cover letter with house offer

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Here are house offer letter samples to win a bidding war

3 examples to use as a reference point

Editor’s Note: Regulation around cover letters may vary by state. Be sure to check your local regulation to see if you’re allowed to use a cover letter.

With multiple offers pouring in on one house , house offer letters can be the determining factor in which buyer a seller chooses. And given today’s shortage of housing inventory, don’t take lightly the importance of writing up a genuine and heartfelt letter on why owning this home is important for your future. At the end of this article, we have three house offer letter samples.

Whether it’s the future house to raise your first child in or within a few miles of your parents, let the buyer know why this specific house is perfect for you.

Angela Bao, a realtor at ERA iRealty in Plano, Texas, recently outlined tips in a HousingWire blog on how buyers can win a bidding war against all-cash offers, pointing out the importance of a cover letter.

“When you have a seller who is attached to their property and interested in seeing it go to the right buyer, a personalized letter could be the strategic advantage that gets you a winning bid,” said Bao.

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“In many cases, cash offers are made by investors looking to either flip the home or convert it to a rental property. If you are a couple looking to raise a family in that home, stating that intention in the letter could appeal to the seller’s emotional side and close the deal in your favor,” said Bao.

Several years ago, HousingWire published an article titled , “Here’s a sample cover letter to help secure your client’s dream home.”

Even though the home offer letter sample in the article is still relevant, HousingWire asked Bao, along with a couple other Realtors, to send in more examples of cover letters.

Since bidding wars are still very common in the market, hopefully these examples can serve as a reference point on how to write your own.

The three examples are below. Click to enlarge the letter. 

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How to Write a House Offer Letter (With Examples)

A good house offer letter may help sway a seller to accept your home purchase bid.

How to Write a House Offer Letter

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Potential buyers should make sure an offer letter clearly states their intent to purchase a home.

First impressions are everything. Whether you’re buying a home , an apartment or some other type of property, presenting your initial offer in a positive light paves the way for a productive negotiation process and smooth transaction.

Typically, formal offers are sent by the buyer’s broker to the seller’s broker in writing via email. In some cases, a buyer will also write a personal note to the seller to send along with it. That letter is known as a house offer letter.

In this case, the buyer’s broker will often include a short profile about the buyers and express their love for the property, and keep it brief enough so the buyers' personal letter remains impactful and is not redundant.

If the buyer is not working with a real estate agent and does not have representation, the offer would come directly from the buyer. Represented buyers can also write their own offer letter and have their agent submit it for them.

So, if you truly love a home or want to buy an investment property , how do you write the perfect offer letter that combines your personal touch with a formal purchase offer?

Keep it simple, and focus on three things: State your intentions, show that you have the financial means to make the purchase and make a personal appeal to the seller.

Here's how to write a great house offer letter:

• Start with the details .
• Show you're serious .
• Introduce yourself .
• Flatter the home seller .
• Keep the letter short .
• Go the extra mile .
• Examples of house offer letters.

Start With the Details

At the beginning of your offer letter, express your appreciation for having the opportunity to visit the property, and state your terms upfront.

Next, include information about how you plan to pay for the purchase (all cash offer or financing), your requests for contingencies ( financing contingency and inspection contingency, for example), your desired closing time frame and any other special conditions. If you’re financing the purchase, a preapproval letter from your bank should be provided along with the offer letter.

Show You're Serious

It is important to make it clear that you’re a serious buyer and you're prepared to sign a contract upon completion of the due diligence process. You should also be in touch with a real estate attorney to help with the transaction, especially if you are not represented by a real estate agent .

If you’re making an offer that’s substantially lower than the seller’s asking price, you might consider including your reasoning for the low offer. To help build your case, consider contextualizing current market conditions and recent sales of comparable properties in the same neighborhood or building to put things into perspective.

If the property is older or in need of repairs and renovations , outlining what specific updates need to be done and the approximate renovation costs can also help justify your offer.

Introduce Yourself

Presenting yourself as a human being, rather than a simple dollar amount, is key to establishing a successful negotiation position. Provide the sellers with a brief personal background and tell them about your spouse or family, if applicable.

Include career details, such as your current job and a description of your professional industry, as well as a quick summary of your career path leading up to your current position. This could also include where you grew up and which schools you’ve attended. You can even tell them about any pets you have.

Now, you’re a person with a story – you’ve painted a picture about who you are, which is harder for a seller to ignore. The seller will think of you as a human being, not just another buyer who offered a certain price for the property.

Flatter the Home Seller

Once you’ve shared a bit about who you are, shift your focus to romancing the seller when it comes to his or her home. Flatter the seller by highlighting all the things you love about the house or apartment, and explaining why it is the place you want to call home. Be enthusiastic, but don’t go overboard.

While a real estate negotiation is a business transaction, if the sellers identify with you on a personal level, they can develop an affinity toward you – particularly in a competitive bidding situation – which may mean that they offer some flexibility during a negotiation. The sellers can feel pleased that they are passing their home on to someone who will love and appreciate it as much as they have.

It's happened before where a buyer submitted an offer on an apartment that eventually ended up in a bidding war. All of the potential buyers were asked to submit their best and final offer, and at the end of the process, the seller decided to move forward with the one who had presented an offer and had a financial situation that was nearly identical to another buyer.

So, what made the difference? The seller was swayed by the fact that he and the buyer had attended the same school. Sometimes it’s something small, like that, that ends up closing a deal.

Keep the Letter Short

Keep the house offer letter short and sweet. It’s important to include just enough information and flatter the seller the right amount without overdoing it, since the latter can also have the opposite effect and turn off a seller.

In terms of recommended length, anything between one and three paragraphs is ideal but do not exceed one page, typed (font size 11-12).

Go the Extra Mile

In a competitive bidding situation , buyers can send flowers or cookies to the seller, along with a handwritten note. A small gesture like this indicates your thoughtfulness and authentic love for the property. Just be sure to keep it simple and tasteful, as you never want a seller to feel uncomfortable by being overly aggressive.

In the end, the important thing to remember is that you want to make sure your offer letter clearly states your intent to purchase a home, that you are in a sound financial position to make the purchase and that you’re providing a personal appeal to the sellers so they know their home will be in caring and responsible hands.

House Offer Letter Examples

If you're wondering where to start, check out these two house offer letter examples.

House Offer Letter Example One: Formal and Professional

Dear Seller,

Thank you for allowing me to visit [ADDRESS]. I love [ADDRESS] and I’m eager to make it my new home. I’m pleased to present my offer of [OFFER PRICE]. I am prepared to sign a contract right away upon completion of due diligence and close [DESIRED CLOSING TIME FRAME – typically you want to appear to be as flexible as possible so you might say that you can close at the seller’s convenience].

To tell you a little bit about myself, [INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF]. You can include where you grew up, what you do for work, how long you’ve been with your company and the same information about your immediate family (spouse, children, etc.

From the moment I stepped foot in your home, I immediately knew it was a place I could envision myself living for many years to come. xplain Why that is and how the home suits your lifestyle needs.

I plan to [PAY CASH OR FINANCE THE PURCHASE.] Explain how you will structure the financials of the purchase. If you plan to pay cash, include proof of funds, and if you plan to take out a mortgage, provide a copy of your preapproval letter from the bank.

House Offer Letter Example Two: Informal, With an Appeal to Emotions

From a real buyer:

We are [NAMES]. We are [longtime New Yorkers] who raised our children in [PLACE]. We met in college at [SCHOOL] University and have been married for 40 years. We moved to [Los Angeles] almost X years ago when [NAME] became a partner at [COMPANY] firm. After 30 years at [COMPANY] firm, [NAME] has decided to retire so we can focus on our next chapter. For [NAME], part of the next chapter is to pursue [PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL] opportunities here in New York City.

