If you’re house hunting in Oregon, you’ll have to find another way to make your offer stand out from the crowd, as the state has banned so-called love letters beginning in January.
According to Inman, the new law will require the selling agent to reject “any communication other than customary documents” from a potential homebuyer, including photos.
Love letters are generally used by would-be buyers to share more personal details about themselves when submitting an offer. Throw in a family photo, talk about your kids, and make an emotional appeal, if you will.
Critics of the tactic, however, argue that the letters could inadvertently create discriminatory practices that violate the Fair Housing Act. By revealing details and/or photos of themselves, buyers could open themselves up to discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion or ableism, to name a few.
Per Inman, while the Oregon law doesn’t go into effect until January, some agents are already implementing the no-letter policy.