Pride: Stereotypes and the decision to own a home

I think we all know that for the most part stereotypes are hurtful. They come from prejudice and most of us have been on the receiving end at some point or another. Events like Pride help with this, but what if some stereotypes are true, in that they are grounded in statistics? Insurance companies charge men under the age of 25 a higher premium than women for a reason, and you know what that reason is. Men under 25 have a higher rate of accidents. Period.

Can stereotypes be true?

So, does this mean that some of the LGBTQ+ stereotypes are true, and if so, do they make it more challenging for community members to become homeowners? I begin by examining the stereotype that people from the LGBTQ+ community do not have relationships as stable as heterosexual couples. I know plenty of people from our community who seem to drift in and out of relationships every few months or even weeks. However, I also know a lot of long-term same-sex relationships. Where is the truth?

Open and polyamorous relationships

Polyamorous relationships do exist – in both the heterosexual and LGBTQ+ communities. Do they exist more in one community over another? I am not sure. The same is true for open relationships. An open relationship can exist in many variations, but the basic premise of an open relationship is that both (or more) partners are free to engage in sexual activity with people outside the core relationship. Again, these relationships exist in both communities; however, the stereotype is that they exist a lot more in the LGBTQ+ community.

Stigmas

So what? So what if these relationships exist more in the LGBTQ+ community than in the heterosexual community? What does this have to do with becoming a homeowner? Well, let’s start with the stigmas associated with ‘alternative’ non-heteronormative lifestyles. Not feeling like you fit in or accepted has been an ongoing challenge of people from the LGBTQ+ community. “Hello, Ms. Realtor, we are looking to buy a home?” “All three of you?” “Yes, we are a polyamorous thruple.” (Awkward silence.) Halifax is without a doubt progressive, but I can imagine a somewhat shocked reaction from many realtors, brokers, and lawyers.

Does this stop our community from buying property? Maybe it does, and maybe it doesn’t, but there is no mistaking that in a heteronormative world, anything different can be the cause of discomfort, and with enough of that already in our lives, do we really want to go looking for more and expose our personal lifestyle choices to others only to feel their discourse?

Is Pride part of the solution?

If this is even a problem, what is the solution? Well, perhaps there isn’t one. As the world grows more inclusive, and Pride helps with that despite its controversies, feeling less judged and more accepted happens more and more every day. Until then, and it saddens me, friends and strangers from the LGBTQ+ community will continue to hide their ‘alternative’ lifestyle, which means they may never know the joys of homeownership for fear of being judged.

Join Clinton Wilkins & Friends at Pride in Homeownership, where Clinton will be joined by Danielle MacLean, Partner at DCL Law and Sandi Lee, Realtor with Century21 Trident Realty Ltd. Clinton, Danielle, and Sandi will share information and answer your questions during a panel discussion on the benefits of using a mortgage broker, understanding the impact of credit, assets, and income, stereotypes in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Halifax real estate, and what you need to know about real estate law.

If you are considering homeownership, please contact the Clinton Wilkins Mortgage Team! We are here to help you.