A
real estate firm in Eagle, Idaho, sparked controversy with posts on Facebook and X offering free listings to liberals leaving the state. The company, Idaho Wild, claimed it was helping people "return to their safe spaces." Owner Mark Fitzpatrick said he wanted to attract clients who share his conservative values, but some critics accused him of promoting hate speech.

    Fitzpatrick's post didn't violate any laws, according to industry groups and regulators. However, experts warned that such promotions can lead to a slippery slope toward discrimination against protected groups. The language used in the ad could be seen as a proxy for bias, said Zoe Ann Olson, executive director of the Intermountain Fair Housing Council.

    Fitzpatrick insisted his intent was not discriminatory, but rather to attract like-minded individuals who share his conservative values. He estimated that over 90% of his clients are conservatives moving from California to Idaho. His company's website explicitly states its beliefs in constitutional conservatism and God.

    Other real estate agents in Idaho have used similar tactics, avoiding explicit statements of their politics while attracting certain types of customers through subtle marketing. Elizabeth Hume, president of Boise Regional Realtors, noted that real estate is a relationship-based business, where clients often already know or discover their agent's politics as they work together.

    The trend of people moving to areas reflecting their views is national, with 65% of voters who moved to Idaho in 2023 being registered Republicans. This polarization has led some experts to worry about resegregation and the potential for groupthink and extreme views.