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At first everything seemed routine about the man looking to buy a home.

He knew he wanted to live near a golf course. He could talk intelligently about financing. He even showed up to tour the home near 178th and Leavenworth on Friday with his bank statement in hand.

But after he held the agent’s gaze a bit too long, asked her to enter the master bedroom first, then unfastened his belt and put his hand inside his shorts, it was obvious something was wrong.

The 26-year-old man has been charged with attempted third-degree sexual assault, lewd conduct and disturbing the peace.

The real estate agent credited self-defense training she had taken for helping her navigate the situation. The man asked her to enter the rooms before him and she wouldn’t, allowing her a possible escape route. It’s less about knowing how to fight and more about knowing how to keep yourself from being a victim, the 50-year-old woman said.

“Real estate agents need to take Realtor safety seriously. They need to realize it can happen to them and it can happen to anybody, male or female,” she said. “It’s a good thing it happened to me and not someone else because I’m probably a little bit more prepared. ... I hope he gets help because something is wrong.”