Woman has no plans to move out of home despite it being listed on Zillow. Here’s why

NUNN, Colo. (KUSA) — A Zillow listing for a home in Colorado is drawing attention online for disclosing that the property has an occupant and that removing her is the buyer’s responsibility.

Tori McMechan is that occupant. The listing includes no interior photos, prohibits inspections and instructs prospective buyers not to disturb her.

“The ad is unreal, right? Who would buy a home sight unseen with an occupant still in it?” McMechan said.

The property has been part of foreclosure cases for more than 15 years.

McMechan said the mortgage loan was taken out in 2006 and was in her late husband’s name. She said the bank refused to speak with her or accept her payments as a surviving spouse after his death.

“The bank has been unwilling to work with me as a surviving spouse,” McMechan said.

Her husband died in a car crash amid a political dispute in town. McMechan said the home was the last thing he bought for her before he died and where she raised her children.

“We took out the loan, the actual loan on this house, in ’06. In 15 years, 2021, this home would have been paid off,” she said.

According to McMechan, she had successfully appealed the foreclosure in court on multiple occasions until she recently lost a Court of Appeals decision, after which the listing went up.

“I don’t know what else you do. I’ve had three attorneys that could not even get this straightened out. So what do you do?” she said.

McMechan said her remaining legal option is a 2024 change to state law that guarantees evicted tenants the right to a jury trial.

When asked whether a buyer would be able to remove her from the property, McMechan was direct.

“It’s going to be pretty difficult. I’m not leaving willingly,” she said. “I’m staying. They can come on in, but I’m not leaving.”