We’re super excited to return to NYC, the city we love, full time! We have been renting in the neighborhood for the past two years. We truly love the area and can’t wait to make it our full-time home!

From the moment we stepped into the apartment, we knew it was a place where we can enjoy this next phase of our lives and have space for our children and friends from the West Coast to visit. We love the open format of the living spaces in the apartment and the amenities in the building, including the private wine lockers (which we will put to very good use with our collection of California wines!).

We plan to pay cash for the purchase (please see enclosed proof of funds) and we can close at your convenience.

We hope to hear from you with good news in response to our offer.

Best wishes,

House offer letters aren't guaranteed to work – some sellers will only care about the highest offer – but for those sellers who have a strong emotional attachment to the property, these letters can help.

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How to write a winning house offer letter (plus, a sample).

How do you make your offer stand out to sellers? A good, old-fashioned letter might do the trick. In competitive markets, it’s not uncommon for a house offer letter to be included in an offer on a house . We’ve broken down a sample offer letter and added some easy how-tos so you can write the strongest house offer letter you can—and make that house yours.

Here’s a sample offer letter, plus some tips:

1. make your opener as personal as possible..

Get out your pen, yes, a pen (you want your letter to be authentic in every way) and a piece of good stationery. Before you get started, think about your tone. A house offer letter should be friendly and heartfelt.

Think creatively about how you address the letter. If you don’t know the owner’s name, you can still make a connection with how you address them, like this start of this sample offer letter:

Dear owners of the sweet, yellow Cape Cod with so much charm,

2. Tell them about yourself.

Many sellers like the idea of passing their home on to people who will care for it. A house offer letter is your chance to show the real person behind your offer paperwork. There’s no better way to create a human connection than helping the seller visualize your life.

My name is Anna, and my husband Jeff and I have been trying to find a neighborhood for years, and have fallen in love with yours. We think it’s the perfect place to raise a family. We’re expecting our second child in November and are looking for a little more space.

3. Point out the home’s attributes.

If the seller has lived in their home for years, odds are, they take pride in it. Even if you think it’s a fixer-upper , talk about the things you love about the house. Because who doesn’t like a compliment? In this sample offer letter, the buyer chooses a few things to point out.

We love to cook and have family over. The kitchen has such great counter space—I can just picture it holding our big Sunday dinner buffet. And I love that you’ve got a refrigerator that doesn’t show fingerprints. That will be a big help with our toddler and her cousins who always seem to have sticky hands.

And, I enjoy gardening. Of course, the first thing we noticed was your beautiful peony bush. We could tell how carefully you’ve tended to every aspect of your home…

4. Find a connection.

When you were viewing the house, did you notice the photos on the wall of children playing lacrosse? The same style of eat-in kitchen as the home you grew up in? Make a connection by mentioning what you saw.

I couldn’t help but notice the photo on the fireplace mantle of a young man graduating from Cornell. My dad grew up in Ithaca and went to school there. We spent a lot of time on Cayuga Lake with my grandmother. Go Big Red!

5. Explain your bid, even if it’s low.

Now you can move from emotion to numbers, something concrete. Be honest, polite and respectful; you don’t want them to feel as though you’re making excuses for your bid, but use your house offer letter as a way to give your offer price some context.

Although your home was a bit out of our price range, we had to take a chance on an offer because it’s everything we want and is in a great neighborhood for our family . We know you’re asking X, but we respectfully ask if you would consider Y. It’s the top of our budget range, and our goal is to turn our dream into a reality without overextending ourselves.

I work as X, and my husband does Y. We have already have mortgage pre-approval and are flexible about the date for closing on the house . We so much want this to work out well for you, as well as for our family.

6. Close with lots of thanks.

This is your closing argument and your last chance to weave in some flattery. Thank them and let them know you’re hoping to hear back from them.

Thanks so much for your time and consideration. We would be honored to live in the house that you’ve made into a beautiful home. We look forward to hearing back from you.

Did it work? If this sample offer letter does its job, and you have an accepted offer, it’s time to turn your mortgage pre-approval into a full-on home loan. Here’s a guide on how to get a mortgage .

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Real Estate | Templates

An Agent Guide to Writing a Home Offer Letter (+ Templates)

Published March 18, 2024

Published Mar 18, 2024

REVIEWED BY: Gina Baker

WRITTEN BY: Shannon Sharpe

This article is part of a larger series on Real Estate Lead Generation and Marketing .

• 1 What Is a Real Estate Home Offer Letter?
• 2 6 Items to Include
• 3 What to Avoid
• 4 How to Deliver the Letter to the Seller’s Agent
• 5 Home Offer Letter Templates
• 7 Bottom Line

As a buyer’s real estate agent, it is important to master the art of writing a compelling home offer letter. The goal is to bring the buyer’s offer to life so that a seller can clearly understand the terms without reading through a lengthy legal agreement. In short, an effective home offer letter opens the door to negotiations. It should strike a balance between highlighting essential details about the offer and avoiding unnecessary personal information about the client.

Read along to get our free home offer letter templates, learn what to include and avoid in your letter, and get details on how to deliver it to sellers.

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What Is a Real Estate Home Offer Letter?

A real estate home offer letter, sometimes referred to as a cover letter, is a written document submitted by a real estate agent on behalf of a potential buyer. This letter, which accompanies the formal purchase offer, expresses the buyer’s interest in purchasing a specific property and helps the seller visualize the offer terms. The letter should highlight specific terms or conditions the buyer believes will make their offer more appealing to the seller.

The goal of the real estate home offer letter is to connect with the seller to set the buyer’s offer apart from others. This strategy is particularly useful in competitive real estate markets where sellers receive multiple offers on their property.

Sample offer letter to purchase property (Source: Willow Nest Realty )

6 Items to Include in the Home Offer Letter

Imagine you are the seller for a moment. You have multiple offers in front of you. Which offers will you look at more carefully: the offers accompanied by a clear, detailed home offer letter, or the offers without one? I’ll let you answer that question yourself.

When competition is high, real estate agents seek ways to get their clients’ offers noticed. Now is the time to showcase your ability to deliver the offer clearly and concisely. Make sure to include the following elements items in your letter:

• Introduce yourself professionally
• Provide details of the offer
• Explain the contingencies
• Flex the financials
• Close the deal
• Put a signature on it

1. Introduce Yourself Professionally

Open your letter with a professional greeting to the listing agent. Clearly state your role as the buyer’s agent, introducing the letter’s purpose as an offer submission. Keep it clear and to the point, directing the focus toward the property and the offer details. Ensure the cover letter is well-structured, free of grammatical errors, and written in a professional tone. Focus on the property and offer details to create a strong first impression.

[Listing Agent Name]

[Real Estate Agency]

RE: Offer to Purchase – [Property Address]

Dear [Listing Agent Name] ,

2. Provide Details of the Offer

Provide a comprehensive breakdown of the offer. Be transparent about the buyer’s financing situation, ensuring the listing agent and seller will understand all the terms of the offer and what makes your buyer stand out from the competition. You can choose between two different styles when presenting the offer details. You can write it out as a paragraph or you can list the details in a bulleted list.

PARAGRAPH VERSION

We are prepared to offer [offer amount] for the property with [earnest money amount] as an earnest money deposit. [Optional: earnest money calculation explanation.] We are making this purchase [describe the financing situation objectively, e.g., pre-approved for a mortgage, able to make a cash offer] . An inspection period of [# days] is requested to conduct [list of inspections] . We [are/are not] flexible on the closing date. [Optional: provide reasoning.] This offer expires on [Date] at [Time] . [Optional: provide reason for the deadline. ]

BULLETED VERSION

Purchase Price: $[Offer Price] Earnest Money Deposit: $[Earnest Money Deposit Amount] Financing: [Financing Type (e.g., Conventional Mortgage, Cash)] Inspection Period: [Number] days Contingencies: Briefly explain any contingencies tied to the offer Closing Date: [Proposed Closing Date] Offer Expiration: This offer expires at [Time] on [Date] .

