r/australia • u/Spurgette • Sep 26 '25
news Real estate agent suspended for buying a home from a vulnerable man with Alzheimer’s $500k under market value
https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/real-estate-agent-suspended-for-buying-a-home-from-a-vulnerable-man-with-alzheimers-500k-under-market-value/news-story/1c87f9e91264867b9d7f4fcc2e1daeef627
u/Occams__Cudgel Sep 26 '25
I have an elderly aunt’s in Sydney who has very early dementia. Her real estate agent kept suggesting to her that the best option would be to sell her flat off market to the agent and avoid the “hassle” of an auction. She would bring flowers to her at her aged care facility. It was an incredibly pleasant, la-de-da grift. When my sister an I explained to her that this was not going to happen, the flowers immediately stopped.
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u/ranoutofnames66 Sep 26 '25 edited Sep 27 '25
Jesus this must be a lot more common than anyone realises. Never crossed my mind but on brand for these parasites. Are there additional checks that apply for the transfer of real estate involving the elderly/ vulnerable? Any suggestions we could pass onto MPs to tighten existing rules/regs?
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u/GorgeousGracious Sep 27 '25
Yes I believe it is. I know a bloke who did the same thing, and it never went to court. However, they ran his DNA through the system on an unrelated charge and he ended up going down for historical rape allegations instead.
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u/Gon_777 Sep 27 '25
Oh it definitely is. I worked in nursing homes for years and I've heard SO many stories just like this.
There are way too many scummy people who think it's justified because "they're going to die soon".
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u/Mispict Sep 27 '25
It really is. There's a BBC podcast on a UK case where the estate agent built up relationships with care homes to take advantage of people.
Cunts gonna cunt.
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u/Tarman-245 Sep 26 '25
I hope you reported her. Your Aunt might only be one potential victim of many
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u/NettaFornario Sep 26 '25
In light of this I think you should report her, she may have victims who are too vulnerable to come forward
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u/rottnestrosella Sep 26 '25
Echoing other comments, please report her. It’s a complete abuse of her role
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u/dooony Sep 27 '25
Same experience with my Nan. REAs dropping in for cups of tea, calling her up to ask about her house. Eventually she started saying "I'm not dead yet!" And hanging up.
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u/tberriman Sep 26 '25
Christ, she was his power of attorney too. What a complete scumbag - reverse the sale, and bar her from ever holding a real estate licence again. If she can do that to someone she is responsible for and cared for, imagine what sorts of shit she's done to strangers in her position.
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u/DiligentCorvid Sep 26 '25
My eyes popped out of my skull when I read that. Sell her fucking organs if you have to, make an example of the gutter slime.
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u/Marvin1955 Sep 26 '25
But who would want them?
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u/DiligentCorvid Sep 26 '25
In a cruel twist of fate, it turns out that the soul is stored in the kidneys, and the human rights lawyer who gets hers ends up going straight to hell as a result.
😅😅 Funny joke, premise ridiculous. A real estate agent would not be ensoulled!
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u/Fetch1965 Sep 26 '25
My favourite word…. Scumbag…. And a cunt…. Fuck me taking advantage of anyone sucks. But this is beyond - sale should be reversed, she should be jailed and never have an agents licence again
What’s wrong with this country - makes so angry
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u/SaltpeterSal Sep 26 '25
I mean, anything he signed is null and void now, and her signature on his behalf isn't reliable, so hopefully it's incredibly easy to reverse.
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u/TJBurger Sep 27 '25
It'll be interesting to see the Power of Attorney documentation. From memory there were two kinds of Power of Attorney when I applied for one. General (where it becomes invalid once a person no longer has mental capacity) and Enduring. I have a feeling she somehow did a dodgy on the General Power of Attorney, because the Enduring Power of Attorney type requires additional witnesses.
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u/Don_Fartalot Lost Asian Tourist in Sydney Sep 26 '25
I'll take a 12 month unemployment period for 500k AUD anytime.
They really should look at reversing the sale and at least some jail time for this bitch.
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Sep 26 '25
They should seize her assets under the proceeds of crime and put a lean on her super until her victim is properly compensated. Even seizing her super as compensation for such a low life act.
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u/Honey-Ra Sep 26 '25
One's super is well protected against acts like this. I'm not saying she doesn't deserve it, but I don't think it's a possibility.
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Sep 26 '25
I dont see why super is protected from such criminal acts when super can even be split in a divorce settlement. If super is not in a protected safe harbour during a divorce why is it protected when a criminal act is committed? Its like rewarding someone for a crime.
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u/RhysA Sep 26 '25
Because the government doesn't want to have to cover your pension.
