When is a broker allowed to disregard the seller's instructions?

The correct answer highlights an essential principle in real estate practice: a broker is never permitted to disregard the seller's instructions under any circumstances. This is rooted in fiduciary responsibility, which mandates that a broker must act in the best interests of their client, maintaining loyalty and following the client's directives, provided those directives are legal and ethical. Violating this principle could lead to significant consequences, including legal repercussions and loss of licensing.

In the context of this principle, the other options do not properly justify scenarios in which a broker could dismiss the seller's instructions. Even when directed by the Commission, a broker still must adhere to their client's wishes as long as those wishes are within the legal framework and ethical considerations. Ethical standards compel brokers to uphold their client's interests; hence, even for ethical reasons, they cannot disregard instructions. Confidential information pertains to the privacy and trust elements between the broker and the seller, but it would not suffice as a justification for ignoring specific directives from the seller. Thus, the integrity of the broker's obligations ensures that they consistently follow the seller's instructions without exception.