[Briefly describe any justification for price, earnest money, inspection period, closing dates, or offer expirations.] Copy to Clipboard

3. Explain the Contingencies

Contingencies are conditions or stipulations included in the offer that, when met, allow the buyer to proceed with the purchase. Each contingency acts as a safeguard, offering the buyer protection and the opportunity to withdraw from the deal without penalties if certain conditions are not satisfied.

After defining the contingency type, take this opportunity to showcase the buyer’s awareness of potential challenges and their willingness to work collaboratively with the seller to address them, leading to a smooth closing.

4. Flex the Financials

Transparency about the buyer’s financing situation is important, even if it is not the strongest offer. Clearly outline the buyer’s financial strength by providing a pre-approval letter. If the offer is cash, submit redacted proof of funds to further strengthen the offer. If funds are limited, such as in the case of a first-time homebuyer, clearly explain how the buyer has prepared for this purchase.

Sample mortgage loan pre-approval letter (Source: HomeBridge )

Common types of financing include:

• Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
• Veterans Affairs (VA)
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Conventional

5. Close the Deal

Wrap up the letter with a brief summary of the key points, reiterating the strengths of the offer.  Assure the listing agent and seller about your and your buyer’s commitment to a seamless transaction. Encourage open communication between both parties and express your willingness to address any questions or concerns promptly. Finally, express gratitude and enthusiasm for the opportunity to work together.

6. Put a Signature on It

If possible, provide a signature line on the letter instead of typed text. This adds an element of personalization that helps the listing agent and seller view this purchase as more than just another transaction. Underneath your signature, provide the phone number and email address where you can be reached.

[Your Signature (Optional)]

What to Avoid in Your Offer Letter

When writing home offer letters, it’s important to avoid certain details that could potentially harm yourself or your buyer. Here are some key things to steer clear of:

• Overly personal information: While a degree of personalization is encouraged, avoid sharing excessive personal details about your client or yourself. Stick to information relevant to the transaction to maintain professionalism and comply with privacy norms and fair housing guidelines.
• Ignoring the seller’s preferences:  If the seller has provided specific instructions or preferences for offer submissions, make sure to adhere to them. Ignoring such guidelines could create a negative impression and potentially harm the chances of your offer being accepted.
• Making unrealistic promises: Avoid making promises you cannot keep or that are beyond your control. This may lead to disappointment and can potentially harm your credibility.
• Being too impersonal: While you should maintain professionalism, don’t make the letter overly formal. Find a balance between professionalism and a friendly, approachable tone to connect with the seller on a human level.
• Neglecting legal and ethical considerations: Be mindful of fair housing laws and avoid any language or content that could be interpreted as discriminatory (words, phrases, or statements that stereotype certain individuals, or groups of individuals, based on their race, nationality, or protected class). Additionally, refrain from providing legal advice, unless you are licensed to do so.

How to Deliver the Letter to the Seller’s Agent

Once you have crafted your letter, it’s time to get the letter in the right hands. Send the home offer letter in a professional format, typically as an email attachment or a physical document, depending on the agent’s preference. Be aware of any deadlines set by the listing agent and seller to ensure you are delivering the letter and the offer in a timely manner.

• Personalize your email subject line: Write a professional subject line for your email. For example, “Offer Submission for [Property Address] – [Your Client’s Name].” This helps the listing agent identify the purpose of the email immediately.
• Include a cover email: In your email, provide a brief introduction and a quick overview of the key terms of the offer. For example, highlight the purchase price and closing date of the offer.
• Attach the offer letter: Clearly state that the offer letter is attached. Keep the email concise, encouraging the listing agent to review the attached document.
• Confirm receipt: Request a confirmation of receipt from the listing agent. You can include a sentence like, “Please confirm receipt at your earliest convenience.”
• Follow preferred communication channels: If the listing agent has a preferred mode of communication, such as email or an online platform, adhere to their preferences.
• Consider a follow-up call: If you haven’t received confirmation within a reasonable time frame, consider making a follow-up call to ensure the offer has been received and inquire about the seller’s timeline for reviewing offers.
• Respect timing: Be mindful of any specified deadlines or preferred submission times indicated by the listing agent. Timely delivery reflects professionalism and respect for the agent’s and seller’s time.
• Maintain professionalism: Throughout the communication, maintain a professional and respectful tone. Avoid unnecessary urgency or pressure tactics, as these may have a negative impact on the negotiation process and your reputation.
• Be responsive: Once the offer is submitted, be prepared to respond quickly to any inquiries or requests for additional information from the listing agent.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your offer letter is delivered in a professional and effective manner, increasing the likelihood of a positive response from the listing agent.

Home Offer Letter Templates

Home offer letter templates are necessary in today’s hot real estate market. They help buyers and agents craft strong overviews of an offer that grab sellers’ attention. These templates act as a roadmap, guiding you on how to professionally express your clients’ interest in a property.

Using a well-written template ensures your offer is clear, persuasive, and follows industry best practices. You can tailor the home offer letter templates below based on the specific property and your situation.

Template 1: Noncontingent Offer—Paragraph Version

The first example is a paragraph-styled home offer letter template in which the sale is not subject to any contingencies. It has a traditional letter format and provides all the details of the proposed sale.

[Listing Agent Name] [Real Estate Agency]

I am writing to submit an offer on behalf of my clients, [Buyer Name(s)] , to purchase the property located at [Property Address] .

They are very interested in this home and believe it would be a perfect fit for their needs. We have been very impressed with [mention objective features of the property, e.g., the spacious layout, the well-maintained landscaping, the desirable neighborhood] . We believe this property would be a [describe your situation objectively, e.g., ideal location for our work commute] .

[Buyer Name(s)] are [Describe Buyer Type (e.g., first-time homebuyers, purchasing a vacation home)] . They are very excited about this property and are committed to a smooth and timely transaction.

We are prepared to offer [offer amount] for the property with [earnest money amount] as an earnest money deposit. [Optional: earnest money calculation explanation.] We are making this purchase [describe the financing situation objectively, e.g., pre-approved for a mortgage, able to make a cash offer] . An inspection period of [# Days] is requested to conduct [List inspections] . We [are/are not] flexible on the closing date. [Optional: provide reasoning.] This offer expires on [Date] at [Time] . [Optional: provide reason for the deadline.] 

We believe our offer is strong and represents a serious buyer who is ready to close quickly. We are confident that [Buyer Name(s)] will take excellent care of this property. We are available to answer any questions and address any concerns you may have. Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to working with you toward a successful closing.

Template 2: Contingent—Paragraph Version

This example is a paragraph-styled home offer letter template in which the sale is subject to certain contingencies. It is still in a traditional letter format, but adds the details of the contingency. Here you will add details about financing, appraisal, sale of prior home, or any other situation that needs to be completed for a successful sale. Remember to be specific and transparent.

This offer is contingent upon [list contingencies objectively, e.g., sale of current home, satisfactory home inspection, mortgage approval] . We understand that contingencies can impact the timeline. [Buyer Name(s)] are highly motivated buyers and are committed to working diligently to meet all contingencies in a timely manner to ensure a smooth closing. We are available to answer any questions and address any concerns you may have. Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to working with you towards a successful closing.

Template 3: Bulleted Style—Noncontingent

This bulleted example for a home offer letter template provides the same level of detail as the paragraph version. The layout is a bit more straightforward and easier to read. There is no correct answer for which template you use. Choose the template that best fits your writing style.