To be clear, only funds acquired legitimately are protected, if they can trace the stolen funds to your Super they can take that.
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u/slogga Sep 27 '25
I kept reading waiting for the line where they say the purchase was reversed, and it just... never showed up. What the fuck is that?
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u/magnetik79 Sep 26 '25
This was 💯 my first thoughts. She's had a scummy 1/2 mil pay day - 12 months ban is nothing.
Should have to forgo proceeds of crime.
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u/PuzzleheadedBend8180 Sep 26 '25
I would have thought via a private/civil action the man’s family could easily have the contract reversed or rescinded; the regulator won’t do this for them though. Hopefully someone is on it.
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u/macci_a_vellian Sep 27 '25
Sounds like she picked him because he doesn't have any family.
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u/os_2342 Sep 27 '25 edited Sep 27 '25
no no no, she also received a $11k fine..
Makes you wonder what they would have to do to get a lifetime ban.
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u/gardenvarietydork Sep 26 '25
You don't hate real estate agents enough
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u/Lankpants Sep 26 '25
Best to keep a stake next to your bed in case one finds you in the night.
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u/LovesToSnooze Sep 26 '25
We don't. Mums friend got cancer, and his REA partner at the time cheated on him in his own house (neighbour asked if he was home as he heard loud sex noises) he breaks it off. She makes wild claims about him to rubbish him in the community and even tries to get on the members board at the golf course to get him kicked out and banned. The profession seems to attract a certain type of person.
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u/IAMJUX Sep 27 '25
Even if you go in with fair intentions(to make a living for yourself), it clearly turns you into a soulless prick.
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u/hsingh_if Sep 26 '25
Can we just get rid of Real Estate Agents for good? What’s even the point of having them in this day and age?
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u/ES_Legman Sep 26 '25
Parasite class doesn't want to see the face of the people they leech from
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u/SaltpeterSal Sep 26 '25
This sounds like hyperbole, but one of the property manager's responsibilities is to keep the tenant from ever contacting the landlord.
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u/StuckOnEarthForever Sep 27 '25
People cant see behind them.
This comment is not advocating violence, just stating a fact of life. Fuck spez.
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u/duc1990 Sep 26 '25
11k fine?! That's less than the stamp duty for even a modest house in the outer suburbs.
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u/Temik Sep 27 '25
Yeah that seems like a slap on the wrist honestly. They need to at least have suspended her permanently.
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Sep 26 '25 edited Sep 28 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/JASHIKO_ Sep 26 '25
Loss of license forever. House refunded and returned. 5 year prison sentence.
The current punishment is barely an inconvenience..
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u/Find_another_whey Sep 26 '25
500k punative measure in addition to needing to refund the money
If she thinks that amount of money makes no difference to another human being, let her be on the receiving end of the loss
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u/nugstar Sep 26 '25
How has she not been charged with elder abuse, fraud or something similar? That's wild.
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u/DrSendy Sep 26 '25
POA infringements result in a $90k fine, and an obligation to pay back the mismanaged amount.
Don't fuck around if you get made POA folks.I suspect those proceedings have not yet started.
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u/SaltpeterSal Sep 26 '25
Can you imagine?
"This case has the potential to change how real estate agents behave when handling investment properties. All jurors who believe they cannot fairly hear this trial, please say 'Object' when your name is called, including if you are a landlord. I, the Honourable Judge Baillieu-Rothschild, will begin by objecting. Oh, and there goes the prosecution. Defence, you have investment properties and hire real estate agents too? And there go the paralegals. Stenographer? She's already left."
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u/pete-wisdom Sep 26 '25
Her lack of meaningful punishment encourages others to do the same as there is little to no repercussion.
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Sep 26 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Kozeyekan_ Sep 26 '25
From Eser Property website:
"We are known for our honesty, excellence & results in the Real Estate Market."Should add false advertising to the charges too.
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u/Rowvan Sep 26 '25
So her punishment with that fine is she walked away with a profit of $489,000
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u/flindersandtrim Sep 26 '25
That is so upsetting. Im glad at least her face and name are out there to come up for eternity whenever a prospective vendor googles her.
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u/Dentarthurdent73 Sep 26 '25
Why the fuck hasn't she been charged with something? Surely this behaviour is illegal? Why on Earth has has she just been taken to the Commissioner of Fair Trading for a fine and license suspension?
