As little as 20 years ago, if you were an LGBTQ couple, house shopping was much more stressful than it is today. You may have felt like you couldn’t act like a couple in front of your real estate agent. You may have hesitated about co-signing on the mortgage due to fears of lender discrimination. You might have even wondered if the seller would turn down your offer if they knew it was coming from a same-sex couple. Fortunately, the world has changed, and house shopping no longer carries with it as many fears or concerns.
Marriage Equality Has Helped
Thanks to the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality and the growing acceptance of LGBTQ people in the U.S., many no longer have to feel like they have to hide their relationship when looking at homes. In fact, there is a growing number of gay and lesbian real estate agents across the country who are proudly open about their sexual orientation and are ready to help LGBTQ homebuyers find their dream property. You no longer have to pretend to simply be friends or roommates looking to buy a house together.
You can also be much more open about wanting to look at homes in gay neighborhoods. However, more and more LGBTQ individuals and couples are looking to buy outside of these areas. Today’s LGBTQ no longer feel like they must be constrained to specific neighborhoods, especially in more liberal cities. This has actually led to some gay neighborhoods to start becoming less LGBTQ-focused.
More LGBTQ Couples Are Having Families
Whether by adoption, surrogacy, or sperm donation, more LGBTQ couples are making the decision to start a family than ever before. This means many of these couples are no longer looking for homes that fit their current needs. Instead, they’re looking for homes they can raise a family in, which means they need more space. Their home-buying needs are closer now to opposite-sex couples who plan to have children in the future.
If you’re ready to make the jump into homeownership, you don’t have to feel constrained in any way. While discrimination does still exist, it’s not as prevalent as it once was. This is especially true if you’re working with a gay or lesbian agent.