Natalie Burnside, The Cobb Group brokered by eXp RealtyPhone: (843) 295-1178
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
There has been a lot of concern about the state of rural America and how it's being affected by large businesses. Big box stores like are said to destroy local businesses, causing an economic drought in small towns. But despite the statistics, there's a bigger picture to consider. We'll look at how big businesses cause big and small changes alike for the rural homelands of America.
Many people living in a small town will tell you that big business destroys it from the outside in. In Winchester, IL, one local lawyer met serious challenges in trying to get a local market off the ground, largely because his main produce supplier backed out of their original deal.
His concern is that if neighbors can't even buy a banana in their town, what exactly is their incentive to stay? There are about 5 million people living in rural areas that need to travel at least 10 miles or more to purchase fresh (not prepackaged or frozen) groceries.
The story of grocery stores is an important one when trying to understand the larger effects of what big businesses do to small towns. These anecdotal tales support the larger real estate trends in America, in that there are few people moving to small towns. This lack of interest has caused very few property owners to improve or modernize properties in rural areas.
The scarcity of well-maintained homes has caused their value to increase. So while the average cost of a home in rural America may seem very affordable, it's likely because the home is in a state of disrepair. In addition, financing may be difficult to obtain, due to the lack of available lenders in the area.
The people who still live in rural America are not prepared to let their communities fall by the wayside. Across the country, residents are creating (and supporting) local markets that offer everything from fresh food to homemade crafts. Other communities are offering everything from utility credits to free swim passes for families.
There are also government programs available that incentivize people to move to rural areas and invest their efforts into the forgotten properties. USDA loans offer extremely reasonable interest rates and lending terms to buyers who want the chance to own their own home and participate in their community.
Originally from the midwest, Natalie and her husband Brian spent many years following his career but knew they were forever home when they made it to the Lowcountry. During vacations on Kiawah Island, they would dream of retiring to the South Carolina coast. When an opportunity presented itself to move to Bluffton much earlier than they envisioned, it was a “no brainer” and has proven to be one of their family’s best decisions. The two things Natalie loves most about the area are the community’s welcoming attitude and the always changing, but consistently breathtaking, views from the Lowcountry bridges. “It seems that everyone you meet in Bluffton and Hilton Head loves their community and genuinely wants you to fall in love with it, too…whether it’s for a week of vacation or to plant your own long-time roots.”
