Do LGBT people live in more upscale areas?

[Julie Marie]

Julie and I were looking at LGBT friendly areas to some day move to and started with West Hollywood, CA.  We were blown away at what you couldn't get for $500K.  Mostly what you could get was condos, typically 1 bedroom.  If you wanted a house you'd better have close to a million to spend.

Then I remembered a documentary I saw that chronicled a run down neighborhood (I think it was outside Boston or Philly?) that gays populated and eventually it became known as a gay neighborhood.  The property value soared to match or exceed some of the better surrounding areas.  A local Realtor was interviewed and he said "when the gays move in the property value goes up".

The more I looked, it seemed "affordable" housing was in areas known not to be LGBT accepting.  And if you want LGBT accepting you will pay more for real estate.

So what does all this mean?   

You'd think depressed areas would be clamoring to get LGBT folks to move in!

Julie

[lisagurl]

So what does all this mean?

Do not try to live in a LGBT accepting area. Your sex life is non of anyone's business.

[Janet_Girl]

Julie and I were looking at LGBT friendly areas to some day move to and started with West Hollywood, CA.  We were blown away at what you couldn't get for $500K.  Mostly what you could get was condos, typically 1 bedroom.  If you wanted a house you'd better have close to a million to spend.

one answer.   it's North Hollywood? 

And of course the property values rise.  Because someone is taking pride in their home.

Janet

[Alyssa M.]

Places that are accepting of LGBT folk typically are accepting of diversity in general, and therefore foster more enterprise and development, whether in terms of business or the arts. Typically queer folk live whereever they can -- not upscale at all, on average -- and those places that are more welcoming become chic as a result of all the interesting people moving in. Then the poor queer folk, artists, and envelope-pushing entrepreneurs have to find somewhere new.

[MeghanAndrews]

It's just supply and demand. Weho is a very safe (for a large city) area. The mainly-LGBT population that live there take care of it, watch out for each other and elect politicians who are in the community. Crime tends to stay out of areas where money is, sometimes. A lot of people desire to live in this part of Los Angeles so it drives up prices. $500K in Weho gets you a studio or 1 bed, 1 bath, 400 sq. ft. place. The weather is the same most of the time...70's/sunny/no humidity. It's expensive but I wouldn't trade it for the world! I don't mind living in the living room of a 1 bed/1 bath place and paying $800 a month for the safety of my area and the stuff to do. You just can't beat Weho for entertainment Meghan

PS, Weho still isn't near as expensive as Castro in SF...right Tekla?

[Luc]

That's funny to hear... when the ex and I were looking to move somewhere in L.A., West Hollywood was the cheapest place outside of the San Fernando Valley... though that was for apartment rentals. I'm not sure whether glbt folk generally populate more upscale places, but I have noticed there's a far larger concentration in cities... probably due in some part to the greater availability of resources.

SD

[assaultingthepanopticon]

I read that a lot of traditional "gayborhoods" like the Castro and other places struggle with maintaining a gay identity precisely because of the degree of gentrification.

Nothing against our wonderful allies, but lots of times people move in so that they can live in a "diverse area," which results in soaring property values that prevent the neighborhood from attracting new, younger gays and lesbians, and depending on how property taxes work in your area can also force existing residents out.  And so the gay identity of the community dies.

But then again, that's the lifeblood of cities and people who live in community: neighborhoods change as people flow.  Gotta learn to flow with it.

[Sandy]

I'm trying to turn our little neck of the woods LGBT friendly. 

Pat and I do nothing to hide our affection for each other and all our neighbors know us as "partners", or "the girls", or maybe they even whisper "lesbians" when we're out of earshot.    I've been tempted to paint either the rainbow flag on the garage door or some other rainbow motif image.

At the grocery store the other day I noticed a similar couple I had not seen before.  Maybe we're attracting the gay crowd.  I'll let you know if my house appreciates in value!

-Sandy

[lizbeth]

The mainly-LGBT population that live there take care of it, watch out for each other and elect politicians who are in the community.

in the case of Hillcrest in San Diego, that's exactly the case. The place was a real crapfest and was really run down for years. when the LGBT started moving into the area they cleaned up the area, opened new businesses and really made a nice place to live for themselves. now it's a model community for the rest of San Diego (and more).

[Mister]

It's just supply and demand. Weho is a very safe (for a large city) area. The mainly-LGBT population that live there take care of it, watch out for each other and elect politicians who are in the community. Crime tends to stay out of areas where money is, sometimes. A lot of people desire to live in this part of Los Angeles so it drives up prices. $500K in Weho gets you a studio or 1 bed, 1 bath, 400 sq. ft. place. The weather is the same most of the time...70's/sunny/no humidity. It's expensive but I wouldn't trade it for the world! I don't mind living in the living room of a 1 bed/1 bath place and paying $800 a month for the safety of my area and the stuff to do. You just can't beat Weho for entertainment Meghan

PS, Weho still isn't near as expensive as Castro in SF...right Tekla?

Not at all.  Friends of mine just bought a 2bed/1bath condo 1 block from castro.  $945k.

Real estate in California- at least coastal CA- is pricey.

[lisagurl]

Not at all.  Friends of mine just bought a 2bed/1bath condo 1 block from castro.  $945k.

How about 4 bedroom 6 bath Mc Mansion over 6500 sq ft in a gated community with 3 acres 3 car garage with many extras, built to super environmental standards. all for 600K?

[tekla]

Golly gosh, I've never compared, though the Castro is pretty spendy.  But both are in California, which is more surreal estate then real estate.

At any rate, of a lot of this is DINK* deal, not necessarily limited to gays, but lots of gay couples do qualify as the DINK deal.

Urban sociology term meaning: Double income, no kids - i.e. lots of disposable income, and seeing things that are trendy more than good schools for the kids.

[Mister]

How about 4 bedroom 6 bath Mc Mansion over 6500 sq ft in a gated community with 3 acres 3 car garage with many extras, built to super environmental standards. all for 600K?

where?

[lisagurl]

where?

MS

[Mister]

MS

Well, that makes sense.  It's MS.  Who wants to live there?

[lisagurl]

Well, that makes sense.  It's MS.  Who wants to live there?

Clean air, mild winters, fresh produce, green forests, no traffic jams, low cost of living, and the birth place of Elvis.

[Mister]

Great.  it's still Mississippi.

[lisagurl]

Great.  it's still Mississippi.

It beats LA

[Alyssa M.]

Awesome.

I'll take somewhere that has a decent concerts, some theater, good restaurants, isn't so sweltering hot you can't go outside in the summer, isn't dead flat, is within reasonable driving distance to some of the best lift-serviced skiing, climbing, and generally being outside on the planet, and, oh yeah, where nobody cares whom I date and I might actually find a nice girl to settle down with.

Sorry, I'm not really that into McMansions. Frankly, I don't need all that much space to keep air-conditioned in the sweltering summers. And I prefer the 30,000 acres of beautiful open space walking distance from my apartment over any back yard in MS.

I really don't get how people can stand to live there -- and I've met a few who did and loathed it, and a few natives who liked it a lot -- but if it's you thing, by all means, stay put and enjoy it.

[tekla]

I suppose its possible to live without a Coast, but why?  I got mountains, skiing five hours away, the beach is 30, the redwoods, and the deserts.  I'm not much into LA, I like other places in Cali more - I've lived in the Midwest, nice folk and all that - cheep, sure.  But I'd rather live here.  And its OK if you don't.  Everyone can't.