According to the federal fair housing laws, advertising for sale or rental of property may not intentionally or unintentionally state a preference for any person or an intention to exclude any person because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. This applies to the use of media, such as newspapers, radio, television or billboards, and any written material produced in connection with the sale or rental of a dwelling, such as application forms, brochures, flyers, signs, posters or banners. These laws apply to print and electronic media alike.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits:
	Using words or phrases describing the landlord, tenants, buyers or sellers, including: white private home, colored home, Jewish home, Hispanic residence, adult building or any other words indicative of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
	Conveying preference to one group over another or exclusion due to race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status (children under 18) or national origin.
	Using catchwords such as restricted, exclusive, private, integrated, traditional, board approval or membership approval.
	Using symbols or logos that imply or suggest discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status (children under 18) or national origin.
	Writing out directions to the property that refer to well-known racial, ethnic, or religious landmarks or to any other major landmark that could signal a preference for a specific type of person.
	Targeting advertisements to one particular segment of the community.
	Using only adult or white models over a significant period of time.
	Using prohibited words or phrases with respect to handicapped persons or families with children, including: crippled, singles, blind, mentally ill, deaf, exclusive, adult building, retarded, restricted community, mature person.
	Advertising exclusively in: A strategically limited geographic area. Particular editions of newspapers to reach a particular segment of the community. Only small papers that cater to particular ethnic or religious groups rather than general circulation papers. Only selected sales offices.

Hope this helps you stay in compliance with the Fair Housing Act.

See you next week!

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