THE JEWISH LEADER, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 11 the insane wealth of the rail- road barons, Carnegie’s and Obstacles for Possibility Rockefeller’s who had more By Tammy Stoner Pinkerton money than they knew what to do with, and a system that First Time was preventing women from Lizzie Who? earning a decent wage. Lizzie In 1905 Lizzie Magie (1868-1948) applied and received a Magie understood she was a Home Buyers patent for her invention. During this period, she was one of less victim of a system back then By Geoff Hausmann, special to the Leader than one percent of women to receive patents for inventions. At that was wiping out the middle First time home buyers get very excited the time of her application, it was believed that any innovation class. The lessons Lizzie Magie produced by a woman would be doomed to failure. tried to teach continue to be that they are not prepared to deal with hurdles that they may Women were discouraged from even bothering to apply. Why learned today. whenhave to they overcome. finally decide to purchase a home. The problem is spend the patent fees if the invention with a female name rel- The interesting twist about Student Loans: Student loans are the biggest kiss of death egated it to obscurity? It didn’t stop Lizzie. She applied and ob- the Landlord Game is that the to some buyers. Normally, student loans can be on deferment of tained the patent anyway. very game Lizzie Magie devel- up to 6 months after graduation. People either forget to keep the In 1905, women could not vote, and while typewriters and oped and inspired, led to the mortgage company informed of their status or to start paying the telephones had been invented, and used by women, women development of the game of loans within the 6-month grace period. Lenders have no prob- were dissed and relegated to the home. Educated women back Monopoly, a board game that lem with reporting this information to the credit companies. then were nurses and teachers. However, the prevailing senti- promoted the opposite mes- Credit History: Do you have a credit card or do you rely on ment of the day was that most women were viewed best in pink sage she was trying to teach your parents to pay for everything? You live at home rent free? negligees. Has that changed today? Can you have curves and be about. The Landlord game was You can establish credit in 3 months. Get a credit card and use an innovator or is it one or the other? it for some of your purchases. Pay rent to your parents in check Lizzie Magie should be remembered and celebrated, and Monopoly. form and make sure they cash the check. Get a cell phone in your through her we should ask ourselves how much has really flippedLizzie around, Magie and ended it became up own name. The advice from mortgage people state that you need changed for wom- at least 3 lines of credit to be able to get a mortgage. en today? Are times have you played the Job History: Even if you now employed, you may still have to women still in the wipedgame of off Monopoly, the board. and How ended many wait to get a mortgage. The banks would like to see a two-year background with up angry at another while you - were forced into bankruptcy? job in the same area that you went to school for it will count. You day being that we Yes, Monopoly is a long game, historyalso must in passthe same any probation field. If you period are a of recent 3 months graduate or more. and get a thesay difference it’s not that to taking plenty of time, before Outstanding Bills: It is very common for people who rent to way. We hide the we give all our money to one incur many bills that include credit cards, car loans, and medical discrimination bet- guy or gal at the top. bills. Even though you may be current in all your payments, the ter. We hide it at the As we pass Go, land on back, hidden behind men. We tell ourselves we have come far. Boardwalk and Park Place, No Liquid Cash: Home loans require a minimum of 3% of the We have broken through glass ceilings, women have the same and keep our get-out-of-jail extrapurchase payments price andwill moneyaffect thefor closingamount costs.you mayMany qualify buyers for. think opportunities as men, but how much of this is true? Are we still cards, remember Lizzie Magie, that purchasing a home with no money down programs mean throwing the female inventor away? the inspiration for the game. that they do not require any money. This is not true. Mortgage Women are half the population. Are half the inventions origi- Lizzie Magie’s original intent companies will be looking for some form of reserves so that they nating from women? of the game; to teach about know there is a way for them to get paid. As a buyer, you also Lizzie Magie passed “Go” a few times, landed on a couple of capitalism, and its impact on need money for inspections and insurance premiums. railroads, and paid tax to the kings before she was thrown out of the middle class was perverted Parents: Parents want to help and make sure their child is the game, and relegated to obscurity. with the creation of Monopoly. not getting into a money pit. It is important to have someone Yes. Lizzie Magie is the inspiration for the best-selling game The lessons learned from pay- help you select a home, but please make sure they have some of all time. The Game of Monopoly. In 1905 she created a game ing taxes to the kings, with knowledge of construction. The biggest problem with having a called the Landlord Game, designed to teach about Kings and movement into bankruptcy, - property tax. are lessons that continue to be tion and they do not see other properties to compare it to. Parker Brothers cut her a check for $500 and no royalties, learned today. homeRealization: advisor is My that parents they are are only in a 2600brought sq ft into colonial the final and Iselec want when Charles Darrow the recognized inventor of Monopoly Perhaps in my lifetime an- to purchase the similar home, but I only qualify for $100,000. showed up in the early 30’s, and she was thrown out of the game, other woman will stand up Some buyers check out homes in the $400,000 range even tossed into inventors-of-the-unknown. The amount received and be recognized for teach- though they have not talked to a mortgage person to determine barely covered her costs for the creation. How many times does ing those lessons, or will she this still happen to women today? be hidden behind a man, and they become very disappointed. Who is Lizzie Magie, we all ask today? Most of us have played relegated into obscurity like what they qualify for. When they realize what they can afford, the game she inspired, and most of us have at least one version Lizzie? I don’t know. I am just things you must do is hire a buyer’s agent and talk to a mortgage of it. hoping I land on the free park- personPurchasing to determine your first how home much can you be qualifyvery exciting. for and The the first type two of Lizzie Magie was single, a rarity for the time, and an educated ing space, get $200 to pass Go, loan that is best for you. woman. She created and designed a game to teach children about and stay in the game.

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