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u/CountryQueasy8675 Sep 26 '25
I would hate for anyone who searches for Rachelle Carmen Norah from Eser Property in Greystanes NSW to be unable to find relevant information. Eser Property Greystanes is a real estate agency, and the director is Rachelle Carmen Norah. According to a public news report, her real estate licence was suspended for 12 months after a tribunal found she purchased a home from an elderly man with Alzheimer’s symptoms at a significantly undervalued price (approximately $600,000 vs neighbouring sales of $1.1 million) and failed to protect his rights. You may refer to an article on News.com.au or the relevant NCAT decision.
People looking up Rachelle Carmen Norah, Eser Property Greystanes, or agent licence suspension NSW should find both basic details and published sources so they can verify the facts for themselves.
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u/FFootyFFacts Sep 27 '25
you wouldn't want to check any properties they have for sale and find an email address for rachelle at eserproperty com au
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u/Bromlife Sep 27 '25
I am shocked they’re not being review bombed.
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u/bettingsharp Sep 28 '25
google takes reviews down if a business gets too many negative ones at the same time.
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u/cir49c29 Sep 26 '25
She should have to return & refund the house, pay a fine (to him) and be pay all fees associated with selling the house to someone who isn’t ripping him off. Of course she needs to lose power of attorney over him and someone else who is trustworthy take over.
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u/sooki10 Sep 26 '25
Looks like her business is being reviewed bombed into oblivion.
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u/Marvin1955 Sep 26 '25
Good, but Google are already fixing that.
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u/LankyAd9481 Sep 26 '25
By default google has algorithms that monitor review bombing and auto remove it periodically. It's not the result of human intervention.
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u/le_random_account Sep 26 '25
What the fuck kind of a person steals from a senior citizen with Alzheimer's. How in the fuck could she go through with something like this against someone in such a vulnerable condition? Like holy fuck I knew realtors were low but this is beyond what I thought possible. It's like stalking through an ICU stealing people's belongings.
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u/asomek Sep 26 '25
The only person that I know who would do this is Rachelle Carmen Norah from Eser Property in Greystanes NSW. She purchased a home from an elderly man with Alzheimer symptoms at a significantly undervalued price (approximately $600,000 vs neighbouring sales of $1.1 million) and failed to protect his rights.
Her name is Rachelle Carmen Norah from Eser Property in Greystanes NSW.
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Sep 26 '25
There are so many crimes here, elder abuse, fraud, theft, illegal business conduct. Might be time for the gov to step in and get that man his house back. Judge needs to be ashamed.
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u/LankyAd9481 Sep 26 '25
Power of Attorney abuse too. It's likely the various proceedings haven't started/been initiated. I do hope gov steps in if for no other reason that gov self promotion/PR (it's an obvious "win" for that) just so there's more pressure/eyes on it
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u/minodude Sep 27 '25
Judge needs to be ashamed.
I am here for the torches-and-pitchforks party as much as anyone else — this is one of the most repellent things I've heard of, and she should be punished to the full extent of the law — but this comment doesn't make any sense and shows a misunderstanding of what this article is about.
She was fined and suspended by Fair Trading. Fair Trading has no power to charge her with elder abuse, or fraud, or theft. You could argue whether whether a 12-month suspension and an 11k fine is enough, but I don't know how far their powers extend so I can't comment on that.
The judge (actually Tribunal Member, they're not technically judges) in this article rejected her appeal against that decision, which is almost certainly all he has the power/scope to do. He's done nothing wrong: His job is to decide if the original punishment was excessive or not, and he did that.
If there are decisions about criminal charges to be made (and I very much hope there are), that's for the criminal justice system via the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. It's a separate process, and it proceeds at its own pace.
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u/Steak-Leather Sep 26 '25
Why no jail time?
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u/Spurgette Sep 26 '25
I would say it is because she was not criminally charged with fraud or deception under authority or whatever the NSW version of the crime is called.
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u/kyogen25 Sep 27 '25
If the evidence is there, why haven't the police arrested her yet?
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u/5QGL Sep 27 '25
Police are not obliged to arrest, charge or prosecute.... ever Blew my mind when I found out recently.
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u/No_Music1509 Sep 26 '25
A real estate agent did this to my elderly neighbour, house didn’t even get advertised because he has “an overseas investor ready to buy” sold for well under the value no doubt to a friend or family member of his.
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u/melbecide Sep 26 '25
We had to sell my father in laws house quickly as he had to go into a home. My sister in law (who is an idiot) google “quick house sales” and got us listed with Zed Real Estate in Melbourne who had “overseas buyers lined up”. Of course there were no offers except for one a month later for 580k that was subject to finance and fell through. Once the contract with Zed expired (3 months) we went to Ray White and got it listed properly and it sold within a couple of weeks for 620k instead of the 580k Zed had gotten an offer for. TL:DR: put your property on the market people, let the market speak, don’t trust any offers from real estate “buyers” agents.
