A routine foreclosure purchase in Chula Vista turned into a viral headache for longtime realtor Irma Mendez, who says she walked into her newly bought property and found a man living there. Mendez, who has worked in real estate for more than 20 years, told reporters the occupant refused a cash-for-keys offer and left behind spray-painted slurs, torn-out walls and piles of trash. She says it took nearly 10 months before the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department removed the alleged squatter and she could finally begin repairs.
What the video shows
In the widely shared clip, Mendez walks through the boarded-up home, pointing out graffiti, damaged drywall and heaps of debris that she says were left by the person staying there. According to her account, the man turned down cash to leave and even put utilities in his own name while relying on homeowners association-covered water. The video and Mendez’s description of what she found were reported by NBC San Diego.
Why the case dragged on
Mendez says she…..