![[D] To Buy or Not to Buy: That is the Question](https://images.ctfassets.net/r30ratzbtbbf/11ax0yZ6jYpxR2j5GL9iOv/1e7209fd5646e651320c50c0d6ee20d6/To_buy_or_not_to_buy_that_is_the_question.png)
LET'S UNLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES 🔐
consider
[ kuhn-ˈsid-er ]
verb
You have to consider what to do next.
equivalent
[ ih-ˈkwiv-uh-luhnt ]
adjective
Eight kilometres is roughly equivalent to five miles.
flexibility
[ ˌflek-suh-ˈbil-i-tee ]
noun
A freelance career has the attraction of flexibility.
handy
[ ˈhan-dee ]
adjective
It's quite a handy little tool.
out of luck
phrase
It looks like we're out of luck - all the hotels are full.
LET'S READ! 📖
Direction: Read the passage aloud. Then, read it silently.
To Buy or Not to Buy; That is the Question
Deciding on a place to live isn't always easy. Although the traditional American Dream has typically included buying a house with a yard and a white picket fence, world economies don't always consider traditional dreams. People need to weigh their options when deciding whether to rent an apartment or buy a house. There are many things to consider, and both options have their pros and cons.
Probably the biggest advantage to renting is flexibility. Although you'll need to sign a lease agreement, this can be for a short time—sometimes less than a year—which is handy if you think you may be relocating soon. Remember to read the fine print on that contract! It will probably include rules about keeping pets and how much advance notice you need to give the landlord before you move out. You'll need to put down a security deposit, which is usually equivalent to one month's rent. Sometimes utilities are included in the rent, but you may need to pay those separately. Very often the utility companies will charge a hookup fee. Of course, you're on your own if you want cable TV and high-speed internet connections.
A big consideration for renters is parking. You're usually out of luck if you choose a big apartment building in a city. However, some apartment complexes in the suburbs provide parking areas. Be careful: this could be a hidden extra. The biggest advantage to renting is that if anything goes wrong, you're off the hook—it's the landlord's responsibility to fix it!
Buying a house is always a tempting choice. The upside is that instead of paying money to a landlord each month, you pay off the mortgage and own your own home. Of course, the downside is that you'll need a big chunk of change for a downpayment. In addition, you'll need to pay closing costs and realtor fees, as well as buying homeowners insurance. Is renting starting to look better and better to you?
COMPREHENSION CHECK 🧠 A. Direction: Choose the correct answer to the following questions.
-
What is probably the biggest advantage of renting an apartment?
a. location
b. accessibility
c. flexibility
d. reliability
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What might be included in a lease agreement?
a. Rules about pet ownership and move-out notice requirements
b. The bills that you don't need to pay
c. Asking permission when inviting friends
d. Rules about not bringing unnecessary items.
-
What do you usually need to provide a security deposit when renting?
a. You need a security deposit that should be equal to three months of rent.
b. You need a security deposit which is typically equivalent to one month's rent.
c. You need a security deposit which is normally equivalent to a year's rent.
d. You need a security deposit which is usually the same as two months of rent.
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What additional fees might you encounter when renting an apartment?
a. You may have to pay electric and water bills.
b. You may have to pay for parking and an internet connection.
c. You may have to pay an additional fee for internet installation.
d. You may have to pay utilities separately, and there could be a hookup fee for services like electricity or water.
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Who is responsible for fixing things in a rented apartment?
a. It's the renter's responsibility.
b. It's the landlord's responsibility to fix maintenance issues.
c. It's the responsibility of the government.
d. It's the companion's responsibility.
B. Direction: Answer the following questions based on the article.
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What is a significant advantage of buying a house?
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What financial requirements are there when buying a house?
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Aside from closing costs and realtor fees, what do homeowners need to purchase?
-
What are two housing options mentioned in the text?
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Why is renting a good choice if you might move soon?
C. Direction: Match the words in column A with their synonyms in column B.
| A | B |
|---|---|
1. live | A. advantages |
2. pros | B. conventional |
3. traditional | C. reside |
4. cons | D. select |
5. choose | E. drawbacks |