Familial status / Fair Housing phrase guide
"retirement homes" in a real estate listing: Fair Housing caution
Caution Flagged as a caution: it often reads as a preference for, or against, a group of people.
Why
"Retirement home" is on the caution lists. It's only lawful as a preference when the property qualifies as housing for older persons.
Safer wording
Describe the property, not the people: rewrite this part by hand.
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- Long Island Board of REALTORS®: Fair Housing Advertising Word and Phrase Guidelines (Mar. 2025)
- CRMLS Fair Housing Word & Phrase List (Apr. 2021)
- Fair Housing Advertising Word and Phrase List (New York Press Assn.; source: Oklahoma Press Assn.)
- Housing for older persons exemption, 42 U.S.C. § 3607(b)
Related phrases
Not legal advice. Word lists can't judge context, and laws differ by state and city. Rule fam-retirement, ListingLint rules v2026.10.1.