Just went through the mail pile, and lo and behold, there is a pretty postcard with a photo of the front entrance of the condo building (we own the condo, kid lives in it). That’s pretty creative. A young professional couple is desperate to buy in this particular building, so can we talk? Don’t they know that the building has a rental cap? 
That’s why condos in it sell for $100k less than those in a similar looking no rental cap building next door.
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I’ll put a different spin on this. What if you WERE going to be in the market to sell soon? Would you feel differently? Hopeful for when you do sell? Interesting in having a discussion?
I think depending on the situation, you should consider it a compliment. You are taking it as “you’re old, we’re not and we want your house” - but in fact maybe that’s not true at all. Also, maybe you’re just one of several houses on your street getting the same letter.
In a hot market, people are going to get creative and maybe a little more direct about finding the home they are looking for. You can just say no!
We are in the market for a home in our area. Sort of a niche area, where there is going to be limited selection. I have definitely thought about taking down some addresses of homes that MIGHT fit our bill and sending out feelers. Share our story a bit. Our realtor is willing to help us do this. It would not be pushy but in a hot market in a limited area, this might peak the interest of a couple - young, middle aged or old! - who is considering putting their home on the market in the next few months - an open door.
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I don’t think I would feel differently but I’m fortunate that I am not in that position. If I were in the market to sell, I would call my daughter’s agent and let her take care of it. I would assume that if we decided to sell, we would have purchased a home long before listing our current home.
There are no houses, on our street, for sale. Our general community is also not selling. It’s a California tax thing.
Although the money the neighbors would make, on a sale, would be significant, people around here are used to their property taxes and people don’t like change.
Selling their properties, at these prices, and buying a new property would significantly change their tax status. Property taxes are a really big deal around here and a lot of people do not want the thought of paying additional, yearly, property taxes.
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The couple in question probably doesn’t exist. Wedding photo is probably the realtor’s.
This is just a phish. We get them all the time, too. Right into the circular file they go.
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I get them frequently as well, and know they are sent to the neighborhood.
When my mom passed away however, somehow everyone and their sister and brother got in touch with me, calling to ask me, out of state, multiple times if the Arizona property was for sale. This was early pandemic before the real estate market got crazy. How many ways does one need to say no before the message gets through! The house was co owned by my sister, who still lives in the place and she was highly offended.
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Yes, I get the postcards on an almost daily basis. Their stamps.
This was different in that the letter composed was handwritten. Maybe the clients wrote it? Maybe they counted on getting a reaction.
What I didn’t like was that the “realtor” mentioned that his clients “knew that our home would fit their needs, based on the information they had gathered”. They were “anxious” to discuss this with us.
On the outside, our home and property appears well-maintained. How would they know if I had a problem with hoarding, or a ceiling full of rats? You just never know!
Anyway, I’m not done with my forever home. Paperwork is shredded. If “they” try to contact me again, it will be a strong “no”.
Edited to add: My daughter’s realtor just contacted me. She said because of the limited supply of homes, the realtors are desperate to get their clients into homes and are trying “everything” to get attention and get new inventory listed. She said the agents are also having a hard time getting their commissions, so they are willing to do anything or say anything to move their clients.
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We also started getting texts from “realtors.” Those numbers get blocked, and texts get deleted right away. The worst was a period of time when someone wanted to force us out of our house… thankfully, we were able to nip that in the bud.
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Force you out of your house? Do tell.
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I get these letters all the time and I am certainly not in the “old and done” demographic. Read nothing into them. They are just trying to drum up business.
You don’t. You put the letter through the shredder with your low-interest credit card solicitations.
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When I get these letters, so do the others on my street. And some still have kids who are younger and still in the local schools. There are so few houses for sale on this town that these phishing letters have become more and more common.
Honestly…I don’t take offense.
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I agree with your husband. I doubt they even know your age.
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My dad was getting calls and letters every day about his house when he had started thinking about selling. He found them annoying and ignored them.
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We get letters and post cards all the time asking if we’ll sell our rental house. After our neighbor’s farm sold for close to one million we’ve started getting phone calls about our own place. It makes me wonder if the neighbors want to expand or if realtors suddenly realized the gem we have back here and are drooling to get that kind of commission in an area where places don’t generally sell for nearly that much.
I remind myself we don’t want to move permanently though. We want to hang on to our gem until we are sure none of our kids want it.
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The same thing is happening with used cars. They need yours NOW. You’ll never get a better price! 
Realtors and any human with internet can go online and find out plenty about your home. All a postcard or letter might mean is that your home fits a certain need - maybe 4 beds, 2 baths, fenced in yard in a certain neighborhood.
Toss the cards/letters and don’t think twice about it - unless you might want to sell!
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It went in the shredder last night. I know these solicitations are just a pain in our mailbox, and maybe out of 1000 postcard the realtors are thinking they will get a hit with 1000.
Interesting that the costs and inventory are crazy right now.
In my state (MA), all you need is an address and you can get much information about a house from the local property tax assessor–it’s all public. You can find out the home’s acerage, the number of bedrooms, baths, property tax, owners, etc.
Here in California as well. Even remodel permit info with extra research!
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He knows what’s up. We ignore these matters and just recycle them.
That actually may be true IF you can find a new car to replace the used one you’re selling. Used car prices are INSANE, and it is staggering how much you can get for used cars right now.
It’s bit different with a house, where most of them are also selling at a major premium, so you’re not going to profit from it (likely), unless you downsize. It’s not comparable to selling an old car for a new car (if you can find one…and I am at the dealer right now as I type this!)
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But that’s what the hopeful buyer is looking for - the “seller” who may be thinking about downsizing or moving or divorcing or whatever!
It’s trying to be one ahead of the game in a tough market for buyers
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