Can one property management co really keep me from working for a better one for 3 years?!?

Have been apt resident manager 1 yr now for property management company in Oregon which acquires only low end dinosaur properties ($600 mthly & less). They send own maintenance 3 to 6 weeks after requests, entire office staff is inconsistent, they drive me nuts! My $600 rent is comped plus $100 per month. Have an opportunity to work for higher end company in different county for apt ($1,200 mo. value), health benefits, 401k, generous salary. 1st company has a "noncompetitive" clause for 3 years. Properties the 1st manages in no way competes with the 2nd company.
What can they do to me if I give the 2 week notice and go earn more money than what they will pay me?

if fired, i have 24 hours to leave property. i'll have to be really bad girl to get fired, 1st company loves me and everything i do. contract states "their competitors", 2nd company is construction and property mgmt.

absolutely nothing. They cant make you change fields, there is something called "right to work". you have a right to work in whatever field you want. if you want to go to a new property management company. go. non-compete means you will not be able to go after the comany's accounts that you are currently with for 3 years.

It will depend on how the non-compete clause was written. If it is that you cannot work for any property management company, regardless of any overlapping properties, you may be out of luck.

But the bottom line is this: yes, they can keep you from working for another one for the term of the clause.

get yourself fired, stop showing up, this way they fired u and they cant force the clause on u.

if that clause is to prevent you from stealing customers, but the new company wouldnt want them.....move.
but make sure of the definition, first....

I would not worry about it. If they sue you, you will prevail in court, and they probably know it. Their three year time period is overly restricted, and I have no idea how a court would find that you are 'competing' with them as a resident manager.