In a competitive real estate market, potential buyers often look for creative ways to stand out. One of the more personal approaches includes writing a “love letter” to a home seller. This letter typically expresses the buyer’s admiration for the home and explains why it is a perfect fit for them.
While such letters can be heartfelt and persuasive, they can also inspire potentially negative legal and ethical implications. As such, the practice of writing and submitting a love letter should only be carried out after careful consideration.
Potential advantages of this approach
If you are in the market to buy a new home, you should know that a well-crafted love letter can create an emotional connection with a seller, making your offer more memorable. For sellers attached to their homes, knowing their home will be cherished may be as important as the financial offer. To that end, in a multiple-offer scenario, a personal letter might help your bid stand out. When offers are close in terms of price and terms, personal appeal can tilt the balance in your favor.
Potential drawbacks of this approach
With this said, it’s important to understand that love letters can inadvertently lead to fair housing violations. They often contain personal information that could reveal the buyer’s race, religion, family status or other protected characteristics. Sellers who make decisions based on this information—consciously or unconsciously—might violate fair housing laws.
While the emotional appeal of your note can be an advantage, it also opens the door to personal biases that could affect the seller’s decision. This might disadvantage other potential buyers who are equally qualified but did not send a letter or did not share personal details that resonated with the seller.
Making a decision
While writing a love letter to a home seller might endear you to a seller and elevate your offer, it also risks injecting personal bias into the transaction and potentially leading to legal complications. As such, it’s generally not a good idea to submit a love letter to a seller unless you’ve received personalized legal guidance to the contrary.