On first blush, the thought of using a Gay Realtor might seem odd. But if you happen to be Lesbian,Gay,Bi-Sexual or Transgendered, it is a natural step. 

A straight Realtor will tell you there is no difference; they may even assure you of their friendliness and tell you that they have a cousin who they are pretty sure is Gay. The fact is, there is a big difference. Let’s face it: Buying a home, gay or straight, might well be the most important (and largest) financial purchase one will ever make. Buying that house with a partner without the protection of marriage adds to that fact. Lumped on top as tasty frosting is the fact that we are talking about your new home, making it the largest emotional purchase you will make as well.

A GLBT person will often be more comfortable with GLBT agent. This is not the time to have to hide who you are. As a Gay Realtor, we “get it”: More than just purchasing a home, we are often tasked with the responsibility of being  confidant,  chauffeur, negotiator, counselor,  initial social director, area expert and warm ear. Our client expects help in finding safe, gay friendly neighborhoods. As more and more GLBT come to the Valley of the Sun, they are looking to their Gay Realtor to find them a home and get them socially acclimated within the community. Phoenix has no Gay District per se but the GLBT Buyer has a right to expect a home located in an area rich in social acceptance and diversity. Where is the nearest Gay/gay friendly church? Is there a Gay District? Gay Bars? Networking? Try as hard as they may, the straight Realtor could not answer those questions. In fact, one GLBT client (who fired their straight Realtor for their ignorance) asked them, “do you know what area of town you people congregate? “(You people???)

We have heard amazingly silence story after story of not just insensitivity,  but the stupidity of straight people attempting to serve our community. When a childless gay couple asked about the schools in the area – an excellent consideration if only for resale values - the straight Realtor questioned their interest because, after all, they certainly are not going to have children, are they? (Giggle. Giggle. Smirk. ) 

GLBT Realtors understand the need for a large Master and cringe when we hear insensitive stories of straight Realtors wondering where each Buyer sleeps.  The gay agent surrounds themselves with gay and gay-friendly resources that understand and are sensitive to their GLBT client’s needs. The fact is, when you use a Gay Realtor verses a straight one, you probably will be more insulated from that type of thoughtlessness than at any other time. A Gay Realtor is not going to jeopardize your Real Estate experience with them by encouraging you to use an inspector, termite company or escrow officer that is not completely in sync with who you are as a person. 

Most importantly, we as GLBT people need to become well informed consumers just like our straight counterparts. We need to take care of our own. We need to use other GLBT people as our vendors of choice knowing we will not have to explain to them who we are, what we are, how we are or why. It is important to continually educate straight people about our GLBT lives and families, but the Real Estate transaction is not the place to start.

In short, using a GLBT Realtor is a common sense approach for the GLBT consumer.