The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has joined with real estate giant Realogy to offer an “LGBT Real Estate Specialist Certification,” or LGBTRES, to all realtors hoping to better target and serve LGBT clients.
NGLCC is providing the gay business know-how, and Realogy brings the real estate expertise to make the certification program a reality. Realogy owns several major brands, including Century 21 and Coldwell Banker.
“This is an important opportunity for LGBT homeowners and potential homeowners,” says Justin Nelson, NGLCC co-founder and president.
“We’re educating one of the largest professional groups in the country to ensure that real estate professionals know the subtle nuances of working with LGBT clients,” he adds.
For example, the legal status of same-sex couples is just one area that can affect LGBT home-buying. Because same-sex couples are denied the legal and financial protections that married heterosexuals have, an LGBTRES-certified real estate agent would have the cultural awareness to suggest they consult with a lawyer to ensure that neither partner would lose the house if the other died.
“You don’t have to be gay to sell to gay people,” says Nelson. “But you should understand that there’s a right way and a wrong way to do so. A huge part of this certification is the cultural competency necessary for working with this market.”
While Realogy agents can take the certification course at a discount, all real estate agents from any company are welcome to go through the training.
