Snowbirds is a term used for people who live most of the year in a northern climate, but then move to a warmer area for the harsh winter months. Many snowbirds own RVs and simply drive south when the temperature drops, while others may own a second home in a warmer state. If you’re a snowbird, and also a part of the LGBTQ community, never fear—there are plenty of welcoming places for you to go during the winter.

You might enjoy your snowbird location so much that you decide to move there permanently or to purchase a second home in the area. If that’s the case, you have a number of different factors to consider.

Snowbirding to Florida

Many people on the East Coast spend the winter in Florida. This is an excellent location for LGBTQ snowbirds. St. Petersburg is considered both a very welcoming city and a great place to escape the winter. It’s very affordable, has a lot to offer, and isn’t far from the beach. For those who really love the big city, Orlando is another good destination, although it tends to be more expensive due to the high number of tourists. Lake Worth is known for its large LGBTQ community, as is South Tampa.

Options on the West Coast

On the other hand, you may want to spend some time in California. The golden beaches of this state are well-loved by snowbirds, but you do need to keep the climate in mind. San Francisco may seem like the natural place for LGBTQ snowbirds to travel to, but the rain and the proximity to the ocean do keep the temperatures in the 50s or lower during December and January.

Instead, try going inland a bit. Anaheim is popular since Disneyland and other attractions are located there. It’s also not far from the warmer beaches of southern California.

Other Locations

Snowbirds are often attracted to locations in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Of course, not all of these locations are known for their welcoming attitudes. You can do your research and learn more about specific locations before you travel there. If you’re in an RV, of course, you can always simply load up and drive somewhere else if you decide you don’t like where you are!

Once you do find the perfect place to escape the cold, you may want to look for a more permanent option than an RV. You’ll find many gay and lesbian real estate professionals are ready to help you purchase a second home or make the move to a warmer climate.

Are you thinking about looking for houses? If you’re ready to buy a home, especially if it’s your first home, the process may appear a little daunting. Fortunately, there are a few different things you can do as an LGBTQ couple to make the process easier.

Decide on How You’ll Apply for a Mortgage

Thanks to the supreme court, same-sex marriage is now legal across the country. If you’re married, it’s natural that you will apply jointly. If you’re not, though, you need to decide if one of you will apply as an individual or if you’ll apply jointly. There are some pros and cons to both. In most cases, it depends on your credit.

If one of you has excellent credit and few debts while the other has a lower credit score and more debt, it may make sense for the person with the better credit to apply as an individual. It is even possible for a married person to apply for a mortgage without their spouse. You’ll want to look at both incomes, credit history, debts, and other factors to determine how you want to apply.

Do You want to Work with a Gay or Lesbian Real Estate Expert?

You may feel more comfortable working with an LGBTQ real estate agent, especially if you’re planning on moving into a gay neighborhood. Even if your agent doesn’t identify as a member of the community, you want to make certain that they treat you fairly. While housing discrimination may not be common, it does occur. Your agent should treat you no differently than any other client, and if you suspect they are, you can file a complaint with their agency.

Whether or not you decide to work with an LGBTQ agent, you do need to find someone you’re comfortable with. You should be able to share with them all of your housing needs and wants. You don’t necessarily have to come out to them, though. Chances are, they will recognize that the two of you are a couple pretty quickly, even if you say nothing.

Get Pre-Approved

Finally, if you’re thinking about buying a home, you should go ahead and get pre-approved for a loan. After you’ve looked at your individual credit histories, sit down with a lender and talk about your options. They can run the numbers and let you know how large of a mortgage you’ll be able to get. With that information, you can then become seriously looking at homes.