Don't Walk Away Mad - Just Walk Away

Fate isn’t always a fair companion in life. Just ask my next door neighbors who walked away from their American Dream two weeks ago.

Cristobal, Gilda, their son Randy and Gilda’s younger brother, Kiki, had moved from Tampa to Spring Hill shortly after I moved into my home in July 2005. Both of our homes were investment properties, commissioned by the same attorney employed at a law firm in Hillsborough County.

Between the two homes, the investor made what to most us would be a sizable fortune, but that was pretty much the norm all those years ago, as measured by the economic timeline whereby financial institutions left many Americans with workless days, sleepless nights and shriveled retirement savings.

From the many times that Gilda and I had spoken, I knew that at some point Cristobal’s daughter and granddaughter from a previous marriage would be joining them from their native island country, Cuba, and that to accommodate their arrival Kiki would be seeking a place of his own. So, when I saw the moving truck on that Sunday morning, I assumed that was the case.

It wasn’t until the next day that another neighbor, one who is known for window-snooping from behind closed curtains, brought to my attention there had been multiple trips to and from Cristobal’s house.

That’s when I decided to take it upon myself to maintain what had been their front yard. As I was trimming the green, green grass above the septic tank, Cristobal happened to drive up in the driveway. He gave me the lowdown.

Not surprisingly, they were unable to meet their mortgage obligation. Even two years ago Cristobal had told me of their personal financial challenges due to the downturn in the economy. Among other cost-cutting measures, they had already removed sink hole coverage from their homeowner insurance.

An honest attempt had been made to refinance their home to lessen the burden of the $1600 monthly mortgage payment, but the best the lender could offer was a mere pittance of $63 in savings. Therefore, they had no choice but to walk away from their cherished dream. And yet, Cristobal was his usual cheerful self, perhaps even more so, because a large financial burden had been lifted from their lives.

As renters, their housing expenses will be hundreds of dollars less per month. Minus property taxes and insurance costs, the total savings will be more than just a few thousand dollars a year.

As in their case, with less debt, thus newfound disposable income, some analysts believe previous homeowners may be able to spur spending and help quicken the country out of the recession. But they also acknowledge that, with or without health care reform, medical cost will continue to outpace incomes and, with or without a cap-and-trade policy on carbon emissions, energy costs will also continue to rise. Therefore, people may be more inclined to save rather than spend whatever extra cash they have on hand.

Cristobal and Gilda also know that tuition costs for Randy’s continuing education will only increase over the next four years of college.

So, what used to be their home is empty and will continue to be so for what I imagine will be a very long time. All the upgrades they had made to the home, including an above ground swimming pool and cedar wood decking that Cristobal and Kiki had built, will one day fulfill someone else’s dream.

The inside of the house is a veritable showplace. Impressed with the wall-to-wall, room-to-room ceramic flooring, I commissioned Cristobal, a tile tradesman, and Kiki to replace the unsightly kitchen linoleum and the heavily soiled hallway carpeting in my home with ceramic tile. Of Cristobal’s creation, the tasteful design in the entryway accentuates the complimentary workmanship. With a couple of referrals, I was able to supplement his dwindling income but it only delayed the inevitable.

Cristobal and his family are very familiar with adversity. He came to America with but pocket change, worked day and night at whatever job he could muster to bring the rest of his family to where he started out in Miami. Two years ago this month they became naturalized American citizens.

As simple as it sounds, Cristobal doesn’t dream – he walks in the real world and reality told him to walk away from too costly a dream.

As for myself, I’ll truly miss them. I’ll also be concerned if, when and what type of new neighbors will move in next door. In the meantime, I’ll trim the bushes and mow the front yard. For neighborhood security. For neighborhood property values. For whatever time frame.

And when a peek over the fence shows the pool filled with algae and stagnant water, and creating a health hazard, I’ll contact Code Enforcement to do the rest.