Fair Housing phrase guide / Religion
Religion words in real estate listings
Every religion phrase ListingLint checks, from what to avoid to what's fine, with the reason for each. 1 avoid, 6 caution, 2 depends, 1 minor, 4 ok.
What the law covers here
Religion is a protected class under the federal Fair Housing Act. The usual problem is an ad that suggests who should live somewhere because of faith, such as naming a congregation as the reason to buy. A neutral place name with a religious word in it, like a street name, is treated differently in HUD's 1995 guidance.
Avoid
Avoid means an explicit preference or limitation, or a phrase on the avoid side of the cited word lists. This is the risk end of the scale, not a style choice.
- christian neighborhood Avoid
A religious description of the home, residents or neighborhood states a religious preference. HUD's memo gives "Christian home" as an example.
Caution
Caution means the phrase is on the caution side of the cited lists, or describes people in a way that usually reads as a preference. Many agents still use some of these, but describing the property instead is the safer move.
- walking distance to church Caution
Pointing buyers to a particular church, synagogue, temple or mosque as a selling point can signal a religious preference; "church, near" is on the avoid side of the LIBOR and NYPA lists. The NYPA and CRMLS lists accept the neutral "near places of worship".
- christian Caution
Religious references are on the "never use" list for LIBOR members. If it's part of an official name (a school, a hospital), consider whether the listing needs it at all.
- ✡ Caution
HUD's memo says a religious symbol, standing alone, may indicate a religious preference.
- god fearing Caution
It describes people by religion, not the property. Leave it out of the listing.
- inside the eruv Caution
Marketing a location by its religious boundary signals a religious preference for buyers, the same way "near church" does.
- near catholic school Caution
Steering buyers toward a religious school is a religious reference used as a selling point. Naming the public school district is on the acceptable lists.
Depends
Depends means it's fine or not depending on how it's used. Read the reason, then decide for your sentence.
- church Depends
Context matters. Describing the property itself (a converted church loft) or a place name (Temple Terrace) is fine under HUD's memo. Using a house of worship as a selling point is what the word lists warn against.
- sabbath elevator Depends
Probably fine as a feature description (HUD's memo treats "kosher meals" and an on-site chapel as facilities, not preferences), but some lists advise against any religious reference.
Minor
Minor means it's usually fine and worth a second look. Treat it as a style question more than a legal one.
- parish Minor
"Parish" is on the avoid lists as a religious reference, but in Louisiana a parish is the county. If that's what you mean, it's a place name.
OK
OK means a cited source treats it as acceptable. Any alternative shown is a house-style preference some offices or MLSs ask for, not a legal requirement.
- with chapel OK
Describing a facility ("apartment complex with chapel") doesn't violate the Act, per HUD's 1995 memo.
- kosher kitchen OK
HUD's memo says describing services such as "kosher meals available" doesn't state a preference. A kosher kitchen is a property feature.
- merry christmas OK
HUD's memo says secular holiday terms and greetings (Merry Christmas, Happy Easter) don't violate the Act.
- near places of worship OK
"Places of worship, near" is on the acceptable side of the NYPA and CRMLS lists (LIBOR still advises against religious references in general).
Sources
- HUD "Achtenberg memo": Guidance Regarding Advertisements Under §804(c), Jan. 9, 1995
- HUD advertising regulation, 24 CFR § 100.75
- Long Island Board of REALTORS®: Fair Housing Advertising Word and Phrase Guidelines (Mar. 2025)
- Fair Housing Advertising Word and Phrase List (New York Press Assn.; source: Oklahoma Press Assn.)
- CRMLS Fair Housing Word & Phrase List (Apr. 2021)
The law behind the lists
The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to publish a housing ad that indicates a preference, limitation or discrimination based on a protected class, and HUD's advertising regulation spells out how that applies to ads. The word lists above are how boards and MLSs put that into practice.
About the 1995 HUD memo
HUD no longer posts the 1995 memo on its website. Oregon REALTORS reported in April 2026 that HUD removed it without notice, and HUD withdrew its April 2024 digital-advertising guidance in September 2025. The Fair Housing Act and HUD's advertising regulation (24 CFR § 100.75) didn't change. Boards and MLS word lists still lean on the memo, which is why it's still cited here, as history and as the clearest explanation of how ads are read.
- Oregon REALTORS: Fair housing compliance after the guidance reset (Apr. 17, 2026)
- LeadingAge: HUD withdraws fair housing guidance documents (Sept. 17, 2025 memo)
Check the whole draft at once
Paste any listing, including AI-written copy, and every risky phrase lights up with the reason and a safer rewrite. It's free and runs in your browser, so your text is never uploaded.
Open the free checker Or run the 12-check listing checklistNot legal advice. Word lists can't judge context, and laws differ by state and city, with some protecting more classes than federal law does. If you're unsure about a listing, ask your broker or a fair housing attorney. ListingLint rules v2026.10.2.