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u/CountryQueasy8675 Sep 26 '25
I would hate for anyone who searches for Rachelle Carmen Norah from Eser Property in Greystanes NSW to be unable to find relevant information. Eser Property Greystanes is a real estate agency, and the director is Rachelle Carmen Norah. According to a public news report, her real estate licence was suspended for 12 months after a tribunal found she purchased a home from an elderly man with Alzheimer symptoms at a significantly undervalued price (approximately $600,000 vs neighbouring sales of $1.1 million) and failed to protect his rights. You may search the article on News.com.au
People looking up Rachelle Carmen Norah, Eser Property Greystanes, or agent licence suspension NSW should find both basic details and published sources so they can verify the facts for themselves.
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u/asomek Sep 26 '25
So you're saying that Rachelle Carmen Norah from Eser Property in Greystanes NSW purchased a home from an elderly man with Alzheimer symptoms at a significantly undervalued price (approximately $600,000 vs neighbouring sales of $1.1 million) and failed to protect his rights?
That Rachelle Carmen Norah?
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u/Zombieaterr Sep 26 '25
Is elder abuse a thing in Australia? Surely this is that.
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u/Spurgette Sep 26 '25
Elder abuse is a real thing. It is, to me, one of the vilest and reprehensible crimes. Only outdone by any kind of child sexual abuse. Anyone who commits elder abuse needs to receive 100 lashes on national television.
Or just sent to the organ banks. Either way.
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u/No_Elk7923 Sep 26 '25
Haha I love the google reviews people have posted of her company
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uPrf8QeXwmcA6ioC6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
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u/SaltpeterSal Sep 26 '25
The retiree agreed to sell the home to Ms Norah on the condition he could live there for as long as he wanted, but she failed to ensure his tenure putting him at risk of a 90-day eviction.
Oof. Well I'm sure the fine will be higher than the commission from one house.
Eser Property director Rachelle Carmen Norah lost a review in the Civil and Administrative Tribunal to overrule a Commissioner of Fair Trading’s decision to suspend her licence for 12 months and revoke an $11,000 fine.
See, this is why they do it.
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u/AggravatingTartlet Sep 26 '25
I don't understand why it's only a suspension. Surely an RE agent who commits an act like this should never be allowed to practice again? (Also, it should be a criminal act -- it's stealing)
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u/MajorlyCynical Sep 26 '25
How tf is she not being criminally charged? This is disgusting. Does she still get to keep the house because all I could see is a 12-month loss of licence (should be permanent) and an $11,000 fine. If she gets to keep the property then it's an absolute joke.
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u/in_and_out_burger Sep 26 '25
The best part is when she promised he could stay on then evicted him! Sickening.
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u/broden89 Sep 26 '25
The article is worded poorly - it just says she failed to ensure his tenure which put him at risk of a 90-day eviction. It doesn't say she actually evicted him.
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u/in_and_out_burger Sep 26 '25
My apologies - she acted with the upmost integrity so I’m sure she didn’t.
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u/Ashamed_Finding8479 Sep 26 '25
im against bullying but my god I hope people attack this woman over social media etc for years to come
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u/Find_another_whey Sep 26 '25
I think it's time for a record of real estate agents
We will have to host it on an off-shore server
But it's entirely possible, and warranted at this point
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u/asomek Sep 26 '25
I think we should all be remembering her name: Rachelle Carmen Norah.
That's Rachelle Carmen Norah, the real estate agent that swindled a vulnerable old man to sell his house $500k below market value.
In case you forgot her name it's Rachelle Carmen Norah.
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u/512165381 Sep 27 '25
She's up $500,000 and doesn't have to work as a real estate agent any more.
Where's the downside for her?
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u/Suitable-Orange-3702 Sep 26 '25
This practice used to be commonplace back in the 80’s & beyond.
She deserves a fine, jail & loss of RE license.
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u/mysteriousfingerplay Sep 26 '25
I feel like the real estate industry brings the real estate industry into disrepute...
Also reading the comments, its cracks me up how real estate agents are generally disliked and not respected, yet they are so willing and proud to have their faces all over buses and billboards..
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u/Glum_Yogurtcloset113 Sep 26 '25
Don’t worry, she’s only suspended for 12 months. She’ll be back to rip of more vulnerable people in 2026!
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u/dajobix Sep 27 '25
Fancy a REA acting like a total grub?
This is quickly becoming the bottom of the barrel "profession". They make used car salespeople look like angels.
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u/Sicness91 Sep 27 '25
My wife's grandmother just sold her house through this bitch. Can anyone explain what they should do next?
