San Francisco—the gay Mecca.  Almost everyone in the LGBT community visits the city at least once in their lifetime.  Many want to move to San Francisco because they feel like they will be able to express themselves in the city without any threat of violence.  However, while a lot of people are geared up to move, their dreams come crashing down when they see some of the price tags that accompany homes in the area.  San Francisco isn’t cheap, especially […]

When a married opposite-sex couple goes into a financial institution to get a mortgage, it’s automatically assumed they will both be on the loan.  However, when a same-sex couple applies for a loan, that’s not always the case.  In fact, even in states where gay marriage is legal, a lender may not immediately realize that a same-sex couple is applying as a couple. There really isn’t a huge advantage to being married or applying as two single individuals.  However, when […]

Are you looking for a great new place to live?  While everyone knows that San Francisco and New York City are gay and lesbian havens, few people have heard about some of these up and coming gay neighborhoods.  They’re some of the most popular new places for those in the LGBT community to live, and many of them are quite affordable. The first of these up and coming neighborhoods is Hilltop, located in Tacoma, Washington.  Hilltop is full of older […]

There are a lot of different questions you might ask your realtor when looking at properties, but having a LGBT realtor on hand means you can ask many questions about the legalities regarding same-sex couple homeownership and about the local culture.  While searching online or talking to other people can give you an idea of how you might fit into your neighborhood, realtors often have information about schools, doctors, and other areas you may need to explore if you’re moving […]

The Federal Fair Housing Act outlines all of the ways in which a landlord, seller, or financial institution may not discriminate against tenants or those looking to purchase a home.  However, this act was written in 1968, so it’s fairly outdated.  It prohibits any discrimination based on color, race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, and familial status, but it says nothing about sexual orientation.  The act hasn’t been amended since 1990, and while attempts have been made to get orientation […]

If asked what their gay and lesbian clients want in a home, many realtors will probably list some of the things that any buyer, no matter of his or her orientation, wants: a nice home, natural lighting, hardwood floors, high ceilings, and a good sized yard.  While it’s true that every buyer is going to want some of the same things, there are a few unique features that many LGBT buyers look for.  Here are a few of them. The […]

If you’re getting ready to move, you’re probably in one of two situations: either you’re moving first and then finding a job in the area, or you’re moving for a job or some other reason that doesn’t give you a chance to pick out your new home city.  If you don’t really have a choice in where you’re moving, you may end up in an area that’s less than LGBT-friendly.  If you find yourself in a fairly conservative city, know […]

Most people are familiar with real estate agents who specialize.  Some work only in a certain area or neighborhood, while others specialize in historic houses or new buildings.  But lately, a new type of specialized realtor has appeared: the gay and lesbian real estate agent.  These realtors work primarily with members of the LGBT community in helping them find their dream house or sell their current property.  Some people may wonder why realtors are choosing to focus on this certain […]

Some people may find the idea odd—why would someone want to hire a gay or lesbian Realtor?  That doesn’t really have any bearing on how good of a real estate agent they are.  But there are many reasons why you might want to hire a gay realtor.  Of course, you do want to make sure they’re a competent agent before you do so.  Here are a few of the things an LGBT real estate agent can do for you. If […]

Just like many areas of life, the housing market is subject to trends.  If your home happens to have a feature that’s one of the hottest trends, it’s likely to sell very easily and for your asking price or even higher.  If it has a trend that’s out, it may be more difficult to sell.  Here are a few different home features that were hot for a time but have now cooled off.  Many are seen as luxuries in a […]