Which act is NOT considered a ministerial act under Maryland law?

In this context, a ministerial act refers to tasks performed by a real estate agent that do not involve the exercise of discretion or judgment and typically involve providing services to the parties involved in a transaction.

Offering earnest money deposit advice is a situation where an agent would need to apply judgment based on the specifics of the transaction and the local market conditions. This involves understanding the implications of the amount being suggested, advising parties on best practices, and taking into account individual circumstances, which goes beyond simply carrying out a directive. In contrast, the other options involve tasks that are more procedural or fact-based and do not require significant discretion.

For instance, answering informational questions about a listing or writing a purchase offer as directed by a client are actions that follow prescribed guidelines commonly accepted in real estate practice. Granting property access to a home inspector is also a straightforward, procedural task, as it involves coordinating access without the need for judgment calls on the agent's part. Therefore, the correct answer identifies the act that incorporates a level of advisory responsibility, distinguishing it from purely ministerial acts.