If you’re considering a move to Oklahoma, you may be very afraid about what you’ll find.  While the stereotypical image of Oklahoma is of horse-drawn wagons, teepees, buffalo herds, and dry, red dirt, many people are surprised by the state’s two largest cities, Oklahoma City and Tulsa.  Skyscrapers dominate the downtown areas of both cities, and Oklahoma has become a surprising leader in space research and renewable energy.  But one area in which the state does live up to its […]

Thinking about making the move to the west coast?  Washington, Oregon, and California are all beautiful places to live, but some of their cities are more welcoming to LGBT people than others.  Many cities that top “Most Friendly U.S. Gay Cities” lists are on the west coast.  Here are a few places you may want to consider. San Francisco, of course, is the most well-known gay city in California (and perhaps in the entire U.S.).  While it might seem cliché, […]

Some cities are known for welcoming LGBT people—San Francisco, Portland, and New York City are all very open places to live.  Gay and lesbian real estate agents have no problems finding their clients great homes there.  But then there are some cities that aren’t so welcoming.  It can be difficult to even find a LGBT-friendly realtor in those areas!  Some cities, however, might surprise you.  People would expect them to not be the most gay-friendly places to live, but they […]

During most people’s lives, they may rent several apartments or houses and eventually buy a home.  Some might even buy and sell several homes in their lifetimes with the help of a good realtor.  However, everyone eventually becomes too old to maintain a home, and some make the choice to move into an elderly community.  But for years, it was difficult for members of the LGBT community to find a welcoming senior citizen home.  Some would simply outright reject older […]

There are a lot of different LGBT-friendly cities around the world.  Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, and Paris all welcome gays and lesbians from around the world. Then there are famous islands like Lesbos and Mykonos, two major LGBT vacation destinations. But what about the U.S.? While we may be slow in the gay rights area, there are several cities that have become major gay destinations. Surprisingly, these aren’t always the cities in which the most gays or lesbians live in. You […]

Many same sex couples make the mistake of not preparing before purchasing their first home. The result is unexpected delays and disappointments. Following are five ways for same sex couples to prepare to own their first home. 1. Calculate the Cost of Owning a Home The first step is to determine how much home you can afford. You can do this by applying for preapproval from a mortgage lender. Before applying, it would be wise to obtain a copy of […]

Unmarried same sex couples who are considering purchasing a home together should take precautions to protect themselves and their investment before buying. There are a couple of options available that would be of benefit in avoiding future problems if the relationship does not work out or one of you dies. Domestic Partnership Agreement Domestic partnership agreements can provide emotional and financial security if you are unmarried, either because you live in a state that does not recognize same sex marriage […]

Owning your own home allows you to experience the pride of home ownership. For many same sex couples, the security of owning their own home is an accomplishment that they look forward to once they have established a secure relationship. There are many benefits to owning a home compared to renting. 1. Freedom When you own your own home, you have the freedom to decorate and make landscape changes, make noise, have pets and allow anyone you would like for […]

When people think of the gay capital of the U.S., most people think of San Francisco or New York City.  However, that’s changed—Among large cities, Seattle actually has the largest number of gay couple households.  According to the 2012 Census, 2.6 percent of all households in the city were made up of gay couples, while San Francisco boasts only 2.5 percent.  This is the first time since the Census started tracking same-sex households that San Francisco has not had the […]

The federal Fair Housing Act does not protect against sexual orientation and sexual identity discrimination, prospective home buyers may be treated differently by finance companies, real estate agents, insurance companies and others. Some states and local governments and agencies do have laws that protect against discrimination based on same sexual orientation and sexual identity. The four Fair Housing Centers in Michigan collaborated to conduct an investigation in 2007 to find out if same sex couples were discriminated against. They found […]