Brad Twiss on Oregon’s Homebuyer “Love Letter” Ban (The Guardian)

In 2021, The Guardian looked at Oregon’s new law banning buyer “love letters,” the personal notes buyers send sellers to stand out in competitive markets. Supporters said the letters can reveal a buyer’s race, religion, family status or other protected traits and open the door to discrimination. Opponents argued the ban restricted free speech.

Neighbors Realty owner Brad Twiss explained both sides. Sellers are curious about who will live in their home next, and letters satisfy that curiosity. But they also force buyers to reveal personal details that can work against them. “For every client of mine who’s won because of a letter,” he said, “that means there was another buyer who lost.”

Responding to the law’s challengers, Brad said: “I’ll venture to guess that none of them have ever been passed over for a home or job and been forced to wonder if it’s because of the color of their skin or who they love. Privilege makes it hard for people to understand why this is so important for prospective buyers.”

Update: The ban never took effect. A federal judge blocked it in March 2022. In May 2022, the state agreed in a court settlement that it violated the First Amendment, and enforcement was permanently blocked.

Click here to read the full story from The Guardian.