What do you write in a housewarming card?

Congratulations, one wish for the life they will have in the house, and your names. Two or three sentences is enough.

What do you write for someone's first home?

Name what it took to get there. “You did it. Every late night was worth these keys.” First-time buyers have usually worked hard for it and like to hear that someone noticed.

Do you bring a card to a housewarming party?

Yes, with or without a gift. Write the date in it: people often keep housewarming cards with the papers for the house.

What to write in a housewarming card

A new home is one of the few occasions where a card is easy: they are happy, tired and surrounded by boxes. Two warm sentences and your name is plenty. Copy any of these as they are.

For a first home

You did it. Every late night and every spreadsheet was worth these keys.
Congratulations on your first home. May the mortgage be the only thing that is ever heavy in it.
First house, first keys, first of many good years. We are so proud of you.
It is yours. Nobody can tell you where to hang the pictures.
Here is to the first of everything in the new place: first dinner, first leak, first Christmas.
You have wanted this for so long. Enjoy every room.
Welcome home. For real this time.

For a son, daughter or family

We remember your first bedroom. Look at you now.
May this house hear as much laughter as the one you grew up in.
New keys, same family. We cannot wait to visit.
Wherever you live is home to us too.
We are so proud of the life you are building, and of the roof you put over it.
Save us a drawer. We are coming to stay.
A home is the people in it. Yours was always going to be a good one.

For friends

Congratulations on the new place. We will bring the wine, you find the glasses.
May the walls know only good days.
Here is to slow Sundays and loud dinners in the new house.
So happy for you both. It already looks like you.
New address, same favorite people.
Wishing you good neighbors, good light and good water pressure.
We cannot wait to be invited over.

For new neighbors

Welcome to the street. We are at number 14 if you need anything, including sugar.
Glad you are here. Trash goes out Tuesday; the good bakery is two blocks east.
Welcome to the neighborhood. Knock any time.
We hope you will be as happy here as we have been.
Welcome. The kids on this street all play out front. Yours are invited.

Funny

Congratulations on your new house. Everything you own is now in a box marked “misc”.
May your wifi be strong and your neighbors quiet.
Welcome to home ownership, where a new water heater counts as a treat.
You bought a house. You now have opinions about gutters.
Congratulations. We will help you move again in thirty years.
A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff. Enjoy.

How to write your own

Say congratulations and name the house: the street, the town, “the yellow one”.
Wish them one specific good thing that happens in a home: loud dinners, slow Sundays, a garden that takes.
Offer something real: to help paint, to bring dinner, to visit.
Sign every name, and add the date. They may keep the card with the house papers.