LGBT Real Estate in Austin, TX: Discrimination

LGBT Real Estate in Austin, TX: Discrimination

The decision to buy, sell, or invest in real estate can be difficult for many couples. If you are in a LGBT relationship, there are even more factors to consider before moving forward. For example, LGBT couples can face discrimination in access to housing, even in fairly liberal cities like Austin, TX.

Although some states do provide protection for LGBT people from real estate discrimination,  as you can see from this map of housing laws, Texas does not offer protection at the state level. The most comprehensive protection that LGBT people have is the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs – Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, which ensures that HUD’s housing programs are open to LGBT people.

LGBT people can face discrimination and judgement from their Realtor, property manager, lender, inspector, closer, or any party related to the real estate purchase. For example, some couples are still being told that they cannot put both partners’ names on their homeowner’s insurance policy, or they are being steered out of certain neighborhoods based on their sexual orientation.

We believe it is important for LGBT people in Austin, TX to know they have the ability to work with real estate professionals who are LGBT-friendly, understand the specific issues for the LGBT community, and with whom they can speak honestly about their real estate goals.

Theresa Bastian and Rodney Campbell, owners of Keep Austin Weird Homes, believe in building business and personal relationships with honesty and integrity. Our philosophy is that everyone deserves the chance to realize their dreams of homeownership, and we excel at coming up with outside the box strategies to help our clients. Our brokerage provides fair, accurate, and comprehensive real estate advice and representation to all of our clients, particularly the LGBT community.