“fisherman's paradise” in listing copy is a minor Fair Housing flag

Why

On the LIBOR and NYPA caution lists as a gendered description of the buyer.

Safer wording

• angler's retreat
• waterside retreat

What the tag means

Minor means it's usually fine and worth a second look. Treat it as a style question more than a legal one.

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. fisherman's paradise

1 phrase to look at

• Minor “fisherman's paradise”

  On the LIBOR and NYPA caution lists as a gendered description of the buyer.

  Try: angler's retreat / waterside retreat

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

Sex is a protected class under the federal Fair Housing Act. The flagged phrases describe who the home is for by sex or marital role (a bachelor pad, a man cave as a selling point to men). Many states and cities also name sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes, so check your own state's list.

• Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3604(c)

Sources

• 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.)

Related phrases

• women only Avoid
• single woman Avoid
• women roommates Depends
• perfect for bachelors Avoid
• bachelor pad Caution
• man cave Minor
• gentleman's farm Minor
• handyman's dream Minor

All sex, incl. sexual orientation & gender identity 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 sex-fisherman, ListingLint rules v2026.10.2.