‘Master’ Bedrooms To Be Phased Out On Home Sale Listings In One State, As ‘Woke’ Realtors ‘Don’t Like How It Sounds’
According to the Star Tribune, the phrase “master bedroom” hasn’t set well with Jackie Berry, a listing agent for Edina Realty in Minnesota who also teaches a racism and real estate continuing education course.
“I’m a person of color and every time the term ‘master bedroom’ was used, I kept saying to myself, ‘I don’t like how it sounds.’ Now as I’m walking through a property, I’ll just say it’s the owners’ or primary suite,” Berry added to the Star Tribune.
According to the publication, due to the word being linked with slavery, several real estate agents and agencies in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region have begun phasing out the term “master” in recent years.
The movement to modify the industry’s language gained traction in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder at the hands of Minneapolis cops last year, according to the Star Tribune.
“It’s something that has come up more and more the past few months,” Berry told the paper. “There’s been an increased awareness and wokeness since George Floyd’s murder. We’re seeing racial justice work being put into play.”
Similarly, the Houston Association of Realtors said last year that the term “master” will no longer be used to describe bedrooms and baths on real estate listings, instead opting for the phrase “primary”
According to the Star Tribune, the Real Estate Regulations Organization said in July 2020 that, although “master” was not a discriminatory violation under US Department of Housing and Urban Development standards, it was suggested that it be replaced with “primary”
“It makes sense for the industry to coalesce around a new term to clearly define what it represents and ensure ongoing productive communication between professionals and their communities,” the RESO said in a statement, the paper said.
The Star Tribune said that no industry groups in Minnesota have issued standards on preferred language, leaving real estate companies and individual agents to decide.
According to the news outlet, the Minnesota Association of Realtors’ more than 21,000 members must follow the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity — as well as federal housing guidelines under the Fair Housing Act.
Gender-neutral real estate terminology are also becoming more common.
Other gender-inclusive real estate phrases that are gaining traction while others go away, according to the Star Tribune:
- Out: Man cave/she shed; In: Den/accessory dwelling unit
- Out: Mother-in-law suite; In: Guesthouse/In-law suite
- Out: His-and-hers closets/sinks; In: Dual closets/dual or double sinks
- Out: Jack-and-Jill bathroom; In: Dual-entry bathroom
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