4 Tips for Writing the Perfect Home Offer Letter in California

The California housing market is hot right now as buyers compete amid a tight supply of listings. Many first-time homebuyers are making use of historically low interest rates to buy a property after years of living in metropolitan centers. 

There are many reasons why California draws its residents, from seeking riches in Hollywood, San Francisco, or Silicon Valley, to buyers wanting the perfect climate or sweeping views of nature found in the Golden State. 

No matter the reason, each buyer brings a different story to the deal table. When the competition is fierce, a personal offer letter to the owner can help close the deal on the home of your dream - in addition to your financial qualifications of course.

Crafting the perfect offer letter in Los Angeles, San Diego, or San Francisco means sincerely writing about your situation and connecting with a seller as they let go of a home they've built memories in. 

There is no one size fits all when it comes to personal letters, but there are several tips buyers can keep in mind when writing an offer letter for a California home. 

Open up about yourself to the seller 

Sellers in this market have multiple offers in front of them at the moment, and showing a little heart through an offer letter can help a buyer’s deal stand out. Sharing personal stories in an offer letter about your background, explaining what it is you do for work, and outlining what interests you, can give a seller an idea of who a buyer is beyond their financials. 

Mortgage pre-approvals inform a seller of the financial qualifications of a buyer ahead of any transaction, but personalized offer letters give buyers a platform to tell their savings story. Prospective homeowners can spend a sentence or two writing about how diligently they have worked to save and why they are confident in their ability to afford a home in the long run.

While buyers should be personable, they need to be wary of oversharing in their offer letter and remain focused on their reasons for moving, the property, and the deal. Explaining your connection to a particular neighborhood or generically describing how this neighborhood brings you closer to your passions or work will resonate with sellers. 

Share your dreams about the neighborhood

Considering the temperate climate, the endless outdoor expanses to explore, and the plethora of cities to shop for a home in, it is not hard to imagine why the California housing market is so active. But savvy buyers can cut through the competition in explaining why this particular slice of the Golden State is perfect for their future. 

Seeing that Los Angeles sits within a confluence of nature and cityscape, buyers can connect with someone selling a Hollywood Hills home by writing about how their property provides hiking right outside the door. If art is your passion, paint a portrait through words for a seller as to why that East Hollywood Spanish tile-roofed home perfectly situates them in the middle of the Los Angeles art scene. 

Beyond personal passions, buyers should bring up what motivates them to search in a specific area, such as a childhood connection or how this home gets them closer to the job of their dreams. Knowing you directly improved someone's life is a powerful motivator, and it might be the needed push for a seller to accept a particular buyer’s offer.

Celebrate the additions and remodeling work

California is home to many designer homes, and while not all homeowners customize their homes, handy homeowners and designers in the Golden State take pride in their remodeling work. Whether it be through their skills or bringing in professionals, letting go of years worth of personally-designed work is difficult, and buyers need to show their appreciation in their offer letter. 

Buyers in the final stages of an offer process can connect with sellers by extolling the beauty of that renovated bathroom, even if you plan to paint it over down the line. Sellers want to know they are passing off their masterpieces to caring hands, and conveying your love of sweeping Beverly Hills vistas provided by the remodeled floor-to-ceiling windows can cinch that deal. 

Aspirational buyers can further personalize their letter by explaining how the second bedroom the seller built will house extended family living a few hours outside of city limits. Extolling the beautiful ocean views you saw in the walkthrough of a Pacific Palisades mansion home can elevate your offer letter to stand out amongst the sea of offers a seller has in front of them. 

Strike a serious tone

It is usually pretty late in the offer process when a buyer considers penning a letter, and sellers naturally assume that everyone wants the California home they are selling. Buyers can get a leg up on the competition by striking a solemn tone in an offer letter, convincing sellers as to why you need their home. 

Imagine the situation the seller is in. They are letting go of a home and likely shopping for a new one themselves. They want to see offers matching the level of intensity they bring to their own search. Sellers want to ensure the buyer they choose can make it to the finish line, and referencing your willingness to work with the seller can push their confidence in your favor. 

For instance, buyers can explain how they can quickly close on a deal through an all-cash buy or how willing they are to be flexible with closing date if the seller desires.

Buyers should keep their writing short and sweet, as a meandering offer letter will lose the interest of the reader. Using one page, buyers should concisely explain to the seller why their Sherman Oaks home architecturally fits their life goals while extolling the virtues of the neighborhood and thanking the seller for considering their offer. 

Prevu Real Estate, Inc. is a licensed real estate broker in California, license number 02134758.