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In 2004, Massachusetts made headlines and LGBT history by becoming the first state to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple.  This action came after the November 2003 case of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.  The state’s Supreme Court made the decision that same-sex couples had every right to legally marry, and the result sent shockwaves through the country.  It was also the first battle in the fight for marriage, a fight that has seen more and more states follow in Massachusetts’s footsteps. But while it was the […]

Purchasing a vacation home can be exciting when you consider that you will have a place to go anytime that you choose to do so, but along with the advantages, there can be disadvantages. Following are some drawbacks to purchasing a vacation home with your same sex partner. Mortgage Unless you have the money to purchase a vacation home outright, you will have to pay a mortgage. Generally, the required down payment and mortgage interest rate will be higher on a vacation home than it is on your primary home. […]

Purchase offers are generally completed using a standardized purchase agreement form that sets out the details of your offer. That document is not legally binding on either you or the seller of the property until it has been signed by both parties the buyers and sellers. When completing a purchase agreement form, you should consider the following issues. Contingencies Some of the contingencies that you may want to consider include: 1.   Will you need to sell your current home, if you have one, before completing the purchase of the […]

Some people move to a new city for work.  Others do so to be closer to their family.  But some people contact a gay or lesbian realtor because they want to move to further their education.  There are many great universities in the country, but some of them are more welcoming towards LGBT students and educators than others.  Here are a few of the universities that are more accepting and diverse as ranked by the Princeton Review for 2014-2015. The top honor was given to Stanford University.  This California university […]

As the third largest city in Ohio, Cincinnati has its share of diverse neighborhoods.  The city was a boomtown during the 19thcentury, exploding outwards to become, at the time, the sixth largest city in the country.  It’s often considered the first true American city since it was the first large city to be founded both inland and after the Revolutionary War.  It’s also an interesting melting pot of different cultures, including the LGBT community. Like many cities, Cincinnati does have a neighborhood that is predominantly gay and lesbian.  In this […]

Buying a foreclosed home is a great way to get an excellent deal. The downside is that you may be buying more than you bargained for if the home has been sitting vacant for a long period of time. In most states, foreclosed homes are sold as is with no warranty. This means that you get what you see and will be responsible for any and all repairs that are needed. Following are some tips for those who would like to purchase a foreclosed home. Winterization If the home has […]

Many potential home buyers begin with the mistaken impression that a down payment is all they need to worry about. Unfortunately, that is not the case. There are other costs involved that, in many cases, must be paid out-of-pocket before or at the time that the purchase closing is held. Following are some of the costs that may or may not be required. Good Faith Deposit A good faith deposit is an amount of money that is paid at the time that you make an offer. The deposit indicates to […]

When people think of the best places for LGBT people to live, many think of cities like San Francisco and Portland—cities on the West Coast.  However, the East Coast has a few great places for LGBT people, too. New York City is the first place most think about.  It’s the home of Broadway and musical theater, and while it’s a stereotype, it’s also true that many gay men love the theater.  New York City is also home to the Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the gay rights movement.  The city […]

There are environmental issues that you should be aware of before you purchase a home. If those issues arise after you purchase the home, it may be your responsibility to correct the problem rather than the sellers. Once you find a home that you are interested in, you should ask both your real estate agent and the seller if there are such issues. If the seller does not inform you of issues that he or she knew or should have known about, he could be charged with fraud. Following are […]

There are no federal laws that specifically protect LGBT when purchasing a home, although some federal agencies, states and municipalities do have laws or ordinances that protect LGBT against discrimination. For example The Federal Housing and Urban Development agency, HUD, implemented a rule in 2012 designed to make its core programs available regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status. The rule applies to housing insured by HUD in its home ownership programs. There are some federal laws in place that protect all people when purchasing […]