Buying a home is perhaps the single largest purchase anyone will make. So it’s important to pick a good realtor who can help guide you in the purchasing decision. Some people may only make the decision once or twice in their lifetimes, so it is an extraordinarily large commitment and one that can require professional guidance to make right.
In the Pinellas County city of Gulfport, few know real estate better than Michele King. While she’s straight, in the past decade she’s sold hundreds of homes to LGBTs looking for a relaxed, artistic, progressive waterfront community.
She says that about 65% of her clients are LGBT. King says the most important thing to consider when choosing a real estate agent is whether they are familiar with the areas in which you want to buy.
“You’re going to want to work with someone who knows the neighborhood,” she says. “It can impact how effective the real estate agent can be in finding you the home you are really looking for. Knowledge of the local market is critically important to that.”
Gay St. Petersburg realtor Greg Burton agrees with King.
“Find an agent that knows his/her limitations and has a network of professionals and service providers that are respectful of our community,” says Burton. “Even though I have lived in south Tampa, I would never think of showing property there. I refer anyone looking to buy or sell in Tampa to may friend, Scott Cotrell. Our websites are linked and each of us focuses on our side of the Bay. I spend many hours not only on the computer, but also going to open houses and Broker’s opens so that I know the current inventory and how prices are moving.
“I cannot bring that level of expertise to the Tampa market. I would rather receive a referral fee knowing that the client is getting the best representation possible rather than put getting a full commission ahead of the client’s interests.”
The real estate market is struggling, which is no secret. However, people moving here from out of state keep most realtors busy. For those moving to Florida from out of state—or vice versa, Burton notes the first thing to look for in an agent is one who will take the time to familiarize you with the region.
Agents not from the Tampa Bay area, for example, may not now the specifics.
“They often assume Tampa is in biking distance of Gulf beaches,” Burton says. “Almost always they expect the Gulf side to be where most of the gay neighborhoods are located. That the beaches are transient in nature and the Bay side is where the action is comes as a real surprise. So I usually spend the first day giving them a tour. Once they begin to narrow in on neighborhoods that they like, only then do I start showing houses”
A realtor should also have a network of service providers, including mortgage resources, that are LGBT friendly.
Something else homebuyers should consider is whether or not you feel comfortable and at ease with the agent.
“You’re going to be spending a lot of time with this person, riding around in their car and looking at houses together and then all the way through to the closing,” says King. “You don’t need to become the agent’s best friend, but you should probably at least like them and feel comfortable discussing more private details that might affect your buying decision.”
King also suggests using a realtor with experience who know something about home improvement.
“I’ve come within a couple of hundred dollars on roofing projects that were $5-7,000 jobs,” said King. “But I can only do that because I’ve been in real estate for a long time and have a good feel for what major ticket items like roofs cost.”
Is there any difference between lesbians, gay men, and straights as real estate clients? Not much, says King, although she notes that lesbians tend to seek out community and gay men see potential for remodeling. She says that young straight people tend to look for value and room to grow a family, while older retirees want to realize their dream.
