Zillow and Redfin don't use the term "master bedroom" anymore & homeowners had to update their language.

Question

But for the “ordinary people with normal jobs” camp, the language absolutely changed and you had no say in it. You can check Zillow and Redfin right now- they do not have “master bedroom” anymore. Every homeowner had to update their language.

Answer 1

In recent years, there has been speculation on whether or not the term "master" bedroom has etymological roots in slavery and plantation housing. Although a handful of real estate associations have removed the use of terms such as "master bedroom," including the Houston Association of Realtors in 2020, there is evidence against the claim that Zillow and Redfin have entirely removed this term from their websites. 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has ruled that the term "master bedroom" does not violate Fair Housing laws. According to CBS, this means that "the association will not ban the term, and will allow realtors to still use it in marketing, public remarks and photo descriptions."

A search on Zillow using the keyword filter "master bedroom" in the Seattle area provided me with multiple listings of units described to have "master bedrooms," including this example:(https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6726-Division-Ave-NW-Seattle-WA-98117/48775940_zpid/) The same search on Redfin using the keyword filter provided me with similar results, including this example: (https://www.redfin.com/WA/Seattle/3027-62nd-Ave-SW-98116/home/150246)

The specifics of the original user's claim are therefore false - there are no restrictions on the use of this terminology on real estate websites such as Redfin and Zillow.

Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/realtors-master-bedroom-bathroom-terminology/

Comments

This was a very strong response as you explained the background to the term, which gave the reader context. You explained that a general search might be difficult to find the term "master bedroom", however a deeper search would still allow you to find listings with that terminology. While the term is still being used, many realty companies are changing their language to stay in touch with todays times.

Answer 2

This claim is partially false. A simple search on both redfin and zillow prove that the terminology "Master bedroom" is still in use on Zillow but Redfin operates in a form where filtering refers to the number of rooms.

Here is one example of a Zillow listing with the term in question: https://www.zillow.com/b/immaculate-unit-with-two-master-bedrooms!-redmond-or-9VRZh2/

Ultimately, in the case of Zillow this claim is false. In the case of Redfin there is no way to state that this claim is true as the website is set up in a format where you would not use the term "master bedroom" to search.

Comments

Great response and fact check! A simple search on both of these websites does yield the use of "primary bedroom" or "primary suite" rather than master. Many companies have been moving away from that terminology as it refers to the slave era of the United States, and the nicest room in the house always went to the white master.

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You did a good job showing the differences between Zillow and Redfin’s terminology, but it might strengthen your answer to explore exactly why the term “master bedroom” has been phased out in some contexts. Many real estate companies moved away from this terminology due to its negative historical associations and shifted toward more neutral terms like “primary bedroom.” Adding this context could provide a more complete explanation of why language on these platforms has evolved differently! Keep up the good job!

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The fact check was well put and concise. It provided exact examples where Zillow did in fact use the term "master bedroom", thus proving this fact to be false. It sited 3 credible sites that also verified the false truth behind this post.

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I like this haha! we have the same source and I think it very cleary demonstrates the effectiveness of the fact.

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This answer is well thought-out and very organized, especially with the example of the Zillow listing to cross-reference. I also appreciated the honesty about the Redfin platform and its lack of a feature to search for "master bedroom". I also agree with your answer, as I have also seen multiple Zillow listings with "master bedroom" in the description.

Answer 3

While some real estate platforms, like the Houston Association of Realtors, have stepped away from using the term "master bedroom", it is still an active term used on Zillow. Therefore, this claim is somewhat false. I found a listing straight from the source on Zillow that is titled "3920 Prentiss Drive- Bedroom 3c- Master". This clearly uses the term "master" and indicates that Zillow has not removed the phrase and multiple listings include it, even in descriptions. It is true that some real estate platforms have transitioned toward more inclusive language and replace the term "master bedroom" with "primary bedroom". However, Zillow still is in use of this term. With Redfin, the site has a different format that doesn't support the kind of keyword filtering that Zillow's site offers. I don't believe it has anything to do with omitting the term on purpose, it just looks like it has more of a structural purpose. According to this article below from CBS, the topic of removing the term "master" has been in debate for years because the word has roots in slavery. I can definitely see real estate platforms changing their language in the future to be more inclusive and close out any possible issues that could come from the root of the word, but right now, Zillow is definitely one that is still using the term "master bedroom".

https://www.zillow.com/b/3920-prentiss-drive-bedroom-3c-master-decatur-ga-ChFxqh/

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/realtor-groups-drop-master-bedroom-bathroom-terms-listings-71552673

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/realtors-master-bedroom-bathroom-terminology/

Comments

This is a really great analysis of this claim. Using 3 sources to back up your claim while also doing a bit of etymology really enhanced the credibility of this response. Additionally, while the other responses to this claim feel pretty biased and influenced by the users' personal beliefs, this is straight fact and is unable to be argued with.

