A Chula Vista real estate agent says she was shocked to discover an alleged squatter living inside a South Bay home she had just purchased — an ordeal that lasted nearly 10 months and has since gone viral on social media. Irma Mendez, who has more than 20 years of experience buying and selling homes, said nothing prepared her for what she found when she entered the boarded-up property. “Oh my gosh, so I walked in, and first of all, he said profanities towards me that were pretty bad, I saw he wrote graffiti on the walls, and he did a lot of damage,” Mendez said. Inside, Mendez said a man had moved into the home and refused to leave. “He just seemed too comfortable knowing that he walked into a property that was boarded up, ready for sale, and he knew, and it just seemed too casual,” Mendez said. Mendez said she tried to resolve the situation by offering “cash for keys,” but the man declined and continued living in the home. “He wants to have gas and electric, he just calls or goes on the app and puts it on his name and because this is an HOA, they pay for the water, so in essence, I am paying for his water while I’m paying the HOA fee while he is squatting in the property,” Mendez said. With no other option, Mendez took the case to court — a process she said dragged on for months. “Now you’re in the court, you’re filing the complaint, and you’re talking about another couple of months,” Mendez said. It ultimately took nearly 10 months before the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department removed the alleged squatter. By then, Mendez said the property had suffered significant damage. “It was in pretty bad shape,” Mendez said. Trash, damaged walls, and a spray-painted slur were left behind. Cases like Mendez’s are not uncommon. According to data from the San Diego Superior Court, more than 9,000 unlawful detainer cases were filed between January and December 2025, all handled by a single judge. “That process can take a while, 6-12 months, it just depends on how busy the courts are,” said Gilberto Vera with San Diego Legal Aid. Vera said property owners often have limited options when dealing with squatters. “If they are a squatter, the police are not intervening; the court system is your only recourse as an owner,” Vera said. Mendez said she has since repaired the unit and rented it out. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less