How to write letter expressing my interest in buying a house?

Robert66

Hi all,

I want to write a letter expressing my interest in buying a house. There are a hundred or so houses that I am specifically interested in. I can see from various forums that this has worked for other people but I can’t find much advice on what to say in the letter. This is what I’ve come up with so far:

“Robert
(Landline)
(E-mail)
(Date)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a first time buyer hoping to buy a house in this area. I wish to express my interest for buying yourhouse. I apologise if this letter seemsintrusive but I’m not having much luck with estate agents! If you are considering selling your house then please read on.

My name is Robert. Iam 24 and I currently live with my parents near Ringmer. I work at Gatwick Airport. I am looking for a 3 or 4 bed house somewhere in Brighton and Hove. I want to find somewhere that could be my home for many years. I have sent you this letter because I particularly like the area where you live. I will consider houses in any condition as long as there are no major structural problems.

I have my finances in place and am chain free so could proceedwith buying a house immediately. As Ihave contacted you directly you would avoid paying estate agent’s fees. If you are considering selling your house then please contact me either by phone or e-mail. Thank you very much for your time.

Kind Regards,
Robert”

There are a few things I’m not sure on. I don’t know whether to include the amount I can afford to spend. I can afford a lot for a first time buyer so I don’t want home owners to dismiss my letter because they don’t think a first time buyer could afford their house. Equally I don’t want them to think that I’m offering them the full amount as their house may not be worth it!

I don’t know how much personal information to include (address, surname e.t.c). I want to be as forward as possible so that they don’t think I’m an estate agent or an investor. However, I’m also telling strangers that I’m worth a bit and giving them a load of my personal information; something I’m not very comfortable with!

I also don’t know whether to include my age. I think that some people will think that I’ve worked hard to get to where I am and so be more inclined to consider selling but some will be envious or bitter that a 24 year old can afford to buy a house.

Any suggestions, advice or opinions on this would be very much appreciated. Thanks very much for your time.

Regards,
Robert

getmore4less

There are a hundred or so houses that I am specifically interested in.

are none for sale?

I think if you have a very specifit house type or street then maybe or perhaps this is a block of 100 or so flats.

I get estate agent leaflets saying they have people desperate to buy in our street for out type of house, well why don't they buy the one that is for sale they are all the same bar the odd upgrade.

Paul-Green_2

A letter to express interest? That's new to me.

If you like a house, get round and see it and make and offer!

Please make sure you have the mortgage all sorted first though and approved with a Decision In Principle (DIP).

Old_Git

I wouldnt write " I wish to express my interest for buying your house "
it may appear like spam .
I would put you surname ,no need for address as you have said you live near Ringmer . Dont mention how much you can afford just that you have finances in place for the RIGHT property .Is that landline nunber your parents number .Not sure they would be pleased .I would use a mobile number .

sharpe106

I would not put your a first time buyer just that you are chain free or in a position to buy quickly

moneyistooshorttomention

QUOTE
I also don’t know whether to include my age. I think that some people will think that I’ve worked hard to get to where I am and so be more inclined to consider selling but some will be envious or bitter that a 24 year old can afford to buy a house.QUOTE



I don't think it can do any harm to put your age. My agegroup regards early-mid 20s as the normal age to buy a house (ie Baby Boomer agegroup) and thats when I expected to do so myself (I couldnt manage it until some time later in the event...but thats certainly when I EXPECTED to).

We know that its the norm now for people to buy rather later than we ourselves did (apart from the unlucky few like me that had to wait:() and I think you would be admired for having enough "get up and go" to you to manage to still buy at the normal sort of age.

Maybe some of your own agegroup would be "envious or bitter" - but I doubt mine would. We would be more likely to applaud you - even if we were wondering how you'd managed to "come in on time" for buying your first house:). If the house you are buying is currently in the hands of your own agegroup and they do feel "envious or bitter" - ignore them - but I doubt they'd dare express those emotions in any way, as they will be too focused on selling the house to you.

Good luck.

Mr_Moo_2

Do a search on this forum - there are quite a few threads about this specifically.............. "leaflet" is a good key word....

ILW

The thing that will get a response is if you offer over market value. Cannot see what your age etc has to do with anything. It,s all about money.

googler

Robert66 wrote: »

I am a first time buyer hoping to buy a house in this area. I wish to express my interest for buying yourhouse.

, and I am interested in buying your house

I apologise if this letter seemsintrusive but I’m not having much luck with estate agents! If you are considering selling your house then please read on.

There's no need to tell someone to read something they're reading already.

My name is Robert. Iam 24 and I currently live with my parents near Ringmer. I work at Gatwick Airport. I am looking for a 3 or 4 bed house somewhere in Brighton and Hove. I want to find somewhere that could be my home for many years. I have sent you this letter because

All irrelevant. You've stated your name already, no need to do it again. Sellers don't care who you are, where you live, what you do for a living. If the house is actually a 3 or 4 bed, why tell them that's what you're looking for? It's obvious that you're looking for their style of house.... and there's no need to tell them you've sent them a letter when they have it in their hand ....

I particularly like the area where you live. I will consider houses in any condition as long as there are no major structural problems.

You'll be getting it surveyed anyway.....

I have my finances in place and am chain free so could proceedwith buying a house immediately. As Ihave contacted you directly you would avoid paying estate agent’s fees. If you are considering selling your house then please contact me either by phone or e-mail. Thank you very much for your time.

Your version is filled with unnecessary puff and filler.....

An alternate version

Dear Homeowner,

I am interested in buying a house in your area, and the style of yours particularly appeals to me.

I have my finances in place, have no existing property to sell, and could therefore proceed with buying a house immediately. As I have contacted you directly you would avoid paying estate agent’s fees, and would only need the services of a solicitor on a 'conveyancing only' basis to complete a sale.

If you are considering selling your house then please contact me either by phone or e-mail. Thank you very much for your time.

hazyjo

Absolutely agree with what googler says/summarises.

No need for the rest. I wouldn't send a letter saying 'I'm a woman in her 40s who works in the City'. It's something younger people seem to feel the need to do, whereas the older you get, the less relevant age is (or maybe we just go into denial and stop wanting people to know lol).

Wouldn't change anything from googler's version.

Jx

cbrown372

Having received two such letters through the letter box of my aunt's house the day after she died please remember you may cause offence.