Seattle-area real estate professional Jeanie Kendall has launched Common Ground Referrals, a nationwide brokerage designed to connect LGBTQ clients and other homebuyers with vetted, values-aligned real estate agents. The referral service is free to clients and aims to make finding an inclusive professional easier, especially in areas where discrimination remains a concern.
Key takeaways
Common Ground Referrals is built around three central goals:
- Connecting clients with LGBTQ-friendly, vetted real estate professionals.
- Serving people throughout the United States, despite Kendall’s Washington license.
- Giving clients referrals across brokerages rather than limiting them to one company.
The service is intended to reduce the uncertainty involved in finding an agent who will provide respectful, judgment-free guidance.
A response to a personal challenge
Kendall developed the idea after she and her wife moved from Seattle to northwest Arkansas. The relocation showed them how difficult it can be to identify inclusive real estate professionals in communities where LGBTQ agents may not feel comfortable publicly identifying themselves.
That experience shaped Common Ground Referrals’ focus. Kendall says the service is primarily intended to help LGBTQ people find trusted representation in locations where they may face discrimination or have limited access to openly LGBTQ agents.
Nationwide reach from a Washington base
Although Kendall is licensed in Washington, Common Ground Referrals will operate as a nationwide referral resource. Rather than personally representing every client, Kendall will connect buyers and sellers with qualified professionals in the markets where they need assistance.
The model could be especially useful for people relocating, purchasing second homes or navigating real estate transactions in unfamiliar regions. Kendall also says the service is available to anyone seeking an agent whose values align with their own.
Independence shapes the referral model
Kendall previously worked with Keller Williams Greater Seattle and now operates independently. That structure allows her to refer clients to agents at different brokerages instead of keeping referrals within a single company.
Her stated priority is matching each client with the most suitable professional. In practice, that means a referral could go to an agent at one brokerage in one market and to a competitor in another, depending on the client’s needs and the available local expertise.
Addressing trust in real estate
Real estate transactions involve major financial and personal decisions, making trust a critical part of the client-agent relationship. For LGBTQ buyers and sellers, concerns about bias or unequal treatment can add another layer of stress to the process.
Common Ground Referrals positions its vetting-focused approach as a way to remove some of that guesswork. By emphasizing inclusive service and flexibility across brokerages, the new venture seeks to create a more accessible path to real estate representation nationwide.