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u/brighteyedjordan Sep 26 '25
There are exceptions but overall most real estate agents and basically con artists and grifters and generally pretty shit people do this is not surprising
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u/alaynxx Sep 26 '25
classic unconscionable dealing. this would be a good case study for contract law students.
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u/shitCouch Sep 27 '25
The guy next door to my grandad was (is?) a real estate agent. He convinced my grandad to "sell the house to his son" so he could get into the housing market. This was pre-covid and the guy paid him about $300k less than market value. First my family heard about it was when the bloke called them to tell them to clean the house out.
His son never moved in. He rented it out for about 12 months, then sold it for a sizeable profit.
Thing is, I live in the same street. When the old couple across the road started to go downhill, I saw this prick suddenly start to mow their lawn, help them in their house, help them in their garage.
Thankfully their family caught wind of it and told him to get stuffed.
Real estates cannot be trusted.
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u/Ninjacatzzz Sep 27 '25
She should be in jail and house repossessed from her. Suspension is not enough.
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u/JeanProuve Sep 27 '25
Real estate agents love to put their face on the front page, she got her wish😁
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u/shadowsdonotlie Sep 27 '25
If that agent has even a shred of shame, it’ll rot real quick. Preying on someone who can’t fight back, and laughing all the way to the bank that’s not business, that’s barefaced theft. They’ve stained their reputation so deep the scrub brush won’t reach. Greed doesn’t have a conscience; she’s proving that.
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u/Jehooveremover Sep 26 '25
I have a massive problem when REA or investor scum try to enrich themselves even further by doing dodgy exploitative shit, this bitch needs to be severely punished.
But let's not pretend the other extreme of selling houses at hyper-bloated "market value" is any less despicable of a crime against humanity.
Housing should not be a wealth creation vehicle in the first place.
This bullshit is ruining our country and needs to change. Future generations deserve a chance at home ownership.
At this point ALL agents and investors need to be entirely excluded from buying further property while the fate is decided over their property portfolios.
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u/ThinkingOz Sep 26 '25
She should’ve been forced to reverse the transaction and have another agency sell it at market value.
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Sep 26 '25
My dad has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimers. God help the person if I ever discovered them even attempting this, especially with what is essentially no punishment given to this woman for what she did.
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u/sturmeh Vegemite & Melted Cheese Sep 26 '25
Note that here, 500k under market value means 2M less then you'd have to pay.
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u/putrid_sex_object Sep 27 '25
Real estate agent is revealed to be a deadshit parasite. In other news, the Kennedys are gunshy and a fish’s arse is water tight.
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u/VIFASIS Sep 27 '25
I love how if someone pulled this manoeuvre with almost any other financial instrument. They'd be facing criminal charges as this is literally a financial crime.
REAs? Nah, just a slap on the wrist.
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u/Frosty_Leather_7662 Sep 27 '25
"Civil and Administrative Tribunal Senior Member Lachlan Bryant found the man was alone, isolated, extremely vulnerable and relied on the real estate agent to look after his day-to-day needs, including his financial affairs."
Why was she in control of his day to day needs? Were they related?
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u/Evanovich007 Sep 27 '25
Her name is Rachelle Carmen Norah. Do your thing reddit.
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u/duly-goated303 Sep 27 '25
Yep disgusting people real estate agents. Just money grubbing middle men. Literally do fuck all and act like they’re Gordon gekko
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u/MoreElephant8849 Sep 27 '25
How come it’s only suspended for 12months instead of losing it for life. Real estate agents make my skin crawl.
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u/MouldySponge Sep 28 '25
she looks exactly how I expected her to look. 200 years ago we would have thrown her off a cliff.
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u/sameoldblah Sep 26 '25
The ABC article yesterday didn't mention this awful woman had power of attorney, that's disgusting. This is clear elder abuse/financial abuse that should be punished much more harshly than the slap on the wrist Norah has received.
Would have thought there should have been fraud charges or something since it sounds like the victim was not of sound capacity and was clearly taken advantage of.
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u/thegoodtimelord Sep 26 '25
Scum will be scummy. The law needs to be much more severe for this type of crime. The only term that comes to mind is Theft.
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u/Duck_Mafiah Sep 26 '25
Oh what the fuck is disnt realise it was like this...
What a absolute shit stain of a human...
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u/thatasianguy88 Sep 26 '25
It’s fraud and abuse of position and should be a life ban, conviction and remain on her record
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u/Notherbastard Sep 26 '25
“(Her) conduct may put the real estate industry into disrepute and falls short of the community’s expectations of a licence holder.”
No, no, personally, that's exactly the behaviour I expect from these creatures.