A home is publicly offered for $198,750.

The correct answer is C. Race is a protected characteristic under federal and Massachusetts fair-housing law. A broker cannot impose different prices, terms, or conditions because a prospective purchaser belongs to a particular racial group.

Massachusetts law prohibits refusing to sell or otherwise discriminating in housing terms and conditions based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, and numerous other protected classifications.

The seller ' s approval would not make discriminatory conduct lawful. A real-estate licensee cannot escape legal responsibility by claiming to follow a client ' s discriminatory instructions.

This conduct differs from steering, which involves directing consumers toward or away from neighborhoods based on protected status, and from blockbusting, which involves inducing owners to sell by exploiting fear about protected groups entering an area. Here the discriminatory act is unequal pricing and terms.

Study Guide Reference: Practice of Real Estate — Fair Housing; Race Discrimination and Unequal Terms of Sale.