Purchase Price: $[Offer Price] Earnest Money Deposit: $[Earnest Money Deposit Amount] Financing: [Financing Type (e.g., Conventional Mortgage, Cash)] Inspection Period: [Number] days Contingencies: [Briefly explain any contingencies tied to the offer] Closing Date: [Proposed Closing Date] Offer Expiration: This offer expires at [Time] on [Date] .

[Briefly describe any justification for price, earnest money, inspection period, closing dates, or offer expirations.]

We believe our offer is strong and represents a serious buyer who is ready to close quickly. We are confident that [Buyer Name(s)] will take excellent care of this property. We are available to answer any questions and address any concerns you may have. Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to working with you towards a successful closing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is it worth it to write a cover letter for a home offer.

The short answer is yes. Writing a home offer letter ensures a seller clearly understands the terms of a buyer’s offer. While a home offer letter is not a formal requirement and may not impact the seller’s decision in all cases, it can add a personal touch and help your client’s offer stand out, especially if multiple offers are on the table. Ultimately, whether or not to write a letter for a house purchase depends on the local real estate trends, the seller’s preferences, and your familiarity with this process.

How do you write a counter-offer letter for a house?

Following the same process as for writing a home offer letter, you will update the terms originally provided with the countered terms. You can leave out any duplicate information and get straight to the point. The original cover letter to purchase the property has all the details of the initial offer. You will want to highlight any changes being made to the original terms in your counter-offer letter.

What are the guidelines surrounding real estate offer letters & fair housing?

When writing a cover letter for a house purchase, it’s important to stay in compliance with fair housing laws to avoid unintentional violations. These laws are in place to prevent discrimination in housing transactions based on factors such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability.

Here are some tips for staying compliant with fair housing laws in a home offer letter:

• Focus on highlighting your buyer’s financial qualifications, such as mortgage pre-approval and financing capabilities, without delving into personal characteristics associated with protected classes.
• Stick to factual information about your buyer’s readiness to buy the property, the offer terms, and relevant timelines.
• Use neutral language, avoiding expressions that could be construed as discriminatory or biased.
• Emphasize your buyer’s appreciation for the property itself rather than the personal attributes of current owners or neighbors.
• If you’re uncertain, seek guidance from real estate professionals or legal experts to ensure your cover letter does not violate any fair housing laws. These laws apply to every individual, not just those in the real estate industry.

Bottom Line

A strong real estate home offer letter isn’t just part of an agent’s job—it’s a secret weapon in competitive markets. Mastering this skill is one way you can set yourself apart from other agents. By focusing on details, being transparent, and adding a personal touch, you’ll show sellers you’re serious about making your client’s dream home a reality.

About the Author

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Shannon Sharpe

Shannon Sharpe is a subject matter expert at Fit Small Business focusing on a wide variety of real estate content including residential and commercial sales, property management, and investing. Upon completion of an MBA in Real Estate from Longwood University, she served as the Head of Brokerage at an accredited real estate firm focusing on compliance and growth. She is certified by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and holds a designation as a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE). With almost 30 years of experience in the industry, she is passionate about sharing her wisdom with other professionals at all levels of their careers.

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Your Ultimate Guide to Crafting a Real Estate Offer Letter that Gets the House

• Making the Offer
• Offers & Negotiations
• Published on June 29th, 2020

Gayle Towell is a freelance writer from Oregon who specializes in science, education, real estate, and other topics. With master’s degrees in mathematics and physics and a passion for fiction writing, she is a polymath who enjoys sharing her learning and knowledge with others.

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At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict  editorial integrity in each of our posts.

When you’ve found the house of your dreams and you’re ready to make an offer , how do you make sure your offer stands out? While the primary factor that determines which offer a seller chooses is financial (in other words, the price you’ll pay to live in the house), if two or more offers are comparable, an appeal to emotions may allow fate to tip favorably in your direction.

One tactic that many agents recommend for just that reason is writing an offer letter to the seller. When making such an appeal, however, there are many factors to consider — and even a few legal concerns to carefully navigate. Read on to learn more and discover how to write a real estate offer letter that will get you the house.

Why write an offer letter?

As it turns out, most sellers are human beings, and as humans, they favor a good emotional connection. The business of buying and selling a house involves a lot of paperwork and a lot of numbers, and if the seller has competing offers that all look pretty similar to each other, they may find themselves looking for some sort of sign or feeling as to which one is the “right” one.

A letter that helps the seller make an emotional connection to you by sharing a little bit about yourself and what you like about the property has the potential to make your offer stand out from the crowd like a glowing beacon against the darkness of paper and math. Especially in seller’s markets, where there is lots of competition with other buyers, an offer letter can give you an edge.

Consider what the home means to the seller. It could be the house where they raised their children, full of countless birthday parties and the family dog running around the backyard. It can mean a lot to them knowing that they’re selling it to someone who will take care of it and (hopefully) love it the same way they do.

New York real estate agent Stephanie Morgan , who has more than 18 years of experience, says that, “Real estate is a highly emotional transaction,” and that whenever she got the sense that a home held sentimental value, she would work with her clients on crafting a letter.

Offer letters aren’t appropriate in every circumstance, however. If a house is being sold as part of a divorce or under some other traumatic or contentious circumstance, then it might be best to avoid stirring up potentially conflicted emotions. Such letters may also make little difference if the house being sold was an investment property or if other offers are significantly higher than yours.

Considerations in a modern world

In recent years, the possibility that offer letters may lead to violations of Fair Housing laws has made them all but banned in certain areas. You may find that your agent is reluctant to send such a letter along, or even that the seller refuses any offers that come with a letter.

This is because it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of any protected class when selling a home, including race, color, religion, sex or gender, disability, national origin, or familial status. So, for example, if the seller learns your race or family status through your offer letter, even through something as innocuous as your signature, and then uses that in the decision-making process, this can put them in legal jeopardy. In fact, even if they didn’t use that information to make their decision, it can still be a problem if anyone perceives or thinks that they did.

Complaints related to perceived violations resulting from offer letters are rare, but as Stephanie Morgan says, she has seen, “a surge in the private remarks of Realtors,” that they will not accept any offers with these “love letters” attached. In her own practice, she no longer sends letters as a matter of course, but instead only offers a sentence or two if there is a simple connection that can be made.

The building blocks to a winning letter

Use actual paper and a pen. This is a letter, not an email — nice stationery might even win you some points. Anything that can add a personal touch will increase the possibility of emotional pull.

Be sure to greet the seller by name. Starting a letter with “Dear seller” simply does not give off a personable vibe. You should be able to get the name from your agent if you don’t have it already.

Introduce yourself in the letter, but be careful not to give away too many details. You want them to have a sense of who you are, but not so much information that they can start finding reasons to dislike you. Less is more — most especially when it comes to any information that may hint at your status within any protected class, as mentioned above.

Find common ground and determine a way to make a personal connection. This can be tricky because many homes are staged to remove personal belongings. Stephanie Morgan mentions that she instructs her clients to stage their homes for exactly that reason. She says, “I don’t want people to be able to read my clients and understand where they’re coming from. It’s a bit of a poker game.”

But if you notice a beautiful garden outside, or an impeccable kitchen, you can mention the fact that you are an avid gardener or an accomplished cook. Is there a dog house in the backyard? Tell them about your plans for a new puppy.

Include details about why you love the house. For someone who has lived in the house a long time, those details are things they love, too! And besides, everyone likes to be complimented. You can really make your offer letter shine by giving them details about what you love and why you want this house to be yours.

Your offer letter might also benefit if you include (a few) financial details , especially if you aren’t offering full asking price. You can explain (respectfully) why and also mention your mortgage preapproval .

