What principle does an agent violate when telling a buyer the lowest price a seller will accept?

When an agent informs a buyer of the lowest price a seller will accept, they are violating the principle of confidentiality. In real estate, agents have a duty to maintain the confidentiality of their clients' (in this case, the seller's) sensitive information, which includes price negotiations and personal motivations for selling. Disclosing the lowest price compromises the seller's negotiating position and could lead to less favorable outcomes for the seller.

Maintaining confidentiality is a critical ethical obligation for agents, ensuring that clients' interests are protected during transactions. By sharing such confidential information with a buyer, the agent jeopardizes the seller's bargaining power and trust, which is fundamental in real estate relationships.