A California property owner has gained widespread attention online after sharing the astonishing state of her home left by a squatter who resided there for almost a year. The saga of evicting the intruder has captured the interest of many.

Irma Mendez, a real estate broker based in San Diego, amassed millions of views on social media by sharing videos from inside her condo in Chula Vista. The footage displayed heaps of garbage, ripped carpets, and unsettling graffiti, including racial slurs scrawled on the walls, as reported by Central Valley.

Mendez bought the property, which was boarded up, without prior inspection during a foreclosure deal, anticipating some issues but not anticipating a grueling 10-month legal dispute.

“The individual just settled in as though it was his own. He managed to register the utility bills in his name, and since the water was covered by the HOA, he essentially enjoyed free accommodation,” Mendez explained.

While she was prepared for the possibility of squatters, the prolonged eviction process caught her off guard. “Ultimately, he left but even went to court to argue for more time,” Mendez noted.

By the time sheriff’s deputies finally accessed the property, the squatter had vacated, but he left behind significant damage and an ominous message.

“He was in there basically destroying the place,” Mendez said. “Writing on the walls, writing profanity, throwing mice on the wall.”

Legal experts say cases like this are becoming increasingly common across San Diego County, where eviction courts are overwhelmed.

“I came to talk to him to see if we would be willing to do some cash for keys, maybe get out a little sooner, he said no absolutely not. He has rights,” said attorney Seth Barron, founder of Landlord Solutions San Diego.

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“Very clearly, squatters don’t have rights; they are not tenants, they are criminal trespassers. The issue is the enforcement mechanism there.”

Barron said the backlog is staggering, with a single judge handling roughly 9,000 eviction cases annually — about 700 to 800 each month.

“It’s an impossible job,” he added.

Even so, the experience hasn’t scared Mendez off. She has since renovated the damaged condo and secured a new tenant — and has already taken on another distressed property, undeterred by the risks.

Barron advises landlords to act quickly when dealing with squatters, noting most cases still take between three to six months once they reach the courts.