“One thing I can say is that none of this is new,” an Oregon-based mortgage professional, who preferred to remain anonymous, told MPA.
Political identity drives relocation
For many relocating homebuyers, the decision to move west has less to do with jobs or affordability—and more to do with identity and belonging.
“If I had to point to anything related that I’d tie back to real estate, it’s that increased political polarization has become a sorting hat,” the broker said.
“I’ve noticed an influx of clients from ‘red states’ moving for what I’d characterize as political reasons: they’re gay, they’re trans, their kid is gay, their kid is trans, they don’t recognize their previously purple or tolerant hometown or state anymore, they don’t feel welcome and worry about their kids’ safety as a mixed-race family. I have had specific clients move due to every scenario on that list.”
The trend echoes migration data showing politically motivated relocations on the rise since 2020. For Oregon lenders, that has meant an uptick in out-of-state borrowers and purchase activity in neighborhoods that align with buyers’ values.