What We Check

HUD treats this as expressing a preference for families with children — a protected class under the Fair Housing Act.

✓ Describe the home (e.g. 'a spacious 4-bedroom layout with a fenced yard') instead of who should live in it.

Signals a preference for families — familial status is protected. HUD's advertising guidance lists this exact phrase.

✓ Name the physical features ('fenced backyard', 'finished basement', 'large secondary bedrooms').

Expresses a preference for (or against) children — familial-status discrimination in advertising.

✓ Describe features children may use ('flat backyard', 'quiet cul-de-sac') without naming people.

An explicit occupancy restriction based on familial status — unlawful except in HUD-certified 55+ housing.

✓ Remove entirely; state occupancy limits only where legally required (e.g. 'per HOA guidelines').

Excludes families with children unless the community is formally HUD-certified as 55+ housing.

✓ Only mention age qualification if the community is legally designated 55+/62+; otherwise remove.

Excludes singles and families by marital status — familial-status discrimination.

✓ Describe the unit ('intimate one-bedroom with a private patio'), not the household type.

Targets marital status; guidance is to describe the property, not the preferred tenant profile.

✓ Swap for a lifestyle-neutral feature ('low-maintenance living near transit').

Implies the home suits households without children — a familial-status preference.

✓ Use 'single-story living' or 'right-sized main-level primary suite'.

Speaks to family plans — familial-status preference in disguise.

✓ Quantify instead: '4 bedrooms plus a flex room that fits future needs'.

Describes the residents rather than the property — familial-status preference.

✓ Describe amenities: 'tree-lined streets with parks and trails nearby'.

Directs the pitch at children — familial-status preference.

✓ Name the amenity itself: 'bonus room', 'homework nook', 'level backyard'.

Marital-status targeting; describe the home instead.

✓ Use 'charming starter home with room to grow' — features, not households.

HUD advertising guidance flags 'safe': it implies claims about an area's residents and can carry coded racial meaning.

✓ State verifiable facts instead: 'gated entry', 'staffed front desk', 'neighborhood watch program'.

Steering language — negative characterizations of an area are a classic fair-housing trap.

✓ Remove entirely; never characterize neighborhood safety in listing copy.

Crime characterizations are unverifiable claims that can steer buyers; NAR guidance says leave them out.

✓ Point buyers to public crime-stat resources rather than characterizing the area yourself.

References the racial composition of an area — explicit under fair-housing advertising guidance.

✓ Remove entirely; never describe neighborhood demographics.

'Exclusive' can imply who is (and isn't) welcome; NAR recommends concrete prestige markers instead.

✓ Use specifics: 'guard-gated', 'golf-course community', 'estate-sized lots'.

Historically coded term for area demographics; location facts are safer.

✓ Use the actual district or distance: '2 miles from downtown'.

Heavily coded, derogatory characterization of an area and its residents.

✓ Remove entirely.

References an area by ethnic association — national-origin/race coded language.

✓ Use the actual neighborhood name from the listing address.

Describes residents by ethnicity — never acceptable in listing copy.

✓ Remove entirely; describe amenities or location instead.

Implies who counts as 'American' — coded national-origin language.

✓ Use concrete character: 'classic tree-lined streets with front porches'.

'Urban' is frequently used as coded language for area demographics; use precise location terms.

✓ Say what you mean: 'walkable to downtown', 'transit-adjacent'.

Frames an area by demographic transition — race-coded and divisive.

✓ Describe momentum factually: 'new restaurants and retail along the main corridor'.

Commonly implies demographic change; NAR guidance prefers specific, verifiable improvements.

✓ Cite the evidence: 'two new condo towers and a renovated park since 2023'.

Investor slang that characterizes an area (and implicitly its residents) as violent — steering language.

✓ Remove entirely; describe the property's investment facts instead.

Slang characterization of an area tied to its demographics.

✓ Use the neighborhood's actual name.

Describes residents by appearance/origin — color-coded language.

✓ Remove; if you mean the landscaping, say 'tropical landscaping'.

Explicit reference to residents' color — a historic fair-housing violation category.

✓ Remove entirely.

HUD's advertising guidance uses exactly this example — references to religious institutions favor one faith.

✓ Use neutral amenities: 'minutes from downtown shops and services'.

The canonical HUD example of religious preference in advertising.

✓ Use neutral amenities: 'minutes from downtown shops and services'.

Names a specific faith's institution — religious preference.

✓ Use neutral amenities: 'minutes from downtown shops and services'.

Describes residents by religion — explicit religious preference.

✓ Remove entirely.

Describes residents by religion — explicit religious preference.

✓ Remove entirely.

Even neutral-sounding religious references steer buyers of one faith.

✓ Use secular anchors: 'surrounded by cafés and parks'.

Frames the area by its residents' faith.

✓ Remove; describe location and amenities instead.

References a specific faith's institution — religious preference.

✓ Use neutral amenities: 'minutes from downtown shops and services'.

Parochial implies religious affiliation; school references also skirt familial-status guidance.

✓ Say 'highly rated schools nearby' without religious framing.

Religious framing of a school reference — religious preference.

✓ Say 'highly rated schools nearby' without religious framing.

HUD's advertising guidance flags 'bachelor apartment' — it markets by gender/marital status.

✓ Describe the unit: 'a one-bedroom retreat with city views'.

Targets a gender/marital profile — sex + familial-status preference.

✓ Describe features: 'open floor plan with a wet bar and skyline views'.

Describes residents by national origin/ethnicity — never acceptable in advertising.

✓ Remove entirely.

Characterizes an area by national origin.

✓ Use the neighborhood's actual name.

Describes residents by national origin/ethnicity.

✓ Remove entirely.

Explicit national-origin exclusion.

✓ Remove entirely.

Framing an area by the language spoken implies national-origin preference.

✓ Remove; if relevant, note 'multilingual agent available' about your service, not the area.

Framing an area by language implies national-origin composition.

✓ Remove; describe amenities instead.

HUD guidance: 'walking distance' assumes able-bodied buyers. (Worship references are flagged separately as religion.)

✓ Use 'minutes from' or 'a short trip to' — mobility-neutral phrasing.

Outdated, disrespectful phrasing about disability.

✓ Say 'a wheelchair user', or better, describe accessibility features ('roll-in shower').

Outdated term; current guidance prefers 'accessible'.

✓ Use 'accessible parking', 'accessible entrance'.

Excludes people with disabilities — explicit disability preference.

✓ Remove; describe the home's layout instead.

Derogatory disability term.

✓ Remove; use person-first language if the feature matters ('step-free entry').

The preferred term is 'deaf or hard of hearing'.

✓ Say 'deaf or hard of hearing'.

Person-first language is the standard: 'people with disabilities'.

✓ Say 'people with disabilities' or describe the feature ('ADA-compliant').

Applies a label to people; guidance prefers naming the accommodation.

✓ Name the feature: 'step-free entry', 'wide doorways'.

Targets an age bracket (and implies against families) — age + familial-status preference.

✓ Describe what they're really after: 'minutes from the business district and nightlife'.

Age-based targeting; only sanctioned in formally designated 55+ communities.

✓ Use 'single-story living with a low-maintenance yard'.

Coded age preference.

✓ Describe lifestyle amenities: 'active clubhouse with fitness classes'.

Describes desired neighbors by age — steering.

✓ Describe the area's energy factually: 'bustling restaurant row'.

Generational targeting — age preference.

✓ Name the draw: 'smart-home wired, walkable to coffee and transit'.

Source-of-income discrimination is illegal in many states and signals exclusion.

✓ State rental criteria neutrally ('application required, income screening applies') without naming programs.