Some Portland realtors may have seen some unwelcome redecoration in its local real estate signs. A "No Californians" stickers are stuck on the for sale sign by some locals as a sort of protest to Californians who migrate to Portland.
Mashable reports that stickers have been landing up on the real estate signage of several real estate practitioners in Portland, Oregon. The sticker is an image of California's outline which is covered by a red slash.
It is a form of a "passive aggressive move" as a reaction of those residents who are holding a grudge on the outcome of the local housing market.
In an interview, a local realtor named Quinn Irvine told Oregon Live that these people who are putting stickers on their signage are blaming the Californians for the increase housing prices. "There's the lowest inventory we've had in over 10 years, and people are frustrated," Irvine said.
Putting the "No Californian" sticker is an expression of their resentment. It is a creative way of telling the West-coasters to "Keep Out." But not all real estate professionals are happy about it.
Lori Fenwick, a real estate agent in Portland, is one of those who are not totally supportive of the move. He said that although he understood the sentiment but he spent money for his signage, it didn't just appear like a mushroom on the area. "We pay money for them, and it's none of their business to be putting stickers on them ... [people] can just go ahead and voice their opinions wherever they want, but it sucks that they're doing that," Fenwick lamented.
In a different report from KGW, it says that " Portland's tight real estate market is leading to some resentment, especially in North Portland where it's tough to buy a house without a bidding war." And some put the blame on those who people from California who move in to this largest city in Oregon.
From the survey conducted by KGW, data show that 25-30 % of the immigrants in Oregon are from California. This trend has been going on for about 5 years and it appears that there is no slowing down in numbers.
"It really shows what's going on in the neighborhood, lots of anti-development and anti-Californian feelings because prices are rising so quickly," said Irvine.
There are really several Portlanders who are becoming anxious to see immigrants from California because of tight housing market. However, Californians are not the only one who are moving in. Some are from other states like New York.
There are residents in Portland who are not happy of the influx of Californian immigrants. As a sort of protest, these number of locals are putting a "No Californians" stickers to the real estate signage of realtors.
