"Why would someone buy a home in Boston Edison, and then just leave it for a year, unwatched?
I wouldn't leave a home in that area unwatched for the weekend. A year is just crazy, and you would expect something bad to happen in that timespan.
I mean, she paid 23k for what is probably a mini-mansion. Why does she think it's so cheap?"
"Let's say this squatter never stayed in the house. Wouldn't the owner arguably be worse off?
What would happen to an unoccupied, unwatched home in this neighborhood in the course of a year? At the least, it would be stripped clean."

You're right. WHAT was the owner thinking! Maybe she could reimburse the squatter for her time and trouble. I mean, after all, she is potential Presidential material.