History of the TLD

The .maison top level domain is a generic new TLD introduced as part of ICANN’s expansion program for new gTLDs. It was delegated and made available for public registration in 2014. The name derives from the French word “maison” meaning “house” or “home” and is managed under ICANN‑accredited registry agreements. Its introduction aimed to broaden the domain name space and provide an industry‑relevant namespace for housing and home‑related online identities.

Main Use and Industry Position

.maison is positioned as a niche gTLD targeted primarily at real estate professionals, home builders, interior designers, housing market services, and lifestyle brands focused on homes or related topics. Due to its French linguistic origin, it is particularly relevant for French-speaking markets but remains open without geographic restrictions for any registrant. The extension serves as a branding tool to emphasize “home” in web addresses and differentiate from more generic TLDs such as .com or .net.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Unlike traditional TLDs such as .com, .net, and .org that are broadly adopted across industries, .maison targets a specific thematic sector. The extension offers a semantic connection to home and housing that generic TLDs do not. Compared to country-code TLDs like .fr or .au, .maison has no residency or geographic requirements, making it more accessible globally. However, it is less widely recognised than these legacy TLDs, and not as broadly supported in systems that have limited TLD lists.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Highly descriptive for housing and home-related brands

• No restrictions on who can register

• Supports DNSSEC and privacy options

• Fits well with French language branding

Cons

• Lower worldwide recognition compared to legacy TLDs

• Higher typical cost than common TLDs

• Some systems and services may not fully recognise certain new gTLDs

Registration Criteria

Open to any individual, business, or organisation on a first-come, first-served basis without special restrictions. Domain names must meet standard syntax and character rules (letters, numbers, hyphens).

Summary

The .maison TLD is a generic extension intended primarily for housing, real estate, and home-related services with a French linguistic appeal. It is globally available for registration without specific eligibility constraints. While it offers a strong branding opportunity for home-focused entities, it remains a niche option with varying adoption compared to traditional TLDs.