This house color is a sign that a neighborhood is gentrifying

When an older, lower-income neighborhood is being upgraded and renovated by a wave of young, wealthy homeowners and investors, gentrification has typically begun.Some people say that’s a good thing for the local economy, while others argue that it displaces long-term residents who get priced out.“Gentrification can bring investment into areas that may not have received much attention in years past,” says Hannah Jones, Realtor.com senior economic research analyst.“However, typically the primary beneficiaries of this investment are not the families and populations that have inhabited the neighborhood for generations, but rather the new residents.”Whether you’re for it or against it, here’s a telltale sign your neighborhood is being gentrified.A recent article in the Washington Post revealed that gentrifying neighborhoods nationwide are being repainted in various shades of gray.They did a color analysis of Washington, D.C., specifically, and found that “shades of gray permeate neighborhoods where the White population has increased and the Black population has decreased.”Richard Segovia, 71, told the outlet how he’d seen a shift in the Mission District of San Francisco, where he’s lived his entire life.“All this gray—it’s so dark, it’s so gloomy, so ugly,” he explained.

“It’s like seeing creativity and art and the colors of my community disappear right in front of my eyes.”And it’s happening all across the nation.In Colorado Springs, CO, gray has been the dominant exterior color choice for years, according to Andrew Fortune, real estate agent and brokerage owner at Great Colorado Homes—and it’s not slowing down.Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update.

Please provide a valid email address.By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Never miss a story.“It’s become the default for builders, house flippers, and...