Love Takes Root in Texarkana: Sarah and Colin’s Move and Engagement - Mark a Bright Beginning

For Sarah and Colin, the search for a new place to call home started with two simple goals - finding a community that aligned better with their interests and a more affordable place to start carving out their future. When they discovered Texarkana through the MakeMyMove program, it felt like the perfect fit.

Today, Sarah has settled into her new apartment, while Colin has achieved a longtime dream of purchasing his first home. Together, they’re building a life in Texarkana that combines affordability and opportunity in a community undergoing transformation.

And now, that new life includes something extra special - an engagement.

An Auspicious Find

When Sarah first learned about MakeMyMove, she was intrigued by the idea of a program that could help her relocate to a community that better fit her long-term goals. “I was ready for a change,” she said. “My lease in Longview was coming up, I work from home and I wanted to be somewhere with more opportunity to get involved. Texarkana checked all the boxes.”

Her boyfriend, Colin, was also exploring housing options nearby. What began as Sarah’s curiosity quickly became a joint journey. They both submitted applications to MakeMyMove’s Texarkana relocation program and were notified they were accepted into the program.

“It was a unique timing situation,” Colin said. “It just kind of worked out. She told me about the program and everything just fell into place.”

Two Paths, One Move

Unlike many couples who relocate together, Sarah and Colin navigated the program as individuals. Sarah used her $5,000 cash incentive to settle into a new apartment, while Colin applied it towards the purchase of his first home.

“Start to finish, it was pretty smooth,” Sarah said. “You just have to apply on the website and submit your supporting documentation. It’s an easy process and it only took a week or two before we found out we were accepted.”

For Colin an entrepreneur, the chance to buy a home in Texarkana felt like a rare opportunity. “I originally looked at the Atlanta area because my family’s there. But the market was horrible,” he said. “For the price you’re paying, you could go to Texarkana and get a significantly better home for less. When this house became available, it was a no-brainer. I’ve always wanted to buy a home. And it’s my first, so a lot of learning on the go,” he admitted. “There’s always something to do when you’re a homeowner but I’ve enjoyed it. The neighborhood felt right and the support that the program provided made the home-buying process all come together.”

Learn more about why Texarkana was named one of America's Most Welcoming Places.

A Community Undergoing a Resurgence

Sarah and Colin both had ties to the area. Sarah, a born and raised Texan, had lived in Austin, Dallas and Longview before settling in Texarkana. “I love East Texas. Texarkana is one of those places with incredible untapped potential. You can feel that growth is possible here, and the opportunities are endless; it just takes people willing to get involved.”

Colin echoed her optimism but from a different perspective, as he had visited the community several times in the past. “The cost of living in Longview just kept going up and I found it difficult at times to find things to do. In contrast, Texarkana feels up and coming. There’s a brand-new hospital being built, four new restaurants moving in, and a focus on redeveloping downtown. I’m a food guy, so this was a big draw for me.”

Building Community Connections

One of the program’s biggest draws for Sarah was the opportunity to get involved locally. “I was able to connect with Brandy Eldridge, who’s part of the REDI (Regional Economic Development Inc.) Texarkana program. She invited me to a board meeting for Meals on Wheels. I recently had my first board meeting with them and I’m really excited,” Sarah shared. “After getting involved with nonprofits, I’d like to get more involved with city government. I’m a little bit of a politics nerd. I really like municipal government because that’s where a lot of the action takes place.”

Colin, an entrepreneur in the insurance appraisal business, also found surprising support. “The program has helped me meet other business owners and people who are trying to grow the community. They’ve been really enthusiastic about young entrepreneurs, which is refreshing.”

He described being impressed by how quickly city leaders responded to concerns.

“When I first moved here, there was a problem with some landscaping that was causing near-accidents outside my house. I texted Rob Sitterley, President and CEO of AR-TX REDI and within two weeks, the city had fixed it. To see that kind of response time was really reassuring.”

Food, Festivals and Fun

If there’s one shared passion between Sarah and Colin, it’s food.

“There’s a place downtown called Lucille’s that has the best brunch,” Sarah said. “They have the best eggs Benedict in town. We love going there.”

Colin chimed in with his own favorites: “Benchmark is a standout, I’m actually friends with the chef there. Café Lucille, of course and A Taste of India is amazing. That was actually the first time I ever had Indian food and it was great.”

Beyond restaurants, community events have given them ways to connect. They both attended Texarkana’s first annual Pickle Fest. “It ended up being a really cool kind of event,” Sarah said. “I think they had about 15,000 people show up.”

Colin agreed: “The turnout was something to see. Tons of vendors, tons of people. That kind of energy makes you realize how much potential there is here.”

Balancing Work and Life

For Sarah, who works in sales in the real estate industry, being a remote worker made the transition seamless. “I work four 10-hour days, so I get one day off a week and it rotates. The move didn’t really impact my schedule at all.”

Colin’s entrepreneurial life also translated smoothly. “Nothing has really changed, which is a good thing. If anything, it’s gotten better. Having a home has given me more structure. I wake up earlier, grab breakfast in town and I feel more productive in the mornings,” he said. “One of my fears was that moving would cause a disruption. But it’s been the opposite.”

A Move That Feels Like Home

Both Sarah and Colin are thinking long-term about building a family in Texarkana.

“I’m really at a point in my life where I’m ready to settle down and focus on family,” Sarah said. “The schools are great here and that was one of the factors in why I moved.”

When Colin was getting settled in, he had an unplanned incident that ensured his new home was safe. “When I was setting up my security system, it accidentally went off and before I could even deactivate it, there was a cop car in my driveway. The response time was less than a minute.”

On the Horizon

For Sarah, the future includes deeper community involvement. “Leadership Texarkana offered me a spot in their program but my schedule didn’t work this year. They’re saving me a spot for next year and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Colin is focused on business opportunities. “Eventually, I’d love to meet more business-minded people my age. Real estate is something I’m considering. I think there’s an opportunity here with apartments and housing. I also think the city could use more entertainment options for people between the ages of 18 and 30 and I’d love to help with that.”

The couple also recently returned from a cruise where they got engaged and are excited to celebrate this new chapter surrounded by the welcoming community they’ve found in their new home.

Both share a simple piece of advice for others considering applying to Texarkana’s relocation program: go for it!

“Just jump in,” Sarah urged. “ Texarkana’s got a lot of cool things brewing.”

“It feels like the right time,” Colin reflected. “There’s never a ‘perfect time’ to move or buy a home but with MakeMyMove, it all came together.”