For Pedro's Sake!

Five years ago, I realized a lifelong dream of buying my own home. It's nothing impressive, just a small townhouse on the Westside of Albuquerque, less than 1300 square feet and over 30-years-old, but that place means so much to me.

My parents weren't able to help me much financially during college. In fact, I am the first member of either side of my family to complete a four-year degree. I always knew that I wanted to invest early so that I would be able to help my children in a significant way. Being the perpetual planner, I thought...hmmm, If I buy a home at 25, by the time my children go to college it will have a significant amount of equity, so that I will be able to make things easier for my kids while they are chasing their dreams.

The first five years of homeownership were pretty smooth sailing. After a massive remodel (new floors, cabinets, paint) - which I paid for all by myself- thank you very much- I moved in with a wonderful roommate who helped with the mortgage for 2 whole years.

Then, I started when I started law school, my roomie moved on, so I decided to rent the whole place out and stay with a friend who had extra space. After I placed the "For rent" sign in the ground and went to the back yard to clean up, my next door from the attached townhouse approached me. She is a retired teacher in her 70's. She had a request...
"I don't want you renting to any Ni**ers, Mexicans, or people with children!" I was appalled and asked her to get off my property because she was making me upset.

Despite the rudeness of my neighbor, I found an amazing tenant who kept my house clean for three years and paid most of the mortgage. Unfortunately she (a hispanic woman) and my neighbor did not get a long, so after three years she decided not to renew her lease. (Insert sadface here)

The search for a new tenant was on, we posted on facebook, craigslist, Section 8 and the Albuquerque Journal.

Finally, one day my husband and I were showing the home to a Hispanic family with small children. They seemed to have liked the home and the mother was ready to sign the lease while the father played outside with the children. I had forgotten all about my mean and nasty neighbor. All of the sudden, the father came to the front door and informed my husband and I that his family could not live next door to such a mean lady.

Apparently, racism reared its ugly head and neighbor lady had shouted at the children. The family left and Joshua and I had a "discussion" with neighbor lady who said that all renters were "slime" especially the ones we rent to- referring back to my Hispanic tenant and the family that was interested in renting that afternoon.

I could not believe my ears. This is New Mexico for Pedro's sake! If you don't like diversity, please move away and we will not miss your (insert your favorite word for ignorant here) butt one bit!

Luckily, we found a tenant ( after about 6 weeks of advertising and dsiclosing the neighbor's "quirks") and neighbor lady should consider herself very luck that we did not have to sue her.