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Fantastic fact check! I was curious how you found the uses of Master bedroom, because after looking through many different locations on both sites, the only term I could find is 'Primary Bedroom"

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Your comment provides a new perspective on the use of the term "master bedroom" in real estate listings. It's true that some platforms, like the Houston Association of Realtors, have moved toward more inclusive language by adopting terms like "primary bedroom." However, as you pointed out, Zillow still uses "master bedroom" in some listings, which suggests that the transition to alternative terminology is not yet universal across the industry.

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I agree with this, but it could be helpful to be clearer with the specific listings talked about and the company wide policy. For example, you could leave the actual Zillow statement or something like that to strengthen the argument especially regarding the "master bedroom."

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This is a super great fact-check! I liked how you brought in so many sources and talked about the historical context behind the term it adds a lot of credibility. One small suggestion would be to clear up if Zillow has made an official statement about their term change. Adding in something like that would help back up the claim even more and separate individual listing choices from company-wide policy. Still, great job digging into both sides of the topic!

Answer 4

The claim comes from a user on BlueSky social media. A platform where anyone can post almost anything making it an unreliable source. The user's posts seem to be mainly just thoughts that they wanted to share, with no research-based claims. While the website Zillow itself has stopped using the term ‘Master Bedroom’ and switched to ‘Primary Bedroom. I included a link by the New York Times stating that many real estate websites including Zillow have chosen to use different terms. However, some descriptions for the houses written by agents or owners still have ‘master bedroom’ used in them. I included a link with a listing using master bedroom in the description while Zillow uses primary bedroom. This appears to be the same with RedFin where the website does not use the term master bedroom but the descriptions from the users may have it. So the claim is partially true, the websites do in fact no longer use the term, however, homeowners do not have to update their language.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/realestate/master-bedroom-change.html

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5444-NE-Prescott-St-Portland-OR-97218/53829749_zpid/

Comments

I appreciate you adding the additional links with evidence to back up your claim! I was looking for more listings on Zillow with the keyword "master bedroom" but couldn't seem to find any. But this shows that there are in fact a few houses listed on Zillow that have the term in the description (made by the house owner). I also found this house listed on Zillow that has the word "master bedroom" in the description but not worded this way on the actual site. Instead, they call the room a "Primary Room" or "Main Room". https://www.zillow.com/b/immaculate-unit-with-two-master-bedrooms!-redmond-or-9VRZh2/

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Why did you use a BlueSky post as a source? It’s just someone sharing their opinion without any research, which makes it unreliable. Also, you said Zillow doesn’t use “master bedroom” anymore, but the listing you shared clearly still uses that term. That actually shows the term is still in use, even if the official site language says “primary bedroom.”

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I agree that even though there is a change from using the term, "master bedroom" to "primary bedroom", that doesn't mean that the term is completely gone off of zillow. Do you think there is a reason that the home owners don't have to use the same language as the more interface parts of the website?

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I liked how you first called out the source. A place where anyone can post almost anything and make virtually any claim they want is not a reliable source of information. Although the claim comes from non-creditable source, I appreciated that you included a creditable source lime the New York times, to back the claim proving that it was false.

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I like your reflection! I think the source you used is good and clearly backup your claim, nice job! I do however wonder why you chose to do a BlueSky post when it is open to everyone to post? It makes the validity of the argument a little less solid.

Answer 5

I would count this claim as exaggerated. The context for it rests in the movement among some realtors to refrain from using the term "master bedroom" because of its slavery-related connotation, according to Caitlin O'Kane's 2020 article for CBS and Sydney Franklin's 2020 article for the New York Times. 

