EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Frank Ramirez, a potential buyer and representative of Sun Valley REI, a real estate investment company, is on the verge of acquiring a troubled property at 5733 Hemmingway Drive.
The home, previously occupied by dozens of squatters, was raided by law enforcement after neighbors reported tents, drug use, and open-air toilets on the premises.
KFOX14/CBS4 obtained county death records, which indicate the previous owners died in 2005, and squatters began occupying the property earlier in 2025, leading to complaints of fights, foul odors, and safety concerns.
Ramirez plans to clean up and rehabilitate the property, which he describes as needing a new roof and interior work.
“We’ll go in there, clean up the property, and then we’ll just take the proper steps to rehabilitate whatever’s, you know, messed up,” Ramirez said.
RELATED: Authorities evict over 20 squatters from empty El Paso home
Ramirez expects to officially own the property sometime next week.
The El Paso Building and Standards Commission met to discuss the property’s future, citing substantial damage, structural deficiencies, and inadequate utility services.
The commission listed several violations, including the need for trash removal and debris clearance, and threatened demolition.
However, commission member Robert Garland recommended a 90-day extension for Ramirez to purchase the property, stating, “I recommend that we extend it to 90 days, that’s the best that we can do.”
Since 2011, the property has been the subject of 26 police call cases, eight code enforcement cases, and three property maintenance and zoning cases.
RECOMMENDED: El Paso family seeks justice after Border Patrol allegedly killed their dog during search
Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.