Family Album USA - Episode 11 - A Place of Our Own

 

Family Album USA: Episode 11 - A Place of Our Own

Act I

In Act One, Marilyn asks Ellen for advice about buying a house. They talk about seeing a real-estate agent, someone who sells houses, and they talk about getting a mortgage, a bank loan to buy a house. Does Ellen want Richard and Marilyn to buy a house? How does Ellen feel?

Marilyn	Ellen, I'd like your opinion
Ellen	About what?
Marilyn	Well, Richard and I feel that with a baby coming we need to have our own place to live.
Ellen	Oh.
Marilyn	Well, what do you think about Richard and me looking for a small house or an apartmnt at this point in our lives?
Ellen	We love having you here, and there is room, and...and when the baby comes, the baby can stay in your room for a while.
Marilyn	Richard feels we need to find a small house.
Ellen	I remember when I was pregnant with Richard.Philip and I were living with Grandma and Grandpa. Philip was a young doctor, and he kept talking about having a house of our own. It's natural.
Marilyn	What did you do ?
Ellen	We looked at a lot of houses.
Marilyn	Did you find one?
Ellen	Oh, not at first. We couldn't afford it.Grandpa wanted to led us the money to buy one, but philip is too independent. He didn't want to borrow any money.
Marilyn	Sounds like Richard.
Ellen	They're all alike. Richard is a real Stewart. He's independent, and sometimes just stubbom.
Marilyn	When did you buy a house?
Ellen	After Richard was born. I was teaching music,and Philip was opening his first meical office.
Marilyn	Where was the house?
Ellen	Right here in Riverdate. Of course, it was a small house, but just right for us.
Marilyn	It's funny. History repeats itself. Now Richard and I are having a baby, and we prbably won't be able to afford a house right away, either.
Ellen	Why don't you look at some houses, Marilyn?
Marilyn	Good idea.
Ellen	Look in the real-estate section of Sunday's Times. You'll learn a lot.
Marilyn	Maybe we should speak to a real-estate agent about a house.
Ellen	And a bank about a mortgage.
Marilyn	I'll talk to Richard about it. I think it's a good idea, Ellen. We can learn a lot by asking.
Ellen	And if I can be of any help, let me know. As a matter of fact, my friend Virginia Martinelli is a real-estate agent.
Marilyn	Good.
Ellen	You won't believe this, but she sold us our first house and this one.
Marilyn	Well, I'll tell Richard, and we'll go to see her. Do you think the skirt length is right, Ellen? Do you think it's too long?
Ellen	I think the skirt is just right. Are you planning to attach a train to it?
Marilyn	No. No train. Just the dress. But I am going to make a headpiece of lace.
Ellen	That dress is gorgeous.
Marilyn	Thanks, Ellen. And thanks for the advice about the house. I'll talk to Richard about it the minute the comes home.
Ellen	And remember, we love having you here. There's no need to rush.

Act II

In Act Two, Marilyn and Richard speak with Mrs. Martinelli, a real-estate agent. Mrs. Martinelli offers to help. But she explains that Marilyn and Richard cannot afford a house in Riverdale. Will Marilyn and Richard find a house?

Virginia	I remember your parents' first house very well. It was on Spring Avenue, near the park.
Richard	I grew up in that house.
Virginia	Yes, and you were such a cute baby.
Marilyn	I've seen pictures of him. He had blond hair.
Virginia	I've been friendly with the Stewart family for a long time, so It's my pleasure to help you find a house now.
Richard	Well, we're not sure we can afford one.
Marilyn	But we'd like to find ut about the possibileties.
Virginia	That's a good idea. I love your house on Linden Street. I sold your father that house seventeen years ago.
Marilyn	Really?
Richard	Yes, Mom was pregnant with Robbie then, and they needed the extra room.
Virginia	I hear you're expecting a baby, Mrs.Stewart.
Marilyn	Mmm-hmm. So we will be needing more room.
Virginia	Oh, so you don't need something immediately?
Richard	No. But in five or six months...
Marilyn	And time passes so quickly.
Virginia	Yes, it does. Well, when you called, you gave me enough information about your salaries and your savings. So I have a good idea about your financial situation. Let me show your some pictures of houses.
Marilyn	With two bedrooms?
Virginia	Yes, I think I can show you some. Of course, they won't be in Riverdale. The cost of housing's too high for you here.
Richard	I haven't thought about living anywhere else. We've always lived in this area.
Marilyn	Where should we look for a house, Mrs.Martinelli?
Virginia	Well, we have an office in Mount Kisco. It's a lovely area, and it's only about an hour's rive from here. Here. I have a book with photos of some homes in that area. Now, let's see. Here. This is a lovely two-bedroom house in your price range.
Marilyn	It's pretty, but I prefer a two-story home.
Richard	I do, too. I don't care for a ranch type.
Virginia	OK. Oh, this is a wonderful house. I know it well. I sold it to the present owners.
Richard	It looks wonderful.
Virginia	This is a two-bedroom, two-bath house. It has a full basement, and it is on a half- acre lot. You can probably afford this one.
Marilyn	I like this house.
Richard	So do I.
Virginia	And the price is right. Would you like to go see it?
Richard	Yes. We're planning to talk to someone at the bank next week. Perhaps we could see the house this weekend.
Virginia	If some one doesn't buy it before then. But let's keep looking. Just to get an idea of some other possibillties.
Richard	This is very helpful, Mrs. Martinelli.
Virginia	Here. This is a wounderful example of Spanish-style architecture.
Richard	Oh, I love the roof tiles on a Spanish-style house.
Marilyn	It looks like the houses in Hollywood.
Virginia	It's interesting. A house like this in Riverdale costs double the price. Oh my! Here's a real buy. It's a bargain. This house just came on the market.
Marilyn	It's quite lovely. Is it a two-bedroom house?
Virginia	No. It has three bedrooms and three baths. I know the house. It has a brand new kitchen. And a living room with a twelve-foot ceiling. And there's a two-car garage.
Richard	Then why don't we go look at this house, too?
Virginia	It's a good investment.
Richard	Thank you, Mrs. Martinelli.
Marilyn	Thanks so much.
Virginia	My pleasure. Give my best to your parents.
Virginia	Your father's a wonderful doctor, Richard. He took care of my daughter when she was a child. He's the best pediatrician in Westchester.
Richard	Thanks, Mrs. Martinelli, I'll give them your regards.
Marilyn	We really appreciate your advice.
Virginia	I do think you should go see the houses and talk to the bank. Here. Let me give you some information sheets abo the houses. They're both very good buys.
Richard	Well, thanks so much for your help and your time, Mrs. Martinelli. We've got a lot to talk about.
Marilyn	Mmm-hmm. Thanks.

