No more buyers letters to sellers?

[Gregory Schwartz]

I'd like to know what you think. How do we stand out in a competitive market? 

As a Realtor and investor, I have always recommended buyers included a letter to the seller describing why they are a perfect fit for that particular property. 

But according to NAR guidance, this is now grounds for discrimination based on fair housing laws.

Love Letters or Liability Letters?

[Michael K Gallagher]

@Gregory Schwartz yes! We’ve seen this here in central Ohio for several years. You can still have them write and send letters, but the letter should be vetted/read over to make sure there is nothing in them that violate fair housing.

When I sold my personal residence back in 2018 my realtor couldn’t show me any of the letters because one letter came with a picture depicting the family, so therefore that letter violated fair housing, and my realtor then could not show us any of the letters because if they showed us the rest and not the one with the picture, that also would violate fair housing.

So you can certainly still use them, but the buyer should be educated on what is and is not permitted and needs to be done carefully and with intent.

Cheers!