Sunnis in the south of Baghdad, and Shias in the north, have been forced out of their homes as their neighborhoods came under control of militants of another sect.
Rather than flee the country, however, their solution has been to swap homes with a Sunni or Shia family in the same situation.
These home swaps are “booming,” according to a real estate agent who claims to have arranged 211 such deals so far.
The practice is not without its risks, however; sometimes the houses of uprooted families are “claimed” by the visiting family who, with help from local militants, decide it’s theirs to keep.
Source:
“Iraq: Sunni, Shia families swap homes in bid to remain safe”
IRIN (U.N.), July 5, 2007