Final answer:
The permissible action under Massachusetts law is a buyer's agent recommending an inspector. Actions such as paying referral fees to unlicensed individuals, setting a price with excess commissions, and refusing to rent to families are either illegal or under strict legal scrutiny.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under Massachusetts law, the permissible action among the ones listed is A buyer's agent recommending an inspector.
This is generally considered part of the agent's duty to provide suitable assistance and resources for the buyer to make an informed decision concerning the property condition. Referral fees to unlicensed individuals are not allowed, as this could incentivize unqualified advice and services in the real estate industry. Likewise, a set price with the commission being any amount over said price might be considered with suspicion under anti-competitive practices. It could potentially lead to price fixing if used inappropriately.
A landlord refusing to rent to a family in an owner-occupied three-family home is not permissible under federal laws like the Fair Housing Act, which protects against family status discrimination unless specific exemptions apply, such as in owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units, which do not apply since the question states a three-family home.