Homeowner Battles to Reclaim Her House from Unwanted Occupant

In a troubling situation, a Florida woman named Charlotte Brown is fighting to reclaim her home that has been taken over by an unwanted squatter for more than a year. Brown purchased the Winter Haven home in 2021, seeing it as the perfect place to raise her family. However, when her fiancé faced health issues, Brown became his full-time caretaker, and their finances took a hit.

Wanting to avoid falling further behind on payments and homeowners association dues, Brown listed the home for sale in 2023. She found an interested buyer, Obed Torres, a real estate agent from California. But the sale never went through, and in the spring of 2024, Torres moved into the home anyway.

Despite Brown's efforts to have Torres removed through the legal system, he has managed to stay in the house rent-free. Now, Brown's mortgage company has filed for foreclosure, as she can't afford to keep up with payments on the home she's living in and the one occupied by the squatter.

Seeking help, Brown connected with attorney Mark Lippman, who has agreed to assist her at no charge. Lippman believes Torres' claims that the property was "abandoned" are incorrect and plans to use Florida's tougher laws against squatting to help Brown regain control of her home. However, with a foreclosure decision looming in January 2026, time is running out for Brown to resolve the situation.