This is a paid testimonial. The homeowner was compensated for their honest story.

Theresa Williams is no stranger to moving. She was born and raised in Indiana but moved often in her early years.

"Growing up, we moved every single year from the time I was in kindergarten to when I was in the ninth grade," Theresa shared. "My mom was a single mother, so we had to always move."

By high school, her family finally settled, but that sense of stability didn't last forever for Theresa. Theresa later joined the military, which meant more relocation. That path eventually took her to Texas, where she lived for nearly 20 years. She married there, began working for the U.S. Postal Service in the Dallas area, and welcomed all three of her children. She eventually moved back to Indiana to be closer to her mother.

In 2019, a year after Theresa lost her mother, she was ready for change and decided to make another move, this time to Phoenix.

"I came out here and visited my aunt, and I liked the area," she said. "So, I decided to move out here."

Searching for Stability in an Impossible Market

When Theresa first relocated to Arizona, she stayed with her son and his wife. That arrangement worked for a while, but by 2023, Theresa knew it was time to find a place of her own. The search wasn't easy though with interest rates being high.

"They (interest rates) were not there for me," Theresa said. "I was going everywhere trying to find a place that was reasonable. I was even looking at rental properties. Nothing was in my budget."

After two years of searching across the Phoenix area, she started to get discouraged and she was accepting that homeownership might not be in the cards for her.

"This had already been a two-year search," she said. "I had given up looking for a home. I was ready to sign a lease on an apartment, and I kept telling myself, 'I know I'm going to be in an apartment.'"

That’s when Theresa’s daughter-in-law stumbled upon Oakwood Homes in Coolidge during an online search.

"I said, 'Where’s that?'" Theresa laughed. "I didn't know anything about Coolidge or where it was."

Her daughter-in-law encouraged her to take one last look before signing a lease on an apartment.

Seeing a Future She Could Afford

When Theresa arrived at Oakwood Homes, she met Crystal Petersen in the sales office and wasn't expecting much from their meeting going into it.

"I came out here expecting the same old thing," Theresa admitted. "'Your mortgage payment is going to be some astronomical amount you can't afford.'"

Instead, Crystal walked her through how Oakwood Homes are an affordable option, and that combined with certain incentives, such as an interest rate buy-down*, homeownership could be within reach.

When the numbers came back from the lender, they made sense to Theresa for the first time since her home search started.

"I wasn't worried about getting into a house," Theresa said. "I was worried about staying in a house. I'm older and heading into retirement. My income is going to go down."

Theresa signed that very day.

A First and Forever Home

Theresa moved into her new home in October 2024, and it's her first time owning a brand new home.

"Sometimes I'm walking through here and I'm so grateful," she said. "I never thought I would own a brand new home. And I never have to move again."

That certainty means everything to her.

"I told my son, 'I am sick and tired of moving. I want this to be my final home.' And now it is."

She loves her floor plan, especially the walk-in closet, and says she couldn't find anything comparable at the same price. And now that Theresa knows she's staying, she's slowing down and truly making the space her own.

"I'm taking my sweet time picking out exactly what I want," she said. She's carefully choosing decor, searching for the perfect porch swing, and planning for a shed in the backyard.

After moving in, she started collecting owl decor and enjoys thrifting unique pieces. Her favorite item in the home is deeply personal: A photo of five generations of women in her family, with her daughter on her lap.

Laying Down Roots

Now that she knows she isn't moving again, Theresa is becoming more involved in her community. She's joined a local social group for women 50 and older that focuses on friendship, fashion, and fun. They meet regularly, go out to eat, and even attend nationwide conferences.

Most importantly, her home has become a gathering place for family. Her grandchildren have their own bedroom for sleepovers, and the neighborhood park gives her a place to play and make memories with them.

After a lifetime of packing boxes and starting over, Theresa finally found what she was looking for.

"I can retire in this home," she said.

And for Theresa Williams, that's not just a milestone. It's everything.

*The availability of seller incentives, such as an interest rate buydown and other seller-paid benefits, are not guaranteed for every home purchase. These incentives may differ depending on the state, home, and neighborhood. In addition, they are often only offered during specific promotional periods and may require the borrower to meet certain qualifications. Some incentives require the use of a particular lender, but you are NOT required to use the particular lender as a condition to purchase a home. Consult your local Oakwood Homes and chosen lender for more information regarding availability on a specific home purchase.