It’s also good to point out where you can be flexible . If you can let the seller pick the closing date or otherwise have the ability to offer concessions here and there, tell the seller about that. Not only does it inform them of your flexibility, but it lets them know you are personable and approachable about it.

Finally, don’t forget to say thank you. Even if the seller doesn’t accept your offer, they took the time to read it, and you should show your appreciation for that.

And speaking of taking the time to read it, be sure to keep it short . Nobody wants to read an essay — a few paragraphs to one page is sufficient.

What to leave out of the offer letter

Now that you know what to include in the letter, it’s important to examine what not to include and why.

Don’t get too personal. Any information that identifies your status within a protected class is becoming more and more of a no-no. So be sure to leave that out and instead focus on commonalities and details about the house itself.

Don’t tell the seller what you want to change. Focus on the positives only, not what you don’t love. Sometimes too much information is bad.

Morgan adds that people “don’t want to hear what you’re going to do differently because it’s almost like a judgment that they were doing something wrong with their home.”

Don’t whine. An offer letter is not a place to complain, but a place to appeal. If you think the price is unfair, or you’re not happy about the seller’s timing needs, this is not a good opportunity to voice those thoughts.

Don’t go overboard with financial details. There is such a thing as giving away too much. You don’t want to leave them either afraid you won’t be able to secure a loan, or to hint that you’re well enough off that you won’t want to negotiate the price.

Don’t contradict the purchase agreement . Try to leave the details vague in the offer letter (it’s more about emotion) and let the purchase agreement handle the specifics; if you do cite the price or another detail, make sure it corresponds with the legal document.

Don’t include a photo. You may see suggestions that you include a picture, but doing so can backfire. It’s usually safest to leave it out. This is another manifestation of the Fair Housing issue; the seller is open to a potential lawsuit if they consider an offer from a household or buyer with a photo attached and that buyer is part of a protected class.

Ready, set, write!

Let’s wrap it up! Remember: the offer letter is an appeal to emotion. It should be short, sweet, and personable without revealing information that sets anyone up for Fair Housing violation issues. In other words, focus on the property and universal topics. Highlight what you love about the place, mention common hobbies or pets, and leave out anything negative!

If you’re not sure what to put in your offer letter (or whether to write one at all), talk to your real estate agent and ask their advice.

Header Image Source: (Pixabay / Pexels)

Gayle Towell

Contributing Author

How to write the perfect offer letter to get the house of your dreams

• Competitive homebuyers are writing sellers compelling offer letters amid the hot housing market.
• To win homes, some prospective buyers get personal. But the rules are changing in some states.
• Agents told Insider how to write the perfect offer letter and what to avoid in the process.
• This article is part of " The Road to Home " series focused on helping first-time homebuyers navigate the daunting and exhilarating process of purchasing a home. 

When Ilan and Sarah Harel bought their first home in Pleasant Valley, New York, last year, they decided to get creative.

The couple, having already been burned by the competitive pandemic housing market, knew they had to go above and beyond to get a deal done.

So in addition to making an offer $5,000 over the asking price, the pair wrote a personalized offer letter to the property's then-homeowners to try and seal the deal.

The letter was unique and charming. It professed their love for the home (and its on-site chicken coop) and outlined their plans to build a future there, children and chickens aplenty.

Though the couple don't actually want children or chickens, they were ecstatic to hear they'd won the home after a nail-biting weekend waiting to hear back from the sellers.

And some of their luck, they assume, was thanks to the letter.

Scores of homebuyers (even more thanks to a red-hot housing market) write offer letters to homeowners. It can be a compelling tactic to help score points with sellers and sway them in the direction of choosing you as the winner of their sought-after property.

But there's a right way to write offer letters, and there are pitfalls to be careful of.

Related stories

"Up until recently, it has been extremely popular to write letters to homeowners to provide details about the buyer's sentimental touch to a house," Tomer Fridman, an agent from The Fridman Group , told Insider. "However, the California Association of Realtors recently sent out a warning that these letters are fraught with the potential for discrimination."

With that in mind, Insider sought the best advice from agents on how to build the best offer letter, without crossing any lines.

Writing an offer letter

"When composing an offer letter, it is best to include a brief but genuine bio about who you are and why you love the home," Rebecca Blacker , a real-estate agent with Warburg, told Insider.

"Tell the current homeowners about yourself: where you're from, what you do for a living, what you like to do in your free time," she said. "You want the current homeowners to feel like they know you and feel connected to your story."

She added: "You also want to be specific about why you fell in love with their home. Was it their beautifully renovated kitchen or the layout of the home working perfectly for your family? 

"Odds are that the current homeowners love their home for the same reason that you do, and they will like hearing that. Do not include what you'd like to change or don't like about the home. Keep it positive."

But some agents say an offer letter should be strictly business, free of personal touches. 

"The offer letter should primarily outline only objective financial terms and price," Karen Kostiw , another Warburg agent, said. She added that it was important to have an understanding of the Fair Housing Act, which protects buyers from discrimination to keep deals free of issues involving fair housing. 

"The perfect offer letter highlights the buyers' offer price and terms," she said, adding that the terms should specify the anticipated closing date and contingencies like financing and inspections. 

It's important for a seller to see a buyer's financial strength, too, she said, adding that preapprovals and proof of liquidity are important to demonstrating financial viability.

But there is room to connect with a seller: "Selling a home is emotional for a seller who has lived in a home typically for many years and created many memories," Kostiw said, "so it's genuine for the prospective buyer to create a connection by expressing their interest in the property and what features drew them to the property."

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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How to Write An Excellent Offer Letter for a House

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With intense competition in many housing markets around the country, many buyers find it’s difficult to buy their dream home at a price they can afford. In a seller’s market, buyers often have to make a larger offer than they’d like or come up with more cash upfront than they’re comfortable with. But a larger offer isn’t the only way to stand out — sometimes, an offer letter to buy a house can make a big difference. 

A real estate offer letter is an opportunity to make a connection with the seller, allowing you to introduce yourself, explain why you want to buy the home, and clarify any financial details that may need explaining. It’s an accompaniment to your offer that appeals to the seller’s emotions and might make them lead towards choosing your offer over a competitor’s offer. And you'll need all the help you can get in a hot market.

Writing an offer letter to a seller is a delicate process. There are a number of factors to consider, including a few legal ones. Here, we’ll explain how to write an excellent home offer letter that will appeal to sellers and make your offer stand out.

Why is an offer letter important?

The vast majority of home sellers are human beings, not corporations. As such, there’s an emotional element for most people selling a home. With many offers on the table and a lot of similar looking paperwork and numbers to look at, some owners may struggle to figure out which offer is the “right” offer.

In that case, a home offer letter makes your offer stand out from all the other paperwork and numbers. When you include an offer in your application, there’s immediately one thing that’s different from the rest of the offers, and it gives you a chance to make an emotional appeal to the owner. In a seller’s market, an offer letter could give you a leg up on the competition.

Even if you’ve always been a renter, you’ve established emotional connections and memories with your past apartments. Now imagine that nostalgia ratcheted up to 11 and that’s how some home sellers feel about their homes. It might have been their first home, or may have raised their children there, or met their spouse while living there. Home is where the heart is and, as such, many home sellers think with their heart when selling. Appealing to that sentimentality and showing them that you will love their home as much as they do is important for many sellers.

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When is an offer letter not appropriate?

Because offer letters appeal to the emotional side of a business transaction, there are times when they are not appropriate. For instance, if a house is being sold as part of a divorce, a death in the family, or some other tragedy, it’s best to leave it to the numbers. A sentimental offer letter might stir up complicated emotions and make a home seller uncomfortable or upset — not the reactions you want from an offer letter.

