guide
Ghost accessibility for real estate sites: setup, plugins, and audit checklist
Running an accessible Ghost site for real estate sites combines two layers of responsibility: Ghost's platform-level accessibility, and the real estate-specific compliance frameworks — Fair Housing Act, ADA Title III, WCAG 2.2 AA — that layer on top.
Why Ghost for real estate sites?
Ghost accessibility depends on theme choice — Ghost's default Casper theme targets WCAG 2.1 AA; custom themes vary widely. The platform itself supports semantic markup, alt text, and accessible editorial workflow but does not enforce it.
Real Estate accessibility — the regulated reality
Real estate accessibility requires property listing sites, mortgage application portals, and brokerage dashboards to be usable by buyers, renters, and agents with disabilities — a Fair Housing Act requirement that DOJ and HUD enforce alongside ADA Title III, with the Fair Housing Act explicitly prohibiting accessibility-related discrimination in advertising and access.
Ghost accessibility challenges that hit real estate sites hardest
• Custom theme variance
• Inaccessible third-party newsletter integrations
Real Estate pain points your Ghost site will likely have
• Listing photo galleries without alt text
• Mortgage calculators without keyboard control
• Inaccessible PDF disclosures and contracts
• Map-based search without alternative
• Inaccessible virtual tour platforms
Setup steps
1. Use Casper or audit your theme: Casper is the reference accessibility-aware theme.
2. Editorial discipline on alt text: Ghost editor supports alt; require it.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Cited answers. Sourced. Updated as standards and case law change.
Can a Ghost site be made ADA compliant for real estate sites?
Yes, provided the merchant or development team applies WCAG 2.2 AA at the source code and content level. No platform — including Ghost — guarantees compliance automatically.
Does Fair Housing Act cover website accessibility?
HUD and DOJ have stated that the Fair Housing Act prohibits accessibility-related discrimination in housing-related online services and advertising, in addition to physical accessibility. Lawsuits citing both FHA and ADA Title III are increasingly common.
Are MLS-feed property photos required to have alt text?
Best practice is yes — and many MLS rules now require structured listing content that supports accessibility. The receiving site is responsible for rendering accessibly regardless of feed format.
Is Ghost accessible?
Casper theme and Ghost editor support accessibility. Custom themes vary.
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