Buying a house is not for the weak. 

This year, my husband and I decided to begin the hunt for a home. When I tell you January was one of the most stressful times in my life, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Thankfully, we had a great realtor, strong family advice and — as Michael Solomon of Coldwell Banker Advantage shared in last month’s article, “Insights into Fayetteville real estate” — reassurance that 2026 is shaping up to be a year of stabilization and optimism. I’ve been monitoring the local real estate market over the past few years, attending Longleaf Pine REALTORS ® annual Realtor Rally to get the scoop every year. I’ve even taken advantage of some of the classes offered through the City of Fayetteville’s Homebuying Hero Program to really prepare myself for this process. 

One thing I didn’t expect? Some sellers’ audacity. 

We toured homes with holes in the walls, half-finished home improvement projects, questionable flooring situations and truly baffling layouts. Am I saying some sellers need to be humbled? No. Am I saying some may want to consider knocking about $50,000 off their asking prices? Yes. 

Now that the ink has dried on the contract, I can confidently say I am more committed than ever to supporting the “Fayetteville Deserves Cool Things” campaign I unofficially launched after becoming publisher. 

Several stories in this issue highlight some fantastic Black-owned businesses right here in Fayetteville that make this place better just by being here. 

Legacy Rolls (page 14) is a standout spot in Spring Lake, offering cinnamon rolls, blueberry rolls, sandwiches, fries and more. We also feature the Parks family — led by Latonia and King Parks — a power couple who own multiple businesses in Fayetteville and Hope Mills and who have made entrepreneurship a true family affair. 

Additionally, we spotlight Carolina Foodscapes (page 12), an organization dedicated to addressing food insecurity, promoting environmental stewardship and empowering the community through innovative gardening projects and horticulture education in Fayetteville. 

We hope you enjoy learning about these organizations and more in this issue.