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The Ultimate Guide to English Conversations for Buying a House
Buying a house is a common topic in daily communication, especially for those working in the real estate industry. In this article, PREP introduces readers to some common vocabulary, sentence structures, and the 3 most popular English conversations about buying a house. Take a look!
I. English vocabulary for the topic of buying a house
Before diving into English conversations about buying a house, let's explore some common vocabulary related to the house buying topic. Check them out below!
Category |
Term & Pronunciation |
Definition |
Example Sentence |
The People |
Real Estate Agent /ˈriːəl ɪˈsteɪt ˈeɪdʒənt/ |
a person whose job is to help people buy and sell houses and land |
Our real estate agent scheduled three viewings for Saturday morning. |
Mortgage Broker /ˈmɔːrɡɪdʒ ˈbroʊkər/ |
a person who arranges loans for buying property by finding the best deals from different lenders |
The mortgage broker compared rates from five different lenders. |
|
Home Inspector /hoʊm ɪnˈspektər/ |
a professional who examines a house to check its condition before someone buys it |
The home inspector found minor electrical issues in the basement. |
|
Closing Attorney /ˈkloʊzɪŋ əˈtɜːrni/ |
a lawyer who handles the legal documents and final steps when buying a house |
Our closing attorney reviewed all documents before signing. |
|
The Money |
Down Payment /daʊn ˈpeɪmənt/ |
an amount of money that you pay immediately when buying something expensive, with the rest paid later |
We saved $50,000 for our twenty percent down payment. |
Mortgage Rate /ˈmɔːrɡɪdʒ reɪt/ |
the percentage of interest that you pay each year on money borrowed to buy a house |
Current mortgage rates range from 6.5% to 7.2% annually. |
|
Closing Costs /ˈkloʊzɪŋ kɔːsts/ |
the final fees and expenses that must be paid when completing a house purchase |
Closing costs typically add 2-5% to your total home price. |
|
Property Taxes /ˈprɑːpərti ˈtæksɪz/ |
money that homeowners must pay to the government each year based on their property value |
Annual property taxes for this home equal $8,400 per year. |
|
The Property |
Square Footage /skwer ˈfʊtɪdʒ/ |
the area of a building measured in square feet |
This three-bedroom house offers 2,100 square feet of living space. |
Lot Size /lɑːt saɪz/ |
the area of land that comes with a house, measured in acres or square feet |
The property sits on a half-acre lot with mature trees. |
|
HOA Fees /eɪtʃ oʊ eɪ fiːz/ |
monthly payments to a homeowner association that maintains shared areas and facilities |
Monthly HOA fees cover landscaping and community pool maintenance. |
|
Comparable Sales /kəmˈperəbl seɪlz/ |
recent sales of similar houses in the same area used to determine property value |
Comparable sales show homes averaging $285 per square foot. |
|
The Process |
Pre-approval /priː əˈpruːvəl/ |
a bank's agreement to lend you money for a house before you find one to buy |
Getting pre-approval strengthens your position when making offers. |
Contingency /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/ |
a condition that must be satisfied before a house sale can be completed |
Our offer includes inspection and financing contingencies. |
|
Escrow /ˈeskroʊ/ |
an arrangement where money is held by a neutral party until all conditions of a sale are met |
Earnest money goes into escrow until closing completion. |
|
Walk-through /wɔːk θruː/ |
a final inspection of a house by the buyer just before the sale is completed |
The walk-through happens 24 hours before closing day. |
II. English communication phrases for the topic of buying a house
PREP has collected and compiled 15 useful communication phrases for the house buying topic. These phrases will assist you in conducting conversations about buying a house in English. Take a look and start practicing them!
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I'm interested in buying a house. Can you show me some options?
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Could you provide information about the houses available for sale?
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Do you have any properties within my budget?
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What are the features of this house?
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Can I schedule a viewing for this property?
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Is there any negotiation room on the price?
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What are the terms of sale for this property?
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Are there any additional costs I should be aware of?
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Can you help me with the mortgage process?
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Is there a homeowners association fee for this property?
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Are there any renovations needed for this house?
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Could you provide me with the property's inspection report?
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What is the neighborhood like?
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Can you recommend any reputable home inspectors?
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I'm ready to make an offer on this house. What are the next steps?
III. Common English conversations about buying a house
Here are the 3 most common English conversations about buying a house that PREP wants to share with you. Take a look!
1. Conversation 1: Making a phone call to schedule a house viewing
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Mary: Hello, Mary’s speaking. Who is that?
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John: Hi. I’m John. I’m looking for a house to rent and I saw the ad about your house.
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Mary: Oh, right. I have a house available now.
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John: Um… How many bedrooms are there? And how old is it?
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Mary: There are two bedrooms and the house is nearly twenty years old.
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John: When can I come for a viewing?
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Mary: Well, I’m available tomorrow afternoon, from 1.m to 5 p.m. Can we meet at 1:30?
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John: Yes, sounds good to me.
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Mary: Okay, see you tomorrow.
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John: Bye.
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Mary: Well, do you have any questions, John?
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John: How much is the rent per month? and How long is the lease?
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Mary: It’s 800 dollars and the lease length is 6 months.
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John: Ok, and how much is the deposit
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Mary: It’s 500 dollars. Well, what do you think?
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John: I think this house is exactly what I’m looking for. When can I move in?
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Mary: As soon as you like.
2. Conversation 2: Discussing house prices
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John: Hi, Susan. I've been considering buying your house, but I have some concerns about the asking price.
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Susan: Hello, John. I understand. What are your concerns?
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John: Well, after reviewing the market, I noticed that similar houses in the area are selling for slightly lower prices. I'm wondering if we could negotiate a bit on the price.
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Susan: I did some research too, and I believe the price accurately reflects the value of the house, considering its condition and location.
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John: Ok, I got it. However, I was hoping we could find a middle ground. Would you be open to discussing a lower price or perhaps including some additional incentives?
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Susan: Let me think about it for a moment. I might be willing to negotiate if we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement.
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John: That sounds reasonable. I'm flexible and willing to work with you to find a solution that works for both of us.
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Susan: Great. I will call you later.
3. Conversation 3: Finalizing the purchased house
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Jack: Hello, Susan. I've carefully reviewed the terms, and I'm ready to proceed with purchasing your house at the negotiated price.
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Emily: Hi, John. I'm glad to hear that. I believe we've reached a fair agreement. Are you comfortable with the closing date outlined in the contract?
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Jack: Yes, the closing date works well for me.
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Emily: Perfect. Is there anything else you'd like to discuss or clarify before we proceed with signing the contract?
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Jack: Actually, there's one thing. I noticed that the appliances were not included in the listing. Would you consider leaving them as part of the sale?
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Emily: I understand your request, John. Let me check with my husband and see if we can accommodate that. I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
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Jack: Thank you, Susan.
IV. Learn English conversations about buying a house through Videos
In addition to accumulating vocabulary and communication phrases for conducting English conversations about buying a house in English, you can also refer to videos on the topic of buying and selling houses. Learning English through videos not only helps you absorb knowledge faster but also reduces the feeling of monotony during the learning process.
Here is a list of videos on English conversations about buying a house that PREP has collected. Check them out!
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House vocabulary (Parts of the house) buying a new house - English Conversation Practice - Speaking
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English Conversation - Buying a house | English Speaking Practice
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Everyday English conversation (Buying and selling vocabulary) English Conversation Practice
PREP hopes that after reading this article, you have accumulated a wealth of vocabulary, phrases, and popular English conversations about buying a house. Let’s follow PREP for more valuable English language resources!

Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.
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