LGBT Florida Benefits

social@amediamarketing.com (Leslie Laney) — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 14:10:21 GMT

House Hunting in Florida? Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer individuals and LGBTQ families can be a part of progressive change.

In a 2016 report from the Florida Association of Realtors, researchers shared that in Florida 89 percent of homeowners identified as heterosexual and five percent as gay or lesbian, compared to the U.S. national average of 90% straight, 3% gay or lesbian, 1% bisexual. Both Florida and the national stats had 7% preferring not to answer.

What does this mean for the LGBTQ community? One can infer that Florida is a hot spot for gay real estate and that forward-thinking municipalities are offering safe havens for LGBTQ singles and families. While some Florida areas are most definitely “OUT” and have rainbow flags flying in their gayborhoods, and Fortune 500 corporations, like Disney, publicly showing their support for the LGBTQ community there are parts of Florida that are not as progressive, and that is why we encourage LGBTQ individuals and families to live in communities where they will feel accepted, included, at-home, and free to thrive.

While it will take a gay village to make all villages gay-friendly, we can assure you, Florida, she is a-changing for the better in many ways:

Several counties and cities have enacted anti-discrimination ordinances pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations.

In 2010, we saw the end of a 33 year-old ban on same-sex adoptions, with a comprehensive Florida same-sex adoption reform being made law by the Governor in 2015.

Conversion therapy is completely banned in many Florida cities, including the Greater Miami metropolitan area.

Nine counties, thirty cities, and one town in Florida offer domestic partnership benefits available to same-sex couples.

A child’s birth certificate can list both same-sex parents.

Currently, Florida hate crime laws include those based on sexual orientation, but unfortunately do not include coverage for gender identity.

All Florida state employees who were legally married at the time of retirement are eligible to retroactively list their spouse as a beneficiary.

All Florida state employees can include their same-sex spouses in family health insurance plans.

The LGBTQ community in Florida is front and center in the state’s political landscape. Equality Florida has identified more than 350,000 same-sex and pro-LGBT voter households in Florida.

There are many metropolitan areas with LGBT Chambers of Commerce supporting LGBT-friendly resorts, restaurants, businesses, industries, and services.

Equality Florida honors the 75% of Fortune 500 companies who include non-discrimination policy coverage for LGBTQ individuals in the workplace and formed the Equality Means Business to spotlight employers in Florida who understand diversity is good business. Their goal is to “improve Florida’s national and international reputation as a welcoming place to live, work and visit.”

There are numerous events that are promoting inclusion and acceptance, and the VISIT FLORIDA has a page dedicated to some of the most popular: http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/florida-events/florida-lgbt-events.html Here you can find information about Sculpture Key West, Aqua Girl South Beach, Gay Days, Orlando, Gay Spring Break, Key West, Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Miami, Pridefest, Fort Lauderdale, Tropical Heat, Key West, Pridefest, Key West, St. Pete Pride, St. Petersburg, Womenfest, Key West, FantasyFest, Key West, White Party Week, South Beach, and Winter Party Festival, South Beach.

There are LGBTQ- friendly Florida beaches on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

5 Tips For Being A Good Mortgage Candidate

social@amediamarketing.com (Leslie Laney) — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 14:06:05 GMT

No matter who you are, whether you’re straight or LGBT, or how many homes you’ve purchased, applying for a mortgage can seem a bit daunting. It doesn’t have to be if you maximize how you appear on paper and are organized.

A few things to keep in mind when buying property as an individual or with a partner, whether it’s with a spouse, partner, or friend, everyone involved will have their credit pulled. Then everyone’s numbers and records will be assessed to determine what type of loan you qualify for and how much you will a lender will pre-qualify a mortgage amount.

If you are buying a property jointly, now is the ideal time to talk to a licensed, qualified financial planner or lawyer, who specializes in LGBT home buying, to help you determine your partnership options and how to minimize taxes. Learn more about your options from this great article from the Human Rights Campaign about LGBTQ Property Ownership and Discrimination http://www.hrc.org/resources/housing-for-lgbt-people-what-you-need-to-know-about-property-ownership-and

It is incredibly important to be pre-qualified before you start the home buying process. Here are five tips that will improve your chances of getting approved for a mortgage loan, regardless if you are self-employed, a W-2 earner, retired, a first time home buyer, buying a home, buying a condo, or even vacant land for your dream tiny home.

Improve Your Credit Score. Creditors see your credit score as a reflection of your ability to borrow money and then pay off debt, efficiently and on-time. Currently, a credit score of 700 or above is considered good, and above 800 is considered excellent. Do you know what your score is? You can use www.annualcreditreport.com to check your score annually for free and resolve any issues that may cause concern. Doing so can help remove blemishes that could otherwise prevent you from receiving a competitive interest rate or mortgage loan altogether.
Save! Savings can illustrate two things – 1) offering a large down payment can build instant equity and makes lenders see you as less of a risk and 2) having emergency funds illustrates that you’ll be able to make on-time payments in the lean times and this is very appealing to lenders.
Reduce Your Monthly Expenses. Lenders will expect your mortgage payment to be a reasonable portion of your net income. They also take into account what else is drawing down your income, such as car payments, credit cards, and child support or alimony. Reducing monthly expenses means that you can afford to pay more for a monthly mortgage payment, thereby increasing your chances to get approved for a higher loan amount.
Know when to jump in the game. While conventional advice suggests you should have two years of employment history, there are other determining factors, such as if your savings are adequate and interest rates are low. Speak to a qualified mortgage broker to review your standing.
Organize, Organize, Organize. Ask a mortgage broker (or two) for what paperwork they would require during the lending process. Use this as a mortgage checklist to keep your records organized and prepared for when you finally find your dream home and submit an offer. If your search process takes three or four months, make sure you spend time each month to update the records. Having this discipline means you’ll be stress-free when your offer is accepted.

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LGBT Florida Benefits

5 Tips For Being A Good Mortgage Candidate