In this contemporary housing market, most people will encounter difficulties searching for properties, but LGBTQ+ individuals may have to deal with a few more ‘extra’ barriers. Regrettably, and likely, you’ve probably experienced this yourself, or at least you know someone who has. You have to think about the issues of safety, inclusivity, and the general warmth of those places in which you wish to settle or even invest.
This, however, should never be a reason to stay back! If you’re in search of a beginner-cap home or island paradise in the state of Georgia, such is highly existent for you as long as you make a wise choice.
That is why it is crucial to find out as much information as possible about location, community vibes, legal protection, safety in the neighborhood you are considering choosing, and a few more very important points.
But, regardless of all that, you can make that experience less stressful for you and your loved ones. With this guideline of 7 key tips you should consider when entering Georgia’s real estate market, you will feel more confident about your choice, for sure.
Location and Community Vibes
When it comes to location, you need to look for more than property value. It won’t do any good for you if you choose a good location that has high property value if that neighborhood is not going to be good for you and your loved ones.
For example, if that neighborhood is not inclusive and doesn’t have any supportive LGBTQ+ community, the chances that you are not going to feel welcome are higher. And that is the last thing you want to happen after buying a property.
Suppose you were doing research on Georgia and its cities and how friendly they are to LGBTQ+ families. In that case, Atlanta, Decatur, Clarkston, and Savannah are definitely familiar to you. Those four cities commit such great resources to their active, healthy, and colorful LGBTQ+ society.
How the Law Keeps Everyone Safe
Under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Acts, sex housing discrimination is illegal in Georgia, in addition to including sexual orientation and gender identity.
However, state-level protection towards LGBTQ+ individuals in general (especially the gay community) is scarce, to say the least.
The scenario is not identical in every city though, and to note, some particular places have far better legal coverage. For instance Atlanta, Clarkston, Doraville, and Savannah – these four have the broadest non-discriminatory provisions in that they don’t allow discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in housing, employment, and public places.
Safety and Neighbourhood Analysis
The most important thing is how you are going to feel in the place you choose for your new home. Safety and acceptance are priorities. You should always ensure you’ve done careful and thorough research.
From crime statistics to reaching out to local LGBTQ+ organizations, every possible aspect should be done to uncover useful information on the experiences of being an LGBTQ+ person in that particular location.
You can even go to some of the communities that you’re contemplating, to check out the culture and lifestyle in such areas both during the day and the night.
Financial Preparedness
Before you go house-hunting, you should be financially prepared, and you should know what range of prices you can look for for your dream house in Georgia. To do so, you should consider meeting some specialized services. There are companies offering real estate financing in Georgia, and they can provide competitive options for LGBTQ+ buyers.
After you find the best option for financing your dream home, you will feel more empowered to find the best property for you.
Working With Inclusive Real Estate Professionals
Working with a real estate professional who doesn’t have prior experience in handling LGTBTQ+ clients, can be quite disheartening. And risky!
One that has experience with members of the LGBTQ+ community (or is a member themselves), will know much more relevant information about what you want, what your needs and concerns are, and so on. They will help you answer questions that haven’t even crossed your mind, and they’ll likely get you the best properties out of the bunch.
Evaluating Property with an Emphasis on Longevity
Real estate value doesn’t simply hinge on beauty/aesthetics alone. It’s important to consider the property’s value after a given time and base that on issues such as location, projected neighborhood growth, education, and transport systems.
It doesn’t even matter if such things are not your main focus at the moment because it’s very possible that they WILL be important to you later on, and they can help you increase your property value in Georgia in the future.
Make Use of the Available Resources for LGBTQ+ Buyers
In the process of trying to obtain a mortgage, you should use any leverage you can, and a key fact to know is that there are many agencies and initiatives that have resources directed toward helping the members of the LGBTQ+ community – From legal advice to financial assistance. This is a valuable help you shouldn’t miss out on.
Conclusion
The most important thing when buying a dream house is how you are going to feel about living there. That is not just a question about your home. It is a question about the whole neighborhood and area you choose.
To be certain that you made a good choice about buying your dream house, and that is maybe one of the biggest decisions you are going to make, research every important factor thoroughly.
Make sure that the neighborhood where you are going to live is welcoming and inclusive. Prepare financially for buying and take every leverage you can.
In the event that you do all of the steps correctly, there are no reasons for you not to get the ideal house for you!