HAR (Houston) Public Remarks Character Limit

The Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR) runs one of the largest MLSs in the country, and it is comparatively generous: public remarks allow around 2,000 characters, with an additional public-remarks addendum field available for even more space. For agents working Houston, Katy, The Woodlands, Sugar Land, and the broader HAR footprint, that means room for a complete description — and the discipline to keep 2,000 characters from turning into 2,000 characters of filler.

This guide covers the HAR character limits, how to use the space well, and the Fair Housing rules that apply at any length.

HAR Character Limits by Field

HAR runs on the CoreLogic Matrix platform. Its public-remarks allowance sits well above boards like FMLS and lands among the more generous nationally.

Field	Approximate Character Limit
Public Remarks	~2,000 characters
Public Remarks Addendum	Additional supplementary field
Agent/Private Remarks	Several hundred characters

Always confirm the current limits in your HAR Matrix Add/Edit screen — the counter there is authoritative and limits can change between platform updates.

Public Remarks syndicates to Zillow, Realtor.com, Homes.com, and consumer portals. At ~2,000 characters (plus the addendum), HAR gives you genuine room — see how it compares in our MLS public remarks character limits guide.

How to Use 2,000 Characters Well

With a generous field, the right length is "as long as it stays specific." Two thousand characters is enough for a real room-by-room walkthrough — use it for detail, not repetition.

Lead with the strongest feature. Buyers scan; your first sentence has to earn the read. "Recently updated four-bedroom in [neighborhood] with a heated pool and a three-car garage" beats any generic opener.

Spend the space on specifics. Describe the kitchen, the primary suite, the outdoor living, and recent updates concretely. With 2,000 characters you don't have to choose — but every sentence should add information.

Don't repeat structured data. Beds, baths, square footage, lot size, and year built are all in HAR's data fields. Your remarks should cover what those can't.

Format for mobile. Most Houston buyers search on a phone. Break the text into short paragraphs. Our complete guide to MLS descriptions covers structure and pacing.

Fair Housing Compliance in HAR Public Remarks

More room means more opportunity for language to wander into Fair Housing trouble. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability, and HAR membership requires compliance. HAR also enforces specific listing-content rules with fines for violations, so accuracy and compliance both matter.

The recurring problem areas:

Neighborhood character statements. "Family-friendly," "quiet community," and "great area" imply who lives there. Describe the property. Our neighborhood description Fair Housing guide shows the compliant approach.

Familial status and age. "Perfect for a growing family" or "ideal for retirees" are risky outside legally designated 55+ housing.

School framing. Name the district factually; skip "best schools," which can shade into steering.

Describe the property, not who should buy it. The listing description compliance checker gives a systematic pre-submission pass.

Common HAR Description Mistakes

Filling space because it's there. Two thousand characters of adjectives is weaker than 1,200 of specifics.

Restating data fields. Don't burn the allowance repeating beds and baths.

One unbroken block. Break it up for mobile.

Ignoring HAR's content rules. HAR fines certain public-remarks violations — keep prohibited content (like contact info where it isn't allowed) out of the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many characters does HAR allow in public remarks?

HAR's Houston MLS allows approximately 2,000 characters in the Public Remarks field, with an additional public-remarks addendum field for supplementary text. That is enough for a complete, detailed description. The discipline with a generous field is to stay specific rather than pad. Verify the current limit in your HAR Matrix Add/Edit screen, since limits can change between platform updates.

Does HAR have a public remarks addendum field?

Yes. In addition to the main Public Remarks field, HAR's Matrix platform provides a Public Remarks (Addendum) field as a supplementary space on the Remarks tab. It lets agents add more detail beyond the primary remarks, though the main field alone is generous compared to most boards.

What happens if I exceed the HAR character limit?

The HAR Matrix input will block or truncate text past the field limit. Draft in a plain-text editor with a character counter, and strip formatting before pasting to avoid hidden characters inflating your count.

Are Fair Housing rules different in HAR?

No. The federal Fair Housing Act applies to all U.S. MLSs equally, including HAR. HAR additionally enforces its own listing-content rules with fines, so review your remarks against the Fair Housing compliant listing descriptions guide and HAR's content rules before submitting.