Some realtors no longer using "master" to describe bedrooms and bathrooms - CBS News

The Biggest Bedroom Is No Longer a ‘Master’ - The New York Times

While Zillow nor Redfin specifically have a "master bedroom" search category or any allusion to the term on their sites, I feel that it is important to note that the descriptions of the homes on these sites are written by realtors, and so the presence of or absence of the term "master bedroom" comes down to the individual realtors' sensibilities. As a test, I looked up "house with huge master bedroom redfin" on Microsoft Edge and a result for a realtor-written description including the phrase "master bedroom" did populate.

1906 Brimberry St, Houston, TX 77018 | For Sale ($499,999) | MLS# 30263138 | Redfin

Finally, I looked into Michael Aloysius, the Bluesky user who originally posted this statement. In his feed, I see that he has defended the Trump Administration from criticism from another Bluesky user, and he has also complained about the lack of right-oriented (i. e. politically conservative) users on the platform. Considering this, Aloysius may be reactively exaggerating the reach of a movement seen to be of liberal origin, as much of the push to replace the term "master bedroom" came as a response to George Floyd's death in 2020, according to Franklin in the New York Times.

The Biggest Bedroom Is No Longer a ‘Master’ - The New York Times

Ultimately, it is true that some realtors have stopped using the term "master bedroom." However, there is no evidence to suggest that Zillow and Redfin have specifically stopped using this term, especially because much of their content is independently generated by realtors. Lastly, this claim was made by someone likely to oppose the movement against the term "master bedroom" because of their own political leanings, meaning they would have a motive to exaggerate this claim. 

Comments

This was a very insightful answer! I like that you not only included many repeatable sources, but also an example from Redfin.  As well as concluding that yes, some are moving away from that term, but these sites haven't completely removed it.

Answer 6

This claim is misleading, and it is partially false.

A user on Bluesky going by the name of Aloysius Micheal made a post which claims that popular real estate apps Zillow and Redfin no longer use the term "master bedroom" on their websites. The user does not include any sources to back their claim, and their account does not have any additional information that can prove this person credible.

According to an article on CBS, it is true that the term "master bedroom" has been used less in real estate listings because of the term's historical background related to slavery and sexism. Terms like "primary bedroom" and "primary bathroom" have been encouraged to be used instead. This change started around 2020, and many platforms have switched to using those new terms. Another article from New York Times says that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development declared in 1995 that the term "master bedroom" was not discriminatory and did not violate any fair housing laws. Different platforms and brokerages have chosen to adopt new terminology, but my online searches show that listings on Zillow still use the term "master bedroom" in housing descriptions. One quick search shows a listing named "1089 D Street - Rooms Only - Room #5 (Master Bedroom), Hayward, CA" Tracing the claim back to the original context, while the term is eliminated in many listings, it's not completely gone. It looks like it depends on the preference of the agent or homeowner. Using the term "master bedroom" is not mandated by any laws, but many platforms have chosen to use new terms in order to be more aware and sensitive.

So, yes, the claim is partially true. Many platforms have started using the new term "primary bedroom," but this change is not mandated, and some homeowners still use "master bedroom."

The Popular Housing Term Our Favorite HGTV Shows Stopped Using & Why

The Biggest Bedroom Is No Longer a ‘Master’ - The New York Times

Some realtors no longer using "master" to describe bedrooms and bathrooms - CBS News

Comments

Great job pointing out how the term "master bedroom" is linked to slavery and sexism, and you used credible sources to help back up the fact check. How much influence do you think real estate or real estate agents have on this type of language? At then end of the CBS article, it says that the word "master" is starting to be removed from academic titles, which I thought was interesting as well.

Answer 7

As far as I can tell, this claim is mostly true. This Claim comes from a user on BlueSky, Michael Aloysius (https://bsky.app/profile/michael-aloysius.bsky.social). After going through multiple listings on both Zillow and Redfin, they all use the term 'Primary Bedroom' instead of 'Master Bedroom.' (https://www.redfin.com/OR/Eugene/3323-Ginkgo-Way-97404/home/26198578) (https://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/3230-SW-Dolph-Ct-97219/home/26342413) (https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/445-Hazel-Ct-Eugene-OR-97401/48386584_zpid/) (https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2037-Golfview-Ct-Eugene-OR-97403/2067400010_zpid/)

Comments

There still are listings on zillow that have the term "master bedroom"(https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5444-NE-Prescott-St-Portland-OR-97218/53829749_zpid/). Bluesky is a site where people can post anything they want, which doesn't make it a reliable source. Since Bluesky is not a reliable source itself, what would make Michael Aloysius, the individual who stated the fact, a reliable source?

