With Arizona’s hypercompetitive real estate market, it’s not uncommon to have potential buyers have a desire to write a personal message to sellers with the hope it would encourage them to accept their bid above others.

While listing agents do not have the authority to withhold such a letter, nor does a buyer’s agent violate the law by simply delivering one, these letters could reveal the personal information or characteristics of a buyer as a basis for a seller’s decision to accept or reject the offer.

The federal Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate in the sale of real estate on the basis of a person’s:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• Sex
• Handicap (disability)
• Familial status (includes children under the age of 18 living with parents and legal guardians and pregnant women)
• National origin

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, before the next time you are faced with a buyer love letter, consider these best practices to protect yourselves and your clients from fair housing liability:

• Educate your clients about the fair housing laws and the pitfalls of buyer love letters.
• Remind your clients that their decision to accept or reject an offer should be based on objective criteria only.
• If your client insists on drafting a buyer love letter, do not help your client draft or deliver it.
• Avoid reading any love letter drafted or received by your client.
• Document all offers received and the seller’s objective reason for accepting an offer.

Arizona REALTOR® and 2020 Frank Dickens Excellence in Education Award winner Mandy Neat says:

I tell agents that ‘love letters’ can pose a problem.  I also breakdown to them on why… However, how do we stop a buyer from wanting to tell their own story?  Also, how can we mandate brokers to not allow this if they do not know until there is a problem?

One item I have been teaching is on the listing side… As your listing agent, I am obligated to send you all items that are sent to me.  However, for you to choose the offer terms best for you, I would suggest not opening any personal letters from the buyer.  This will keep you objective and avoid potential fair housing violations based on the information provided.

SUMMING UP

A letter of introduction could provide the seller with information that might lead the seller to reject an offer on the basis of a protected class.  Therefore, the best business practice would be to refrain from asking for letters of introduction if they were not offered voluntarily by a buyer.