The property at 5256 SE Flavel Street in Portland is one such example where the homeowners say they do not "have resources" to remove squatters on the property who refuse to vacate the premises.
"Unfortunately there are squatters on the property and seller does not have resources to remove them and is willing to negotiate the price for a buyer to take the risk of closing," reads the "Property Details" for this listing at Realtor.com.
Only a few photos are included in the listing and they only show the outside of the property, which is strewn with trash, damaged vehicles, and other third world-like trappings.
It turns out that the entire neighborhood in southeast Portland where this home is for sale has become a bastion of homeless people who are breaking and entering properties and claiming them as their own.
For residents of the neighborhood who actually still live there legally, many are beefing up security and buying baseball bats and other blunt objects for self-protection against the invading mob. (Related: Back in 2020 during the height of the George Floyd saga, the Department of Justice declared Portland to be an "anarchy" zone.)
"It's unbearable to watch your whole city become a dumpster fire," says Annette Benedetti, who lives near several homes on SE 67th Avenue that are abandoned, littered with trash, and surrounded by RVs up and down the streets.
According to Benedetti, some 16 different homeless people moved into the neighborhood in July alone.
"It's a living nightmare," added Dustin Shannon, another neighbor in a similar situation who has lived in the neighborhood for 19 years. "There's no peace of mind, there is no sleeping well at night – every little noise, I'm jumpy."
Portlanders who are "not gun proponents" now buying firearms for self-defense
Shannon's property backs up to one of the vacant homes where homeless people now live. He says he frequently picks up needles and trash from a path that runs adjacent to the property, where he used to let his grandson play – but no longer.
"It just gets worse and worse by the day, more and more of them are showing up," he said. "Stolen cars are showing up, they've got a pile of garbage out back that is taller than me."
In addition to all the trash, needles, and other blight in the area, Shannon, Benedetti and others also say that shootings and other forms of violence are on the rise.
"We've barricaded our back door at this point, blocked it off," Shannon said, adding that he and his family are "not gun proponents" but that "we've invested in that" as another protective measure.
"We've got a security system in place and I keep a bat at both my back and front door."
Several other real estate listings in the area have similar descriptors about squatters inside that would have to be removed by the buyer after closing. One explains that owner had previously tried to remove the squatters, only to have them attack officers attempting to clear the property.
"Squatters caused a fire in downstairs bed and living room," reads the description of another squatted property. "Trash inside home. Squatters now removed. Sellers are selling AS-IS and price is adjusted for that. RM1-Buyer to verify zoning and schools, buyer to do due diligence."
"Corner lot allows for duplex and possibly triplex. Tear down and build single family, multi-family or restore current home. Major smoke damage through-out. Interior viewing with accepted offer. Ok to drive by and walk around."
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