There’s so much to consider: What can I afford? How much space do I need? And the most harrowing question of all — what am I willing to give up?, who may face the added pressure of evaluating a new community for safety and comfort.
“This often means a very private backyard, not having neighbors right on top of you,” she says, making yard space a priority commodity. “Privacy really is about safety.” Stone says that questions of safety and acceptance are frequently among the first questions she’s asked by clients relocating to Texas. “It is a very valid concern to have.”
LGBTQ+ buyers may also bring unique financial circumstances to the table. For example, Stone says, she has historically seen queer women looking at lower-priced homes and dealing with a level of scrutiny in their loan applications that exceeded their male counterparts. A 2022 analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows that more self-identifying lesbian and bisexual women have household savings and investments below $250,000 than men of any sexual orientation.