| GayHomes.com is a new Web site specifically designed to assist gay and lesbian home buyers. It expects to be online in 49 cities by the end of this year and will soon be launching a national advertising campaign. It’s owned by USA New Homes Inc., a Palm Desert, Calif.-based publisher of Internet real estate magazines.
John DeLeo, CEO of USA New Homes and a longtime real estate professional, noted that many real estate agents aren’t skilled at dealing with the needs and concerns of gay and lesbian home buyers.
According to DeLeo, he created the site to help Gays search for a real estate agent and a home with less fear of discrimination or insensitivity. He says gays and lesbians, who represent 8 to 12 percent of home buyers and have an average annual household income of $83,000, aren’t searching for anything unusual in a home and share the same priorities — schools, parks and community resources — as straight home buyers.
The Web site gives them the opportunity to contact a real estate agent who may also be gay and can provide information about welcoming communities. |
