an offer on your home will be accompanied by a “love letter”. There isn’t anything wrong with a love letter as long as the letter is mainly about the house and how much the buyers like the property.
Buyers could make an offer and include a letter about how much they like the house and admire the gardens and love the neighborhood. I once had a seller who accepted an offer mainly because of a love letter.
Usually, those love letters never make it to my home seller clients. I ask them if they want to see the letter and encourage them to say no. Why would I do that? Because I am concerned about fair housing violations. If a seller chooses one offer over another based on the family status of the offerer or how the buyer looks that might be a fair housing violation.
As a real estate broker and agent, I can not help any of my clients discriminate against anyone who wants to buy a house.
Usually, when I explain fair housing to my clients they decide not to view the buyer’s love letter.
Buyers who choose to write these letters should omit pictures of themselves and their families and focus on the house they are making an offer on. They may want to include personal information about where they work or what they do for a living.
When the buyers do not know the sellers they can put information in the love letter that has a negative impact. Maybe the house is on the market because of a death or divorce or financial problems.
I meet homeowners who tell me their home should be sold to someone who will fill it with children. Choosing a buyer based on family status is a fair housing violation.
Learn more about fair housing