Act III

In Act Three, Marilyn and Richard go to a bank, they need a mortgage — a bank loan to buy a house. The bank officer Mr. Riley needs to find out if they can afford to pay back the loan. So he asks about their jobs. Will Marilyn and Richard get a mortgage?

Mr.Riley	How do you do?
Richard	Hello.
Mr.Riley	I'm Ralph Riley.
Richard	I'm Richard Stewart, and this is my wife, Marilyn.
Mr.Riley	Pleased to meet you.
Marilyn	Likewise, Mr.Riley.
MR.Riley	Please, sit down. What can I do for you?
Richard	We'd like to discuss a mortgage.
Marilyn	For a house.
Mr.Riley	Fine. Are you buying a house or are you reinancing your present home?
Richard	We're planning to buy a house.
Marilyn	And we'd like to find out about a mortgage.
Richard	We are customers of the bank. As a matter of fact, my whole Family banks here.
Mr.Riley	I have some questions to ask. Do you own your house or do you rent?
Richard	Neither. We live with my parents, Dr. and Mrs. Philip Stewart.
Mr.Riley	And how old are you?
Marilyn	I'm twenty-nine.
Richard	I'm thirty.
Mr.Riley	And, Mr. Stewat, what is your occupation?
RIchard	I'm a freelance photographer.
Mr.Riley	And, Mrs. Stewart, are you working?
Marilyn	Yes.I'm a designer, and I work in a boutique.
Mr.Riley	Did you bring any savings or salary information? Last year's tax forms?
Richard	Yes. Here they are.
Mr.Riley	OK.What...what kind of house did you have in mind?
Richard	We're talking about buying a two-bedroom house in Mount Kisco.Here are the financial details on the house.
Mr.Riley	Thank you. Are you prepared to make a ten-percent down payment?
Richard	Yes, we are.
Mr.Riley	Payments over thirty years?
Richard	Yes.
Marilyn	Do you think we can get a loan?
Mr.Riley	Well, it depends. Do you own any other property? Any stocks or bonds?
Richard	No.
Mr.Riley	I see. Then you don't have any collateral. Perhaps you could get a guarantor- someone to sign for the loan for you.
Richard	Why is that necessary?
Mr.Riley	Since you don't have enough income, and you don't already own any property, the bank needs to be sure you can pay the mortgage every month. A gauarntor is responsible for the loan if you can't make the payments.
Richard	I see. Well, the idea of buying a house is exciting.
Marilyn	Thank you, Mr.Riley. We'll read this over carefully.
Mr.Riley	Thank you.
Richard	Good-bye. Thanks.
Mr.Riley	Godd-bye.And hope to see you soon.
Richard	I hope so, too.
Mr.Riley	Take care.
Marilyn	Good-bye.
Richard	It all sounded so easy until they mentioned needing collateral or a guarantor.
Marilyn	We have no collateral.
Richard	And I don't think it's a good idea to ask Dad to sign as a guarantor. I don't feel right about it.
Marilyn	I understand your feelings about it, Richard.
Ellen	Now, tell me, what's the problem?
Marilyn	We can get a loan from the bank if we can put up some collateral.
Richard	And we don't own anything to use as collateral.
Marilyn	Or someone can sign with us as a guarantor.
Ellen	Why don't you speak to Dad?
Richard	No. If we buy a house, I want to be able to handle it alone.
Ellen	Everybody needs help sometimes, Richard.
Marilyn	I understand Richard's feelings about it, Ellen.
Richard	In two or three months, I'll have an advance on my book and be able to put more money down.
Marilyn	What about the house in Mount Kisco? Somebody else'll buy it by then.
Richard	Then there'll be other houses, Marilyn.
Ellen	Richard has a point. You're just beginning to look.
Marilyn	We're in no great rush. It's true.
Richard	This has been a great learning experienc for us, Marilyn.Talking to the real-estate agent. Looking at the houses.Talking to the loan officer at the bank.
Marilyn	It has been a learning experience. That's true.
Ellen	I think you're doing the right thing. Taking your time.Looking around.Especially with a purchase of this kind.You're talking about a lot of money.
Marilyn	We'll call Mrs. Martinelli and tell her to keep looking for us.
Richard	And I'll call Mr.Riley at the bank and tell him we'll see him in a couple of months.
Ellen	And if you ever need Dad or me to help you...
Marilyn	We know.
Ellen	You know we'll be there for you.
Richard	It's a Stewart tradition. We're a family.

More information about Family Album USA video series at Family Album USA.