Real Estate Agent Investigated for Living in Apartment She Was Selling

A 47-year-old real estate agent is under investigation by the Civil Police in Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, for allegedly living in an apartment she was trying to sell for a month. The discovery was made after the owner's cousin reported suspicious activity. Municipal Guard agents apprehended the agent near the property on Tuesday night. She reportedly attempted to conceal her presence upon seeing the guard's vehicle. At the police station, the agent provided a statement, had her phone seized, and signed a minor offense report for trespassing. The owner, residing in Brasília, will be interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation. The incident came to light when the owner's cousin, alerted by neighbors, reported that someone appeared to be living in the apartment, which was listed for sale and expected to be vacant. Investigations revealed the agent, a former employee of a real estate agency, had taken the apartment keys and resided there, informing the owner that she was still actively marketing the property. The owner was unaware the agent had left the agency. Consequently, the agent faces potential charges including theft, unlawful possession, fraud, and property invasion.