Steering code words / Fair Housing phrase guide
"prestigious neighborhood" in listing copy: a minor Fair Housing flag
Minor A minor flag: usually fine, worth a second look.
Why
"Prestigious", "sophisticated" and "quality neighborhood" are on the caution lists. They describe the people more than the place. HUD's memo explicitly allows "desirable neighborhood".
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.)
- HUD "Achtenberg memo": Guidance Regarding Advertisements Under §804(c), Jan. 9, 1995
Related phrases
Not legal advice. Word lists can't judge context, and laws differ by state and city. Rule steer-prestige, ListingLint rules v2026.10.1.