen and has since been demolished.

The Wards hired Ryan Seifert of Tines and Timber Construction as their contractor and broke ground in September. “A good contractor is worth his weight in gold, and Ryan did an amazing job,” Mac says. The small house was remodeled and the equivalent of another home added on. The house is now just shy of 2,000-squarefeet. “The old house basically became our bedrooms and baths, and we added new living space and a kitchen,” he explains. “I hear horror stories about the stress of house building. We sold a house during COVID. We bought a house during COVID, and we built a house during COVID. But by working through GreenStone and having a great contractor, it was very easy – easier than buying our original house.” Mac says it was easy even though it required them to move into the small house for a short period of time before construction, then into a camper on the property and then to his parent’s house during the winter before their Feb. 20 move-in date.

Not only did the property have family sentiment, the family also has strong ties with the Springport School District, which includes Parma. “The kids don’t have to change districts and that’s where I went, my parents and my grandparents,” says Mac, who also notes their new home is about halfway between Jackson, where Ashley works, and Charlotte, where he works. “This has been great because my grandparents were very concerned about making sure the land stayed in the family,” he says. “I think we’ve provided a safe feeling for them. And, we designed and built the house to host family gatherings where many of us have lasting, special memories. One of the greatest parts of this house, which was built on a hill, is the view of the property – it’s pretty awesome.” While it won’t happen this spring, Mac says they have plans in the next couple of years to develop a Christmas tree farm and maybe have some animals. Was it worth it? Mac gives a definitive yes. “We love it,” he says. “We expected a lot, and it exceeded our expectations – tenfold.” ■

Home Mortgage with Kim Cool GreenStone’s Country Living loan officers have extensive experience in financing country homes and rural properties, and have shared a list of their most frequently asked questions. We hope these FAQs will help make your journey to country home ownership a little smoother and easier! ■ Is Now a Good Time to Build? Even with the increased cost of lumber and construction materials, GreenStone VP of lending in the Howell branch, James Cole, shares why now might still be a great time to start your home construction build. ■ Construction Webinar: Flexible Financing for You! Ready to turn your dream home into a reality? Take a minute to watch one of our recorded webinars for an overview of the home building process and how our flexible financing options can help make it happen! ■ Ensure a Smooth Loan Application Process Ready to apply for a loan, but not sure where to begin? Review these frequently asked questions to help ensure your application process goes smoothly! ■