Under the duty of obedience, which seller request should an agent not follow?

The duty of obedience requires an agent to follow the lawful instructions of their client, provided those instructions do not violate any laws or ethical standards. A request to only show houses to minority families is not lawful, as it would constitute discriminatory practice under the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. This request violates the obligation to provide equal opportunity in housing and goes against ethical standards in real estate, making it a direction that the agent cannot and should not follow.

The other options describe requests that do not inherently violate any laws or ethical standards. For instance, showing properties only to financially qualified buyers ensures that time and resources are used efficiently and aligns with an agent's responsibility to act in the best interest of their client. Keeping listings within the local area and prioritizing high-end properties are also valid strategies that could be employed based on the seller's preferences, provided they do not infringe upon any legal obligations.