NM is also culturally different than other US states.  

Could just be as simple as a poorly run business, bad customer service, bad repeatable process and procedures, culture, etc.  

I still avoided investing in real estate because of these cultural sentiments.  

If you only have to preserve wealth I would advise to pass on this market or at least be very conservative.  

Wealth is more and more concentrated, to a point now greater than much of the history of the US.

 :)  On a more positive note, I did see some addresses on the tax records that are in appreciating areas closer to the wealthy neighborhood I mentioned above..  

Also, I agree that it is not a level playing field and companies get away with it via a "culture fit" and proving discrimination can be impossible.

A lot of people got wealthy this way... oh and a lot of people have gone broke and realized “real estate doesn’t work” when they try it too.

Being wealthy and staying wealthy is not about how smart someone is (or if they went to an Ivy League university or even went to college at all).

Actually wealthy people know the second they see someone in a new base model Audi A4 or Mercedes C300 that they probably leased or financed it so you really aren't impressing anyone who is worth impressing.