Is “luxury townhouse” OK in a real estate listing?

Why

These describe the property rather than people, and they're on the acceptable side of the NYPA and CRMLS lists.

What the tag means

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.

Check your own wording

Paste a sentence or your whole listing. It runs ListingLint's real rule engine in your browser, and nothing is uploaded. luxury townhouse

No Fair Housing flags in this text. That's a word check, not a legal review.

Allowed terms we recognized

• OK “luxury townhouse”

  These describe the property rather than people, and they're on the acceptable side of the NYPA and CRMLS lists.

A word check, not a legal review. Open the full checker for fixes, the fact lock and the MLS character count.

What the law covers here

Steering means guiding buyers or renters toward or away from an area because of a protected class. HUD's rule bans restricting someone's choices by word or conduct. One of its examples is telling a buyer they wouldn't be comfortable or compatible with the people who live there. These code words get flagged because of how an ordinary reader may take them. The words aren't banned on their own.

• HUD rule on steering and other prohibited conduct, 24 CFR § 100.70
• Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3604(c)

Sources

• Fair Housing Advertising Word and Phrase List (New York Press Assn.; source: Oklahoma Press Assn.)
• CRMLS Fair Housing Word & Phrase List (Apr. 2021)

Related phrases

• exclusive neighborhoods Depends
• private community Depends
• restricted Caution
• board approval required Avoid
• preferred community Avoid
• safe neighborhood Caution
• prestigious neighborhood Minor
• traditional neighborhood Depends

All steering code words phrases on one page · The 12-check listing checklist

Not 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. Rule ok-acceptable-terms, ListingLint rules v2026.10.2.