Hayley King

Realtor, eXp Realty, the Heather Littrell Group

Native of Rowan County

Industry: Real Estate

Hayley King left her native Rowan County for college, attending UNC-Charlotte, and thought that she would love the big city. She didn’t. After two years, she was craving Rowan County and the small-town life. 

“There is just something about a small town that will always feel like home to me,” she says. “I have never known anywhere else as ‘home,’ and Salisbury has always made me feel safe and like I belong. It has such a small-town feel that can never be replaced. I can’t leave the house without running into someone I know. Everyone knows everyone and it’s a big family. Everywhere you go, you feel welcomed.” 

She grew up playing softball and Little League at the Salisbury Community Park and it continues to be her favorite outdoor space. “I know that park,” she says. “It’s familiar. It’s clean and quiet.  My dog, Kali, plays in the water at the fishing pond.”

She says Rowan’s many activities mean that “there is something to do for everyone. We have High Rock Lake, so many parks, the movies, bowling. You can never get bored.”

The Cheerwine Festival is her favorite event. “It’s the kick-off to summertime,” she says. “I see so many people there that I know and catch up with them.”

She also loves the variety of restaurants in the area and picks Go Burrito as her favorite. “I love the atmosphere. If I meet up with a friend, that’s where we end up. There is something so satisfying about sitting on the roof at Go Burrito on a warm summer day, looking out over downtown” 

She calls the restaurants here amazing. “There are so many great options, but a few that I will return to over and over again. I love catching up with friends at these local restaurants. When I am craving Mexican, Monterrey is always a hit. I am most definitely a sushi lover, and Bangkok is always so fresh.” 

As a Realtor, Hayley says that she wants her clients to know “that Rowan County is a very special place to move to. The people are great, amazing schools, everyone supports each other, and it truly feels like a community. There are so many opportunities for growth, and I think Rowan County will continue to flourish with more businesses.”

Rowan County is the perfect lifestyle choice. “You’re in a small town but close to the Queen City (Charlotte). You can drive to the mountains for a day trip and to the beach for a weekend. You’re so close to any activity that you want to do. You’re right in the middle of everything.”

She encourages newcomers to take a walk through downtown Salisbury and the West Square Historic District. “I notice something new every time I go downtown — a new store, a new addition,” she says. “I love to support local businesses and explore all that downtown has to offer.  One of my favorite stores is Critters Cards & Gifts because it brings back memories. I used to ride that horse out front when I was a kid.”

She chose real estate as a career because of the opportunities it presents to help people. “One of the biggest decisions a person can make is finding their dream home,” she says. “I have a passion for helping people.”

The Rowan County slogan, Be an Original,™ means representing the county for what it truly is, she says. 

“Tell people about it, participate in it, support local businesses, tell your friends that aren’t from here about it, and just become ACTIVE in it. As a Realtor, I am always letting my clients know what Rowan can offer them. If they are on the fence about moving here, I will make sure they know all the many reasons why they should. This is what being an original means to me — when you can confidently represent Rowan and why you want someone else to love it just as much as you do.”