From Dream to Reality: A Rural Home Success Story
Chaney Tambling and her husband, Eric Link, weren’t even looking for a new home. They had purchased their starter home in Herscher, Illinois, just two years earlier. But when a friend approached them about a piece of land for sale, a seed was planted.
While that opportunity wasn’t the right fit, it sparked their interest in finding a home that balanced privacy with proximity to family, friends and work.
A Dream Home Begins to Take Shape
"We grew up in the country, so we knew we wanted that kind of home someday," Chaney said. What started as a distant dream quickly became a near-term goal as they explored more properties. They soon realized they needed expert guidance—so Chaney turned to someone she already trusted: Joni Reynolds, a lending officer with Compeer Home.
Laying the Right Financial Foundation
"I call her my bank lady," Chaney laughed. "She walked us through our first home-buying process."
With little experience in traditional home buying—since many of her family members had inherited or purchased homes directly from landlords—Chaney wanted to understand every step of the process.
"Joni is so good at explaining things. The way we could talk, it was as if my mom were helping me buy my house."
Finding a Home That Felt Just Right
By 2020, the couple was ready to move—but financial questions loomed.
"We weren’t quite where we needed to be financially, so Joni outlined what we needed to do," Chaney said.
Joni walked them through their options. "There were a lot of moving parts," she recalled. "We talked about down payments, mortgage insurance and debt ratios to make sure they had a plan that worked for them."
Because Compeer Home specializes in rural properties, Chaney and Eric trusted us to guide them through the unique challenges of purchasing country real estate. When they finally walked into a two-story home on a quiet, tree-filled acre, they knew it was the one. With a spacious interior, a large backyard and room to grow, it was everything they had imagined.
Making It Work—Together
The home, however, was priced outside their initial budget. But Joni helped them think through their financial strategy.
"I always start with the monthly budget, not the cost of the house," Joni explained. With some creative problem-solving, including assistance from the seller and realtors, they made it work.
"It’s perfect," Chaney said. "It’s surrounded by trees. We can barely see our neighbors."
Best of all, their commutes remained short, making daily life more convenient than ever.
A Network of Support That Goes Beyond a Home Loan
Throughout their journey, relationships kept overlapping. A long-time family friend had initially introduced them to Joni. Later, Eric’s brother purchased their old home—with Joni’s help. And when Chaney’s friends in Pennsylvania needed a lender with expertise in rural properties, she didn’t hesitate to recommend Compeer Home.
"The only thing I'm sad about," she joked, "is that we may not get to work with Joni anymore, because I love this house so much, I hope we never move again."
Thinking About a Move? Let’s Talk.
Finding the perfect home in the country isn’t always easy—but with the right guidance, it can be. At Compeer Home, we specialize in financing rural properties and helping families like Chaney and Eric turn their dreams into reality. Connect with a Compeer Home loan officer today to explore your options. Ready to find a loan that fits? Try our loan finder tool today!
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