Answer 8

Although there are some real estate platforms that use the name “primary” or “first” bedroom it is still used on sites such as zillow. This would make this statement partially true but exaggerated. When I looked up my home on zillow it was listed as having a master bedroom and two secondary bedrooms. This uses the term master which directly challenges this user's claim. Though some real estate sites have transitioned to using different languages Zillow has not. The New York Times has written articles about this debate if the word should be switched due to the words negative connotations, but nothing official has been declared yet.  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/realestate/master-bedroom-change.html https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6389-Longcroft-Dr-Oakland-CA-94611/24814565_zpid/ (this is a random address found on Zillow that uses master bedroom)

Comments

This is a good response to the comment made on Bluesky. It is without a doubt a claim that is exaggerating the shift that real estate companies are making. You go as far as to challenge the claim made in the comment by using your own home listing on Zillow to show the fallacy in their claim.

Answer 9

This claim comes from a BlueSky social media post, making it unreliable at its core because any user can just post anything. After searching other sources I have found that this claim comes from a movement where realtors are no longer calling it the "master bedroom." It has some buzz on social media and some reporting news accounts. However, this claim is false. When looking at the websites used in this claim, Zillow and Redfin, there has been no flagging or stoppage of the term "master bedroom."

Zillow still has countless listings with the tag master bedroom, and even has it as an option in the search settings. Here is an example. https://www.zillow.com/b/immaculate-unit-with-two-master-bedrooms!-redmond-or-9VRZh2/

Additionally, while Redfin does not allow you to search with the tag master bedroom, they also have many houses listed with this term.

In essence, while the term master bedroom is being used less by realtors, the claim that Zillow and Redfin don't use the term "master bedroom" anymore is false.

Comments

I think the use of a counterexample to disprove the claim was very effective. It's also nice that you explained that these housing sites have done nothing to necessarily deter users from using the term in listings, while also mentioning it is however being used less by realtors. The only potential issue with your answer is the stance that anything posted to Bluesky is inherently unreliable. Every one of the claims we're being asked to factcheck comes from Bluesky; it's our job to determine if the user behind the account is reputable or not, regardless of their being on the platform.

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This is a good fact check! You made a great point that anyone can make a point on a social media platform. Linking a zillow house as an example with the term still being tagged is an excellent way to fact check this source. You made a very clear and concise points that made this fact check great!

Answer 10

This claim is ultimately true, even though the sources didn't establish his claim with as much evidence, as he did with emotion. The source, Michael Aloysius, is a mid-elderly aged man who shares a post on Facebook stating that the term "master bedroom" is non-existent and there is simply just bedroom stated on there. And these houses he implied as being viewed are usually seen from people of "middle class", and people that can't afford a higher priced as anymore because house prices are starting to sky rocket in today's day in age. Especially, housing in the west coast, which Aloysius is from the pacific west coast and works in software. As he is probably posting this information through his own frustration and bias, as I can notice he is one to talk back and cause havoc in the comments to many people who respond to him, he is correct. If you took a look on Redfin or Zillow, it does display that there are just a certain amount of bedrooms, and not a showing of any master bedrooms, changed around in mid -2020.

As one views this claim and Micheal Aloysius states, many would view this claim is due to the rise of housing, and that high prices creates houses that are creating similar sized bedrooms now are all considered "just one bedroom", and the homeowner can choose which one they want as the master bedroom. But a source explaining the review of Willow.com explained that this shift was due to "the reference of master has presents a negative connotation linked to the times of slavery or gender hierarchy", which can be harmful do different sexes, races and ethnic identities. They argues that it "is important for every homeowner to change how they refer to places ion the house", to create a more inclusive environment. The neutral language will encourage many more to shop in there sites and invite users to come bak, due to the good experience. Another source that describes that Zillow and resin have been starting to loose significant money due to the lack of sensitivity explored in the early 2000s, the new language is "now enforced and encouraged to continue" to create experience for users in the long run. These websites goal is to grow with the times and society, and not to judge anyway, especially the wealth of the middle class in today's economy.

Comments

sources^^
https://news.ycombinator.com/itemid=29333217
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/zillowcom.html?page=5

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Your response brings up some interesting points, but I noticed you didn’t include any actual sources to back them up. Why didn’t you include links or references at the end to support the claims about Zillow, Redfin, or the language change? That would make your argument stronger and more reliable. Right now, it feels more based on opinion than on facts.