Say Goodbye to Love Letters

Earlier this month the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2550. This bill "Directs seller’s agent to redact or withhold communication from buyer to seller as necessary to help seller avoid selecting buyer based on buyer’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, familial status or source of income, in violation of state and federal fair housing laws."

What is often referred to as a buyers letter or love letter, is communication written by a buyer to submit with their offer. The hope is whatever is written in this letter will speak in the buyers favor, allowing their offer to be accepted. With multiple offer situations it's even more common for these type of letters to be submitted. However, it puts the seller at risk in violating fair housing laws.

Oregon is the first state to make these communications unlawful to accept. The new law goes into effect January 1, 2022, but most brokerages are beginning to practice this policy now and share with their clients the change taking place.