The Flag of Controversy: How Your Neighbor’s Trump Flag Could Impact Your Property Value

You May Be Paying for Your Neighbor’s Political Opinion

You may not have bought that “Make America Great Again” sign posted up on your next-door neighbor’s lawn, but if you’re looking to sell your house soon, you could end up paying for it.

The Impact of Neighborly Politics on Home Value

“We are living in an extremely charged political environment,” says Robert Elson, an agent with Coldwell Banker Warburg. And proximity to neighbors with unfettered political opinions — be it Democrat, Republican or otherwise — can shrink your pool of prospective offers, he says.

A Case Study: Redditors Share Their Experiences

A quick scroll through Reddit confirms Elson’s sentiments. “I have absolutely passed on a house because I was concerned about the neighbor’s political flags,” one Redditor wrote in a June thread.

The Financial Impact of Neighborly Politics

In a similar thread three years back, a commenter says they “distinctly recall pulling up to a house with a Blue Lives Matter flag flying next door and [telling] my realtor to just turn back around.”

How Your Neighbors (and Their Politics) Impact Your Home Value

While these accounts are anecdotal, real estate agents say alienating a significant portion of your buyer pool can lead to genuine challenges: longer time on the market, fewer offers and, eventually, a price cut.

Should You Sell Your House in an Election Season?

Election season tends to bring uncertainty, which can make people hesitant to pull the trigger on big financial decisions (including buying or selling real estate). Fortunately, experts say, that hesitancy is largely misguided — even if the political signs in your neighbor’s yard are causing you some concern.

The Future of Home Sales and Election Season

“While the conventional wisdom is that an election year is a bad time to sell a home, the data really doesn’t back that up,” McDermott says. “Going back to the Reagan years, you can see home values appreciating at higher rates during election years, specifically since 2012.”

Selling Your Home Despite Election Season Concerns

If you do opt to sell your home this year and your neighbor’s questionable front-yard decor is stressing you out, it might be worth talking to them about your concerns. And even if they’re unsympathetic, try not to get discouraged, McDermott advises.

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