2.5. Buying a house.

Ex.1. Fill in the missing words from the box below.

Buying a house.

When a (1) ……, has chosen the house he wants, he has a (2) …… draw up a contract. This (3) ……… states the (4) ………definition of the (5) ………, gives the purchase (6) ………, and demands (7) ……… from the present owner. It also includes other important (8) ………, such as the (9) ………that are to remain in the house and the (10) ……… when the (11) ……… will take (12) ………. The buyer pays a (13) ……… when he (14) ……… the (15) ………. The deposit binds the (16) ……… to the (17) ……… of the contract.

buyer document lawyer

price purchaser terms possession

contract fixtures legal

proof of ownership seller time information

deposit property signs

Listening 4A. A HOUSE TO BUY.

Pre-listening task. Make a list of arguments in favour and against buying a house.

Listen to the following dialogues; make out your own dialogue on the same topic.

Post-listening task.

1. Give a brief summary. Use your own words.

2. Rewrite the following ads in full and write down your own one.

3. Using information from the ad make up a dialogue between a Landlord and a potential Buyer.

A house to sell. Mod. det. hse., immac. cond. Fhld. 3 gars. 5. beds., 3 receps., 2 fully tiled baths. + sep. wcs; lge. fit. kit. 18/19 ft., dble sink; lux. lnge. Gas CH/chw; dble. glaz. Curts., fit. cpts. included. Landscd. gdn., swim. pool. Few mins., stn., bus, amens., seafront. $150,000 ono.

Listening 4B. BUYING A HOUSE IN SPAIN.

Lawyers are often involved in all stages of the sale and purchase of real property. These stages include drafting, reviewing and negotiating the contract of sale, handling payment, as well as preparing and filing the documents required to close on the property.

When the purchase involves real property in another country, it will be necessary to obtain the help of a lawyer who is well acquainted with the procedures and documents required in that country.

Pre-listening task. What documents are required for the sale of real property in your country?

Do many foreigners buy property in your country?

Ex. 2. Listen to the following interview between a lawyer (Ms Blackwell) and her client (Mr. Watson), who intends to buy a house in Spain.

1.Who is Senor Martinez?

2.Tick the steps that must be followed to buy a house in Spain.

1. Draw up power of attorney ……….

2. Submit financial history of buyer ………..

3. Apply for fiscal number …………..

4. Negotiate agent's commission …………….

5. Set up bank account ………….

6. Arrange financing …………..

7. Inspect premises ……………..

8. Sign contract …………….

9. Hand over 1% of the purchase price …………

10. Hand over remaining deposit (9% of purchase price) …………..

11. Sign final documents …………….

Ex. 3. Decide whether these statements are true or false.

1.A notary will translate the power of attorney document.

2.A power of attorney allows the client's Spanish lawyer to complete necessary paperwork when the client is not in Spain.

3.The contract for the sale of the house will be written in both English and Spanish.

4.The client's English lawyer does not want to look at the contract, since Senor Martinez will be drawing it up and has extensive experience with such contracts.

5.The client must be present for the final signing so that he can hand over the rest of the deposit.

Ex. 4. Imagine that you want to buy a property. Below are the different stages that you will normally (and ideally) go through. Complete the gaps with words and expressions from the box.

alterations appoint asking authority balance bound boundaries

clauses completion confirmation contract covenants deposit disclose

disputes fees offer ownership planning permission plans

possession preservation Registry restrictions signing stamp structural

survey surveyor title deed

1.You make an …………… on the ……………. price (the price that the seller is asking for the house), which is accepted by the seller.

2.You …………….. a solicitor to help you make your purchase.

3.Your solicitor receives …………… your accepted offer, and also any necessary details from the estate agent.

4.The seller's solicitor sends your solicitor a draft …………. This is checked to make sure there are no unusual ………...

5.At the same time, the seller's solicitor sends your solicitor the seller's …………... This is carefully checked for any ………… that might apply to …………. of the property. At the same time, the seller should make your solicitor aware of any problems with the property (for example, ………….. with his / her neighbours, any approved or unapproved ………… that he / she has made to the property, relevant information on ………… adjoining other properties and public land, ………… or …………. orders that may restrict development of the property, whether you will need to get ………… before making changes to the property, etc).

6.If the contract is approved, copies of it are prepared for ………… by both you and the seller.

7.Before you do this, however, your solicitor should ask the local ………. (for example, the local town council) to ………… any information it has on …………. for the area around the property you are buying (for example, there may be plans to build an airport at the end of your back garden, or a motorway across your lawn at the front).

8.At the same time, you should ask for a ………….. of the property by a chartered ………... He / she will tell you if there are any problems with the property (for example, rising damp, dry rot, unsound ………….. features, etc).

9.If you are happy with everything, you now sign the contract: you are now legally ………… to buy the property (you cannot pull out of the agreement, unless further checks by your solicitor produce unfavourable information that has been kept secret from you; for example, he / she may discover that the property details the seller has provided are not accurate).

10.Your solicitor arranges a …………. date with the seller's solicitor – this is the date when you will take official ………….. of the property – and both you and the seller exchange contracts through your solicitors. Your title deeds are prepared.

11.You pay your solicitor his …………, the money for the property (assuming you have already paid a ………. on the property, you will now need to pay the outstanding …………..), the relevant ……….. duty and Land ……………… fees.

12.You get your copy of the deeds and the key to the front door. Congratulations, and welcome to your new home!

Ex. 5. Read the following article and render it in English, give your point of view on the difference between the same procedures in Spain and Ukraine.