Buying or selling a home is personal.

You are making decisions about where you will live, who will be part of your household, how you will spend your money and, often, what the next chapter of your life is going to look like.

For members of the LGBTQ+ community, choosing the right real estate professional can sometimes mean looking for something beyond market knowledge and negotiating experience. You may also want someone who respects you, your partner, your family and your privacy without assumptions or judgment.

That should not be an extra.

It should simply be part of good real estate service.

As a REALTOR® serving Logan Lake, Kamloops, Merritt and communities throughout Interior British Columbia, my goal is to provide professional, respectful and inclusive real estate service to every person I work with.

What does LGBTQ+ inclusive real estate service look like?

To me, inclusive real estate is actually pretty simple.

It means listening.

It means using the names and language you use for yourself and your family.

It means never assuming who your partner is, how your family is structured, who will be on title or what kind of home you are looking for.

It also means protecting your privacy, answering your questions without judgment and making sure you understand your options throughout the transaction.

Most importantly, I want you to feel comfortable telling me what matters to you.

Your home search should be about finding the property that works for your life, not explaining or defending your life.

Can LGBTQ+ people be discriminated against when buying a home in British Columbia?

British Columbia's Human Rights Code provides protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in several areas, including services and the purchase of property.

The Code specifically prohibits denying someone the opportunity to purchase property, or discriminating against someone regarding the terms or conditions of a property purchase, because of protected personal characteristics including sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

Those protections also extend to many services offered to the public.

Knowing that legal protections exist is important. Having professionals around you who treat you with respect from the beginning is important too.

What should LGBTQ+ buyers look for in a REALTOR®?

Start with the same things every buyer should look for: experience, communication, local knowledge, availability and someone who will advocate for you during negotiations.

Then ask yourself one more question:

Can I comfortably be myself with this person?

A real estate transaction can involve discussions about finances, relationships, family members, estate planning, future children, relocation, retirement and long-term plans.

You should not have to edit your life while having those conversations.

I also believe good representation means giving you objective information rather than deciding where I think you should live.

If you are comparing communities, I can help you research property values, taxes, commute times, amenities, recreation, healthcare access, housing types, municipal information and other objective factors. You decide what community and property feel right for you.

Can you help LGBTQ+ couples buy a home together?

Absolutely.

Couples buying together often have questions about financing, deposits, ownership and how names will appear on documents and title.

Those questions aren't unique to LGBTQ+ couples, but every couple's circumstances are different.

Your mortgage professional, lawyer or notary can provide advice within their areas of expertise, while I coordinate the real estate side of the transaction and help keep everyone moving in the same direction.

If something needs clarification, I would much rather stop and get the correct answer than make assumptions.

What about transgender and non-binary buyers or sellers?

You should be addressed by the name and pronouns you use.

Where legal identification or legal names are required for a real estate, financing or legal document, we can address that privately and professionally and determine what documentation is actually required.

There is no reason for the administrative side of a transaction to become the defining part of your experience.

Selling a home as an LGBTQ+ homeowner

Selling your home requires trust too.

As your listing REALTOR®, my job is to protect your interests and market the property professionally.

Prospective buyers don't need unnecessary information about your personal life. The marketing should be about the home.

I can help with pricing, preparing the property for sale, staging recommendations, professional photography, marketing, showing coordination, offers, negotiations, subject removal and everything leading up to completion.

And throughout that process, your personal information remains personal.

Moving to a smaller Interior BC community

I frequently work with people relocating from larger centres into Interior BC communities.

There are many reasons buyers choose communities such as Kamloops, Logan Lake, Merritt and the surrounding Thompson-Nicola area: housing options, outdoor recreation, a quieter lifestyle, employment, retirement, family or simply wanting more space.

When you're moving somewhere unfamiliar, you may understandably have a lot of questions.

Ask them.

I won't tell you which community you "belong" in. What I can do is provide objective information and point you toward resources so you can make your own informed decision.

Sometimes the best real estate advice isn't an answer.

It's knowing where to find the information that matters to you.

What if I'm nervous about contacting a REALTOR®?

You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

You don't need a mortgage approval before asking your first question.

You don't need to know exactly where you want to live.

And you certainly don't have to explain your personal life before we start talking about real estate.

We can simply start with:

"What are you hoping to do?"

From there, we'll figure out the next step.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find an LGBTQ+ friendly REALTOR® in Interior BC?

Look for a REALTOR® who communicates openly about inclusion, respects your privacy, listens to how you describe yourself and your family and provides professional service without assumptions. You should feel comfortable asking questions before deciding whether that REALTOR® is right for you.

Do you work with LGBTQ+ home buyers in Kamloops?

Yes. I work with buyers and sellers in Kamloops as well as Logan Lake, Merritt and communities throughout Interior British Columbia.

Can LGBTQ+ couples buy property together in BC?

Yes. Your REALTOR®, mortgage professional and lawyer or notary can help you understand the real estate, financing and legal steps involved based on your individual circumstances.

Can a REALTOR® recommend an LGBTQ+ neighbourhood?

A REALTOR® should be careful about steering clients toward or away from neighbourhoods based on protected personal characteristics. Instead, I can provide objective information about communities, properties, services and amenities so you can determine where you want to live.

Will my personal information remain confidential?

Client confidentiality is an important part of the professional relationship. I also believe that information about your relationship, gender identity, sexual orientation or family structure should only become part of the conversation when it is relevant to what you need from me.

Real Estate Should Feel Like a Safe Conversation

I have helped people through straightforward purchases, complicated transactions, relocations, estate sales, first homes, investment properties and major life changes.

Every situation is different.

But one thing shouldn't be different:  The level of respect you receive.

Whether you're gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, non-binary, two-spirit, questioning, part of an LGBTQ+ family or simply looking for a REALTOR® who believes everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, you're welcome here.

If you're thinking about buying or selling a home in Kamloops, Logan Lake, Merritt or elsewhere in Interior BC, I'm happy to start with a conversation.

No pressure. No assumptions.

Just real estate advice, honest answers and professional help when you're ready.

Delia Jones, REALTOR®
eXp Realty
Serving the Thompson-Nicola and Interior regions of British Columbia