Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Communication between prospective buyers and community members?

[Mariana Almeida (missmgrrl]

You're California as am I. I think it's related to this law below, aimed at 
fair housing: 
The **Buyer Love Letter Ban**, introduced by Assembly Bill 133 (AB 133), is 
effective from January 1, 2024. This law prohibits real estate agents from 
delivering "buyer love letters"—personal letters or notes from potential buyers 
to sellers that often attempt to emotionally appeal to the sellers, hoping to 
influence their decision.
These letters typically contain personal details, like family stories or 
background, which can inadvertently introduce biases, potentially violating 
fair housing laws. The goal of AB 133 is to reduce the risk of discrimination 
in real estate transactions by preventing decisions based on protected 
characteristics, such as race, religion, familial status, or national origin, 
which can be implied through such letters.
By banning these letters, California seeks to ensure a fairer and more 
objective process for home purchases.
While a direct conversation between a buyer and seller isn’t covered under this 
specific law, such discussions could still risk the same concerns around fair 
housing violations if they lead to decisions based on protected characteristics 
like race, religion, or family status. Both parties should be cautious to avoid 
any discriminatory practices, whether intentional or not, during direct 
interactions.
The above was written by ChatGPT.
Thanks,Mariana