Likewise, if you’re buying a house as an investment property, sentimentality isn’t likely to make a significant impact on the seller. Or, vice versa, if a seller is just trying to maximize profit, your letter won’t make an impact if there are higher offers.

In recent years, offer letters have become more controversial as well as they can lead to violations of the Fair Housing Act . For this reason, they’re banned in some parts of the country. 

Why is that? Because Fair Housing Act states that it’s illegal to discriminate on the basis of any protected class when selling a home, including race, color, religion, sex or gender, disability, national origin, or familial status. If a seller deduces your race or family status through your offer letter and uses that information to make a decision, they may face legal penalties. Worse yet, if anyone perceives or thinks that they used an offer letter to discriminate against another person’s offer, they could still land in hot water.

Some real estate agents won’t send offer letters and some sellers won’t accept them to avoid violating Fair Housing laws. As such, you should always check with the agent and the seller before submitting a letter.

How to write a home offer letter

If your agent and the seller approve a home offer letter, it’s time to get to work! 

When you sit down to get this done, don’t feel like you have to write it all by yourself — your agent or attorney may have some good tips for you. But for now, these are some of the top do’s and don’ts for home offer letters.

What you should do

• Keep it about a page long. Don’t go overboard and overwrite this. Keep your letter to about a page, at the most. 
• Use paper and pen. Email might be easier but this is a personal note. Writing it out yourself shows you care enough to, well, write it out yourself. You might even consider using nice stationery.
• Greet the seller by name and introduce yourself. Nobody wants to be addressed as “seller,” so get the seller’s name from your agent if you don’t know it. Begin the letter formally, state your purpose, and then get to the introduction. When you introduce yourself, don’t give away too many details. Let them know what you do (especially if you’re a public servant) and why you love the house, but less is more — especially with information that might hint at your status as a (un)protected class.
• Find common ground. This can be difficult if you viewed a staged home or one where the seller had already left. Still, you can discuss the neighborhood, the backyard, the porch, or other fixed aspects of the house that you love. Dog house in the backyard? There are no rules against choosing offers from dog people.
• Explain why you love the home. Get specific with the details you love about the house but also explain how you’ll live there. Do you have a large family? Describe the holidays and family events you hope to host thanks to the giant kitchen. Working from home? Share how you plan to set up your office in that delightful reading nook.
• Include a few financial details. The home offer letter is sentimental but if you aren’t offering full asking price or you haven’t been approved for a mortgage yet, this is a good chance to clarify some points. You can respectfully explain why you’re not offering full price and emphasize your mortgage pre-approval letter, even if you haven’t been formally approved yet. This part can be tricky, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice from your agent or attorney.
• Say thank you. The closing of your home offer letter gives you a chance to make a lasting impression. Thank the seller for their time and consideration, reemphasize your interest in buying the home, and convey the sincerity of your love for the home.

What you shouldn’t do

As discussed, home offer letters are a dicey business and not always appropriate. As such, there are some boundaries to keep in mind when writing one.

• Don’t get too personal. To reiterate the earlier point, it’s good to share a little about yourself, your family, and what you do, but you cannot reveal anything that identifies your status within a protected class. For instance, be careful to use neutral terms like “partner” or “spouse” rather than “husband” or “wife.”
• Don’t say what you want to change. Sellers can be sentimental, they don’t want to think about how you’re going to change your house, they want to think about how you’ll enjoy the home they’ve already made for you.
• Don’t complain. If you think the price is unfair or you’re unhappy with the seller’s timing needs, the offer letter is not the place to adjudicate.
• Don’t give away too many financial details. Explaining why your offer is lower than the asking price is fine. If you’re concerned you may not be able to secure a loan or are unwilling to move on your offer, don’t bring it up.
• Don’t contradict the purchase agreement. The offer letter is an appeal to emotion, not a legal document. If you don’t want to pay for certain repairs, negotiate that later, not now.
• Don’t include a photo. Again, a photo is the easiest way to run afoul of Fair Housing issues. Let your words speak for themselves.

As a buyer, an offer letter to buy a house can give you a leg up in a competitive seller’s market. But it can also be the quickest way to see your offer rejected. If you’re writing a home offer letter, keep it vague, positive, and brief.

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House Offer Letter Guide

Hash-mark what is a house offer letter.

A house offer letter is a written document you will present to the seller of a home you are interested in buying that gives them a bit of background on who you are and why you want to purchase their property. While not required, a house offer letter can help you appeal to the seller's emotions and may help persuade them to accept your offer. A house offer letter can be especially helpful if they are on the fence and have interest from other buyers.

hash-mark How to Write an Offer Letter for their House

1. address the seller directly.

You want your offer letter to feel as warm and conversational as possible. So, try your best to address the seller directly and avoid phrases like "to whom it may concern." Instead, use the seller's full name if you know it. If you don't, something like "to the owners of the beautiful home at 123 Spruce Lane" will work. The more specific and complimentary you get, the easier it will be to attract their attention.  

2. Appeal to Their Emotions

The goal of a house offer letter is to sell yourself to the homeowner. Tell them a bit about yourself and your family (if you have one) and explain what it would mean if they were to sell you their house. The more you tug at their heartstrings and make a genuine connection, the greater the chances that your letter will move the goalpost.

3. Compliment the Home

People love receiving compliments and often think of their homes as an extension of themselves. Therefore, complement the home and mention specific features that caught your eye. For example, you can say how you love the way they decorated the living room or compliment their beautiful garden. Be genuine and point out things you actually like; don't just give empty compliments in an attempt to make them like you. But you want to clarify why you're interested in purchasing their home.

4. Find Common Ground

Try to find common ground with the seller if possible. People like to do business with people they trust, and they are more likely to trust you if they feel like they have something in common with you. It could be something as simple as mentioning your family if they also have a family. Or you could point out the dedicated sewing room if you also like to sew. The more you can do to find common ground with the seller, the more effective your letter will be. 

5. Highlight Your Offer

Make sure to touch on your exact offer and highlight anything that may make you stand out. For instance, if you're offering $5,000 above the asking price or paying cash, make sure you point it out so the seller is aware. Of course, their broker will likely pass on that info, but it never hurts to mention it again in case any details were miscommunicated.

6. Address Any Contingencies

In addition to highlighting any positives, it's also good to address any reservations. You should be subtle and may want to save severe complaints for an in-person discussion. But if you want something repaired before moving in or need to sell your current home before closing, it's best to address it head-on.  

7. End On a Positive Note

Finally, you should end your offer letter on a positive note. Be sure to thank the seller for taking the time to read your note and consider your offer. A tiny bit of gratitude can go a long way toward convincing you're a worthy candidate to purchase your home.

hash-mark Letter to Home Seller Example

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Smith,

Thank you so much for taking the time to review our offer on your gorgeous home. We love what you've done with the place and would be honored to live in such a lovely home.

Our names are Jane and John Jones. We are first-time homeowners with a three-year-old daughter and a five-year-old poodle. We are so excited to find a home for our family, and we think yours is the perfect fit.

We both grew up in the area and have close family nearby. Plus, your home is in the school district we want our daughter to attend, so the location would be ideal. We also noticed that you have a dog, and the yard is the perfect size for our pup to run around.

We both work in tech and spend a few days a week working from home so the extra bedroom would be perfect for a home office. Plus, the open concept living area is ideal for dinner parties when our family visits.

We want to make one small request that the mirror in the primary bathroom be fixed before we move in or discuss other options.

Thank you again for taking the time to review our offer, and we look forward to hearing your response.

