Five years later, the Smiths and the Joneses both run into financial trouble that makes it hard to pay the mortgage.

Mrs. Smith is laid off. The Smiths’ bank can’t help them because the Wall Street firm that it sold the loan to refuses to modify their loan.

Mr. Jones has a serious illness, and his treatment creates a large medical bill that isn’t covered by insurance. Because the Joneses have a Fannie Mae loan, their lender is required to follow a different set of rules about borrowers with financial difficulties. Their lender offers a reduced monthly payment until Mr. Jones is back on his feet. They will have to make up the difference once they’re caught up on the bills.

Fortunately, Mrs. Smith quickly finds another job and the Joneses inherit money from a long-lost uncle and pay off their medical bills. Both families get caught up on their loan payments.