Listing Restrictions and Terms that Trigger Warnings - Symbols, Words, Phrases, etc.
It is important for Realcomp Subscribers to abide by MLS Rules and Regulations, Fair Housing Laws and NAR Settlement Compliance rules by NOT using certain words or phrases that are either against MLS policy or could be construed as discriminatory or non-settlement compliant.
Below is a list of symbols, words, phrases, etc. that are on Realcomp's Add-Edit (listing data entry) exclusion list. These entries will trigger either a not permitted message (which will require you to remove or revise the word) or a warning (which will provide you with the opportunity to review and change the entry, or if it truly is acceptable, bypass the warning) to aid MLS Subscribers in achieving compliance.
1. No Compensation-Related Language: No compensation/commission information, whatsoever, should be entered into listings (as of 8/17/24). For this reason, the following terms are not allowed. This list is not all-inclusive or complete, but is a suggested starting point:
- “BA” (and various other ways of expressing ba)
- buyer-agent
- buyer agent
- commission (except when preceded by beautification or beautiful or district or lottery or planning or road or water)
- comp
- compensation
- percent of close price
- variable (except when followed by size, speed, use, or zone)
2. No Personal Information: No personal information can be included in the Public Remarks field on the listing. This includes: phone numbers, fax numbers, pager numbers, e-mail addresses, names, web URLs, open house model hours, and more. Personal information is prohibited in the content of listings, photos, and/or virtual tours that are published in the MLS with the exception of the Agent Remarks field. Links from any of the above to another Web page that includes personal information are also prohibited. Photos and virtual tours may show the brokerage sign in the yard. However, the sign cannot be the focus of the photo.
Examples of prohibited personal information include, but are not limited to the following:
- URLs/Websites - nothing that starts with http or www or ends with .net, .realtor, .com, or .org. This includes references to HUD, Ebay, and Virtual Tour URLs.
- Virtual Tour URLs, websites, or phone numbers on photos
- E-mail addresses
- Contact phone numbers of any kind including 1-800 numbers
- Fax numbers
- Agent names
- Office/Agent logos or slogans
- Logos or slogans
- Solicitation or advertising of the agent or broker
- Auction information, including auction dates and/or times or location
Fines for personal information in listing remarks, photos, or virtual tours are:
- 1st occurrence: $50.00
- 2nd occurrence: $100
- 3rd occurrence: $250 and suspension of broker load privilege
3. Warning Words and/or Phrases:
- $ (when used in reference to terms not related to compensation)
- % (when used in reference to terms not related to compensation)
- Bonus (when used in reference to terms not related to compensation)
- Dollar (when used in reference to terms not related to compensation)
- Dual (when used in reference to terms not related to compensation)
- L/A (when used in reference to terms not related to compensation)
- L/O (when used in reference to terms not related to compensation)
- List agent (when used in reference to terms not related to compensation)
- List office (when used in reference to terms not related to compensation)
- Listing agent (when used in reference to terms not related to compensation)
- Listing office (when used in reference to terms not related to compensation)
- 1 child or one child or one person
- 2 children or two children or 2 people or two people
- 3 children or three children or 3 people or three people
- 4 children or four children or 4 people or four people
- 5 children or five children or 5 people or five people
- 6 children or six children or 6 people or six people
- 7 children or seven children or 7 people or seven people
- 8 children or eight children or 8 people or eight people
- 9 children or nine children or 9 people or nine people
- 10 children or ten children or 10 people or ten people
- able bodied
- adult community
- adult living
- adult park
- adults only
- african
- agile
- AIDS
- American Indian
- Appalachian
- asian
- bachelor
- board approval required
- catholic
- caucasian
- chicano
- chinese
- christian
- church
- colored
- couple
- couples only
- dollar
- dual
- empty nesters
- English only
- golden agers
- healthy only
- hindu
- hispanic
- HIV
- Hungarian
- independent living
- indian
- Indian
- integrated
- irish
- italian
- jewish
- landlord
- latino
- map quest
- mapquest
- married
- mature couple
- mature individual
- mature person
- membership approval required
- mentally ill
- mexican-american
- mormon
- mormon temple
- mosque
- muslim
- must be employed
- must comply with park rules
- negro
- newlyweds
- no alcoholics
- no blacks
- no blind
- no children
- no crippled
- no deaf
- no drinkers
- no group homes
- no impaired
- no mentally disabled
- no mentally handicapped
- no mentally ill
- no migrant workers
- no retarded
- no seasonal worker
- no smoker
- no Soc Sec Ins
- no Soc. Sec. Ins.
- no social security insurance
- no SSI
- no unemployed
- non-drinkers
- non-smokers
- not for handicapped
- not suitable for disabled
- not suitable for handicapped
- older person
- oriental
- parish
- percent
- physically fit
- physically fit only
- polish
- preferred community
- protestant
- puerto rican
- quiet tenant
- responsible
- retarded
- senior discount
- shrine
- single person
- singles only
- spanish speaking
- synagogue
- temple
- white only
Sources Referenced: Conciliation Agreement & MLS, (REALTOR.org, Nov. 1995).
For more information on Fair Housing Laws, visit: www.HUD.gov
If you have any questions, please contact the Realcomp Customer Care department at support@realcomp.com. We thank you for your cooperation in this very important matter.