After the COVID-19 pandemic hit many states, restrictions and lockdowns forced many people to flee in search of a better life. Sarah Howell and her family were among them. In Washington state, “we already felt disconnected from the state in terms of political views, values, and morals, and we didn’t want to raise our children in public schools, but when COVID hit, we knew we had to leave,” she said. The Howell family traveled about 1,974 miles to leave Washington and relocate to Sulphur Springs, Texas.
New beginnings can be challenging for anyone, especially finding a new community. But Sarah and her husband, Jerad, quickly noticed a positive difference that gave them hope. “What I love most about living in Texas and Washington state is the sense of pride people have as Texans and Americans. What I especially love about living in Sulphur Springs is living in God’s presence. We have found a truly life-changing home here at The Way Bible Church. We love our church family and are grateful for this life-changing encounter with God,” she says.
So why did the Howell family choose Sulphur Springs out of all the places they could live across the US? Sarah explains, “My husband graduated from Parker School of Chiropractic in 2009, so he was very familiar with Texas and loved the Dallas area. In 2013, we lived in Marble Falls for two years and loved the area, but the cost of living had increased compared to where we had lived previously, so we weren’t interested in moving back. [to that area]Although he loved the Dallas area, he didn’t want to live within DFW, so Jerad began looking for work nearby, and that’s when he discovered Sulphur Springs.
“We were able to find a chiropractic office that was hiring, interviewed, and immediately fell in love with the town,” Sarah says.
Sarah has been training for years to be an MMA fighter. Just recently, she decided to return to MMA and compete again – one last time. Her background includes over 15 years in the fitness industry and has worked as a personal trainer.
After eight years of running Wolfpack Fitness in Washington, Sarah and Jerad have opened a new fitness center in town. “Our business in Sulphur Springs is called 2nd Amendment Fitness and Sports Medicine. Our business houses both my husband’s chiropractic business and my fitness business,” says Sarah. Sarah, a real estate agent, also teaches boxing classes at the gym. According to Sarah, their mission is “to inspire people to improve their health and become stronger both mentally and physically.”
When it comes to Sulphur Springs, it’s fair to say Sarah’s family is partial to certain barbecue joints. There are some great ones in the area, but Sarah says, “We love a lot of little local places in the area, but our favorite is Slaughter’s BBQ. Not only is the food delicious, but the restaurant has a very laid back and inviting atmosphere. We can’t resist a visit to the beautiful Goodeye Market. The owners, Kimberly and David Slaughter, are such great people and have welcomed us into the community. They’ve become friends, and you can tell they treat all their customers the same, not just us. They also have live music on Saturday nights – not to mention that!”
Friendly people, great places to shop, dine and play, and community events in a region surrounded by lakes tend to be what newcomers and visitors enjoy most.
As a wife and mother to two amazing children, Sarah also keeps busy with her family. Her daughter, Paisley, is in the eighth grade and plays volleyball, basketball, softball, and loves all sports. Her son, Preston, is in the fourth grade and loves basketball and football. Sarah’s husband, Jerad, is a chiropractor who specializes in sports medicine and works with athletes of all ages. The whole family loves the outdoors and being active.
Moving to Texas may have been life-changing for Sarah, but it was during this move that her interest in real estate blossomed. Inspired by her own relocation experience and driven by a desire to help others going through a similar move, she began her career in real estate. Despite knowing how challenging it can be to work with new families moving to the area, she enjoys it.
Above all, Sarah values the opportunity to build lasting relationships with her clients. She understands the importance of not just finding a house, but finding a place to call home – a sentiment she cherishes from her own experience. With Sarah by your side, you can be sure that your journey to find your dream home will be full of support, guidance and a shared vision.
