Maria and her family moved to northern California from Mexico in 2005. And while she was living at home with her family, she was a server at a local Mexican restaurant. There, she met customer Robin Youngdahl, the manager at Clayton Homes of Santa Rosa. Soon after they met, Robin recruited Maria to come work as a home consultant at the home center because of her work ethic and friendliness. As a home consultant, Maria helps families in the Santa Rosa area find their dream homes, from choosing a floor plan to the home delivery and set-up process.

A Place They Can Call Their Own

Maria and her sister loved living at their parents’ house, but they wanted a place they could call their own. And as a Clayton team member, Maria knew Clayton was a great place to buy a home because it offered quality, affordable options. So when a move-in ready manufactured home became available through the home center, Maria realized this was the one for her. The home, which is the San Carlos model, is 700 sq. ft., with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, tall ceilings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. And because Maria has sold many homes, she knew all the ins and outs of the home buying process with Clayton, which made her journey much easier.

Within a month of finding the home, Maria and her sister moved in.

"It feels nice to own something," Maria said. "The main thing {for buying a home} was having our own space and having something we can call ours."

The San Carlos

When you first walk up to Maria’s home, it instantly feels comfortable and inviting with its ocean blue exterior and large windows. The kitchen features a roomy island and plenty of cabinet and countertop space, all in white, which make the kitchen feel open and welcoming.

Maria’s favorite part of owning a home is adding to that inviting feeling by decorating for every holiday.

"Our first Christmas decorating the house is my favorite memory," Maria said. "My first year here [was memorable] doing my own decorating that I could never do before."

Looking back to when she first moved to the United States, Maria never dreamed she would be selling homes or owning a home on her own at a young age.

"I love helping customers find their house," Maria said. "Now that I went through the experience of buying a home through Clayton, I can help customers through the process even more."