Renting a Home vs. Buying a Home
Learning Goals:
- Learn new words about houses and renting/buying.
- Talk about the good and bad things about renting and owning.
- Give advice about renting or buying.
Key Words:
- Rent: To pay money every month to live in a house that someone else owns.
- Buy: To pay money to own a house.
- Landlord: The person who owns the house you rent.
- Tenant: The person who rents a house.
- Lease: A paper you sign that says how much you pay in rent and the rules you must follow.
Let’s Talk About It!
- Do you rent or own your home?
- What are some good things about renting? (It’s easier to move, you don’t have to fix repairs.)
- What are some good things about owning? (It can be an investment, you can make changes to the house.)
Advice Words:
- Should: You should read the lease carefully before you sign it.
- Ought to: You ought to think about how much money you can spend before you look for a house.
- Had better: You had better be sure you can afford the mortgage payments if you buy a house.
Let’s Read a Story!
Sarah wants a new place to live. She can rent an apartment in the city or buy a small house in the country. The apartment is cheaper, but the house would be hers. Sarah has to think about what is more important to her.
Questions about the Story:
- What are Sarah’s two choices?
- What are the good things about each choice?
- What do you think Sarah should do? Why?
Listen and Learn:
(Teacher plays a short conversation about a person deciding to rent or buy a home.)
Talk with a Partner!
One of you is thinking about renting a house. The other gives advice. Use the words “should,” “ought to,” and “had better.”
Example:
- Renter: I found a great apartment! I think I’ll take it.
- Advisor: You should ask about the parking situation first. You ought to visit the apartment at night to see how noisy it is. You had better read the lease carefully before you sign it!
Homework:
Write a paragraph about whether you would rather rent or buy a home. Explain your reasons.
Extra Fun:
Look online for pictures of apartments and houses for rent or sale. Which one would you choose? Why?
