This month, Oregon passed a new law, which goes into effect throughout the state in January 2022, that requires real estate agents to reject the personal letters and sometimes photos that buyers, via their agent, submit along with their offers. This practice is fairly widespread in the industry and has become increasingly controversial in recent years as recognition grows that the act could contribute to discrimination based on race, family status or other details that comes through in these “love letters.” Oregon is the first state to pass the law, and others are expected to follow suit.