Love at First Sight
It’s become increasingly common for potential homebuyers to write “love letters” to sellers – short personal notes (sometimes accompanied by photos and videos) designed to create an emotional connection and stand out amongst a crowded field. In an increasingly tight market where houses are sold within minutes of listing, those shopping for a home look for any advantage to ensure their offer stands a fighting chance. One buyer, for example, did a bit of digging on LinkedIn to find that the seller was a reiki healer. In her letter, she wrote about “craving the healing community of the Pacific Northwest” and “lov[ing] the energy of the house” – a strategy that proved successful.
It turns out details like these can help letter-writers secure homes despite offering substantially less money than other bids. As realtors are quick to point out, “sellers are very curious about buyers – some express a desire to find someone who can properly maintain the home or be good neighbors. The buyer letter really scratches that itch for a lot of sellers who wonder about these people on the other side of an offer.” It’s incredibly persuasive to be told: “I love your home. I want to build a life here. I'm like you.” Some extra work and a personal touch go a long way. Ultimately, it may be that doing a bit of research and crafting a compelling pitch is simply what it takes to succeed in a highly competitive market. On the other hand, there is a worry that the practice of buyer letters further exacerbates housing discrimination.
There’s already a sizable racial gap in homeownership in the U.S. Imagine being told that your bid was the highest offer, but the seller didn’t think you were a good fit for the neighborhood. While the Fair Housing Act forbids discrimination on the basis of things like race, religion, or family, the details casually expressed by would-be buyers in these personal letters threaten to undermine that prohibition (“My twins can’t wait to spend Christmas in this house”). Concerns like this have prompted some states to try to outlaw buyer letters. In order to remove the possibility of unconscious bias, perhaps fewer details should be shared about who a potential buyer is.
But is bias really ineliminable? A true commitment to eliminating the possibility of prejudice would require more demanding measures in anonymizing documents, hiding identities, and thoroughly isolating sellers from buyers. That kind of dedication seems impractical in the digital age. The truth is out there. Besides, maybe this is all just an overreaction. What’s the harm in providing the seller with as much information as they can get to make the right decision? What’s the harm in letting this deeply significant exchange be more than a cold, dispassionate market transaction? Why shouldn’t buyer and seller be allowed to bond over something they both love?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Is it morally wrong for a homebuyer to send a seller a love letter? Why or why not?
Should homeowners be free to choose whom they transact with without interference from the state?
What are the limits, if any, to state regulation of the housing market to ensure that racial and religious discrimination are diminished?
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