The Jones Family

hash-mark House Offer Bottom Line 

A house offer letter is a great way to put a face to your offer and set yourself apart from other bidders. Ultimately, a seller isn't going to favor your offer over someone offering significantly more money just because of a friendly letter. But, if it's a close decision or you have reason to believe the seller has reservations about moving forward, an offer letter can help sway them in your favor.  

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How to Write an Offer to Purchase Letter

Homebuyers trying to stand out from a crowd of offers in today’s competitive market are often told to write an offer to purchase letter to accompany their offer. Buyers who are financing a home, or have a smaller down payment, often have trouble competing with all-cash buyers. Appealing to the seller as a person, as opposed to a contract, can sometimes give a buyer an emotional edge.

What isn’t often explained to buyers is how exactly to write that offer to purchase letter. The best ideas are often squandered by poor execution. Here is a quick guide to framing the offer to purchase letter and leveraging your best attributes by thinking from the seller’s point of view.

1. Flatter first

Your offer to purchase letter is an emotional pitch. You’re attempting to tell the seller, “I’m such a good person that you should ignore the numbers.” They need to like you. Tell the seller how great their taste in color is, how much you’d love to have their lifestyle, and what an amazing neon bottle cap exhibit they have over the fireplace. Lay it on thick, but keep it sincere. You’re selling, but you don’t want them to feel like they’re being sold a used car.

If you need some help, ask your agent for tips (here’s how to find a real estate agent in your area),

2. Get to the point

You may have 10 great ideas that you’d like to tell the seller.  They will only remember two. The seller may have 10 other offer to purchase letters to read. If you mix in your best points with your lesser points, they may all just become a jumble.

Pick two or three reasons why you will be the best buyer for this home, and make them distinctly recognizable. The more streamlined you make your message, the more memorable it will be.

3. Paint a picture

People remember what they’ve read at a far higher rate when they can see a picture of it in their head. “I really love this neighborhood because I’ve lived here and gone to school here,” doesn’t resonate.

On the other hand, “I spend half of my time walking the cobblestone streets around this block, dropping my daughter off at Gilman School and volunteering at Schnitzelfest every summer,” will trigger a visual memory for a seller.  Think “I’d be so happy in the summer to be cooking Neapolitan pizza for friends and neighbors in your outdoor wood-fired oven”.

4. Don’t remodel the house

Planning on adding a second story or changing the landscaping? Don’t mention it. You might be correct that the seller’s sewing room would make a great workout room for you, but this isn’t the time.

If you’re going to expand to create more bedrooms, you might be changing the seller’s favorite eyebrow windows in the roofline. They may have buried their dog under the tree you’re planning to pave over.  he sellers may have awful taste, but homeowners are very protective of their homes.

5. Show stability

Present yourself as a stable buyer who will have no problem closing the purchase.  Whether that is a reference to your lack of contingencies, stellar employment record, or commitment to moving in as soon as the sellers are comfortable, ease the sellers’ fears of a shaky transaction.

6. Show humility

At the same time, be humble and ask for the sellers’ blessing on your offer. “We would be so honored to live in your home,” goes much further than “We are confident that you will accept our generous offer.” The ball is in their court, and your offer to purchase letter should acknowledge that.

7. Don’t whine

The emotion of your offer to purchase letter must be upbeat and high. It needs to make the seller feel good.  Everyone wants to play with a winner. The seller doesn’t care how many other homes you’ve lost out on. They don’t care that your rent just doubled.  They don’t want to know about your wife’s sad condition that requires you to have a home like this. They just feel uncomfortable now.  In fact, they’re already tossing your offer in the round file as they finish this paragraph.

8. Close your offer to purchase letter with clarity

Remember the five-point paragraphs and five-paragraph themes you had to write in school? While those formulas are too long and rigid for this letter, their closing advice should be noted. Your excitement, motivation, and ability should be reiterated at the end of your offer to purchase letter in a quick recap.

Remember that the sellers could be reading a few letters. Make sure that the closing of your letter reminds them of your best qualities and reinforces them.

9. Sign with appreciation

The feeling your sellers will leave with can live or die on the signature line:  “Sincerely”, “Cordially”, “Best Regards”, and “Yours Truly” do not apply. This is not a business correspondence of equals. Thank the sellers for spending their valuable evening reading the ode that you wrote about your unworthy self.

“Thank you so much for your time,”  “Thank you for the opportunity,” “Your consideration is greatly appreciated,” or even “We are honored to have the opportunity,” will leave the seller understanding that you value their time and are grateful for it.

10. Spell check. Grammar check. Buddy check. Do it again.

As the recovering son of a former Catholic school English teacher, there is a dark secret I’d like to let you in on. We’re prejudiced. We look down on people who aren’t like us. There is a heinous belief ingrained in us from birth that says people who misspell and use incorrect grammar are lesser beings and not worthy of our respect.

Truthfully, though, there is an unbelievable amount of weight that some sellers will put on the preciseness of the letter. Right or wrong, the buyer’s personality will be judged from their attention to detail, ability to follow-through, and level of care in the letter. Buyer reliability is often gleaned from how well the rules of grammar are followed. If grammar isn’t your thing, find someone whose thing it is.  You never know:  the house you want to buy just might belong to my mother.

11. Write the letter, check it twice, and send it off

There are many tactics being used by home buyers to stand out from the crowd.  While not all sellers will read them, personalized offer to purchase letters are the most-accepted and popular form of unique buyer strategies available. Don’t rush the letter. Take the time to write it correctly. It just might be the most valuable single page of text you ever write.

Sam DeBord is a Realtor® and Managing Broker at Coldwell Banker Danforth & Associates. Find him on SeattleHome.com.

Sam DeBord is CEO of the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO). He has served as President's Liaison for MLS and Data Management with the National Association of REALTORS®, managing broker for Coldwell Banker Danforth, and as a director for NAR.

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How to Write the Perfect Offer Letter to Purchase Property (Free Template)

You’ve finally stumbled upon the perfect property in an ideal location and are envisioning the launch of your dream vacation rental business. But here’s the catch—you’re not the only one who’s fallen in love with this home. Multiple offers are vying for the seller’s attention.

In this situation, you’ll want to ensure you’ve learned how to craft that perfect sample offer letter to purchase property . While there are other factors at play, the right offer letter to purchase property could turn your dream into reality or force you to resume your search for the perfect home.

So, how can you draft a winning property offer letter that captivates the seller without revealing too much personal information and sounding desperate? We can help!

Whether you’re looking to buy a vacation home for those summer getaways or an investment property to diversify your portfolio, we’ve got what you need. We’re about to provide you with a free house offer letter template and show you how to personalize it to make your offer stand out.

Download our free real estate offer letter template now and start your journey towards securing that dream property.

Don’t see the form to download our offer letter template? Click here .

What is a real estate offer letter?

A real estate offer letter is your chance, as a potential buyer, to tell the seller why you’re the ideal candidate to take ownership of their cherished home. It’s usually a written document, and it’s not unlike a cover letter to a resume when you apply for a job—it’s your one opportunity to make a lasting impression, both in terms of your offer’s value and your suitability as the buyer.

While every sample offer letter to purchase property will look slightly different, here’s a preview of what ours looks like, which you can download for free here .

Why do I need a property offer letter?

While a competitive price is undoubtedly a significant factor when wooing the seller (especially in the current housing market), real estate transactions aren’t solely about money .

Many homeowners share a deep emotional connection to their properties, and they want to ensure their prized possession goes to someone who will cherish and look after them the same way they did. So while writing an offer letter for a house isn’t a legal necessity , it is your chance to convince the seller to consider your offer, even if it isn’t the highest.

Your property offer letter should strike a balance between professionalism and personal touch, showcasing your sincerity. Basically, it’s an opportunity to show the seller that their home will be in good hands.

What should you include in your house offer letter?

While there’s no fixed legal requirement regarding the contents of your letter of offer in real estate, most follow a standard format . Using a sample offer letter to purchase property can help ensure you cover all the essential bases for crafting an effective offer letter. Here’s what most free house offer letter templates include…

Personal details of the seller

This is the person whose property you want to buy and whom you’d like to impress, so we recommend you address your letter to the owner personally and include their physical address.

The bottom line

Although the vendor is probably already aware of the financial details of your offer, it’s essential to include the price you’re offering to pay for the property. You don’t need to worry about mentioning property taxes or other additional fees at this stage—just the bottom line, which is how much cold hard cash you’re offering to pay the seller.

When and how do you plan to pay

By informing the seller when you plan on paying what amount, you show them that you’re a serious buyer with a clear plan to finance your purchase. This can help reassure the owner that you’re a trustworthy buyer. It also just demonstrates that you mean business and that you have a plan in place should they accept your real estate offer letter.

Clauses of conditionality or exclusivity

If your offer will be subject to certain conditions or you’d like to negotiate a period of exclusivity , it’s important to include this information in your offer letter. For example, if your offer will be subject to a home inspection , mention this in your letter.

Offer validity date

By setting a validity date typically between 5 to 15 days , you encourage the buyer to make a decision quickly, avoiding the insecurity and headaches of a drawn-out bidding process.

Create a personal connection  

Share a bit about yourself and your enthusiasm for the property. Discuss what you appreciate about the home , how you envision your life there, and your excitement about joining the neighborhood. Find common ground to connect with the seller.

But play it safe. Now is not the time to mention your collection of pet snakes or that the home lends itself perfectly to all-night parties .

Show your appreciation for the home

Telling the owner how much you love their home by including some details you loved and what attracted you to the property in the first place adds a nice touch. Everyone likes to feel appreciated and complimented for their excellent taste. Of course, the caveat here is: Don’t overdo it and be genuine. Fake praise leaves a bad taste.

Try to relate to the owner

As with many transactions, establishing a personal connection with the seller could count in your favor. Make a mental note of anything you see during your home viewings that could help you connect with the owner. For example, if they have a dog, mention that you think the house will be perfect for your dog too.

What should you NOT include in your letter to buy a house?

By using a house offer letter template , you’ll not only sidestep common pitfalls but also ensure that your intention to purchase a home is conveyed effectively and professionally. However, let’s take a look at what you should definitely steer clear of when composing your letter to guarantee the best chance of success.

Too much information about your financial status

Avoid explaining the intricacies of your financial situation beyond the offer price and deposit. Excessive financial information can complicate negotiations and, depending on the circumstances of the purchase and how many details you give, can make it look like you’re hiding or overcompensating for something.

Any kind of criticism

Now is not the time to talk about how much you hate the wallpaper color or how you plan to knock out a few walls to make the house feel less cramped. Show appreciation for the home and avoid criticizing the owner’s style.

Contradictions

Even though the property offer letter isn’t a legally binding contract, you want to be sure that if things go well and you sign a purchase agreement, there are no surprises for the vendor . It could cause them to lose faith in you.

Pushy or aggressive language

Yes, you’re trying to sell yourself—but avoid sounding too pushy or competitive. Try to persuade the owner that you’re the right person without criticizing the competitors or bragging about your financial situation. Remember, your letter is more about persuasion than a hard sell.

Avoid sounding desperate

Maintain your composure and confidence. Desperation can give the seller the upper hand.

FAQ about real estate offer letters

Take a look at any free sample offer letter to purchase property, and you’ll see that you can write this letter in various ways. The best way to write a successful one that makes your offer stand out from the crowd is to become an expert in writing offer letters . To help you with that, we’ve tried to answer some questions you may still have on the topic below.

Can a real estate offer letter be sent via email?

Although it’s standard to send a real estate offer letter as a physical document, most people accept email offer letters these days, too. Depending on who you’re working with, a written letter might convey more professionalism and respect.

Does a real estate agent need to be involved?

No, you can submit the home offer letter yourself. However, real estate agents bring market (and off-marke t) expertise and negotiation skills to the table, making their involvement worth considering.

Is an accepted offer binding, or can the seller still walk away?

Once the seller accepts your offer to purchase a property, they can’t back out unless specific conditions are not met, such as a failure to pay the deposit or meet other contract stipulations.

Can you make an offer on a house that is under contract?

Absolutely. There are several instances when sales don’t go through. For example, when the payment conditions are not met. However, as explained above, the seller can’t consider an alternative offer while the property is still under contract.

Sample offer letter to purchase property

At Lodgify , our goal is to make your life as a vacation rental owner or aspiring property owner as effortless as possible. That’s why we work hard to provide you with all the tools you need to establish and manage your business. As promised, we offer a customizable sample offer letter to purchase property in PDF . Download it, make it your own, and set the wheels in motion for snagging your dream property.

Once you’ve secured the sale using our house offer template, and you’re ready to embark on your vacation rental business journey, explore our vacation software solutions to simplify the setup and management of your venture.

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No set up fees, no credit card details, no obligation. Try Lodgify free for 7 days.

House committee calls on DOJ, FBI to investigate doping by Chinese swimmers

The House select committee on China has asked the Justice Department and the FBI to open a formal investigation into reports that nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for a banned heart medication before the last Summer Olympics were allowed to compete after they were cleared by officials.

In a letter Tuesday, the House committee implored federal authorities to use their jurisdiction under the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act , a law that allows U.S. prosecutors to clamp down on doping at international sporting events that feature Americans as athletes, even if the alleged illegal activity happened in a foreign country.

“This scandal raises serious legal, ethical, and competitive concerns and may constitute a broader state-sponsored strategy by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to unfairly compete at the Olympic Games in ways Russia has previously done,” the committee’s chairman, Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and the panel’s ranking member, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., said in the letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray.

The letter cites a recent New York Times investigation concerning 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication banned by doping regulators , months before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The Times reported that the swimmers were allowed to compete after Chinese officials authorized them and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) declined to intervene. (NBC News has not independently confirmed the reporting.)

Chinese government officials and WADA have forcefully pushed back on the allegations.

In a news briefing in Beijing on April 22, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin blasted the “false information and reporting.” He said China’s Anti-Doping Agency concluded in 2021 that the swimmers could compete after finding they had “ingested the substance unwittingly from tainted food.” He insisted “the Chinese government has a zero-tolerance attitude toward doping.”

In a statement from April 20 , WADA said it was notified of China’s findings in June 2021 and then “carefully reviewed the decision” over a period of weeks, a process that included collecting scientific information on the substance and consulting with scientific experts. “Ultimately, we concluded that there was no concrete basis to challenge the asserted contamination,” Olivier Rabin, WADA’s senior director of science and medicine, said in a statement.

Trimetazidine is not authorized in the U.S., but it is used in some countries to help prevent angina, a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. The drug could theoretically improve blood flow and help elite athletes perform for longer stretches of time.

Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi argue in their letter that it is “imperative to assess whether these alleged doping practices were state-sponsored, which could warrant further diplomatic measures by the United States and the international community. Furthermore, with less than 100 days until the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, understanding the full scope of the scandal is critical in ensuring our U.S. athletes are competing in a fair competition.”

The International Olympics Committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter.

The lawmakers conclude their letter by requesting a briefing to “better understand the alleged doping by Chinese swimmers and the potential cover-up by Chinese authorities and international organizations.”

The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act is named for Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the Moscow anti-doping lab and a key whistleblower who exposed Russia’s alleged scheme to cheat in the 2014 Olympics. The act was signed into federal law by former President Donald Trump in December 2020.

Daniel Arkin is a national reporter at NBC News.