2. Looking for an Apartment

Murphy: "Oceanfront" Realty. Bob Murphy speaking

Collins: Hello. My name is Jack Collins. I'm calling about the ad.

Murphy: Which one?

Collins: The two-bedroom apartment. How much is the rent?

Murphy: $700 a month. You also have to pay a 700 dollar deposit that will be

given back to you when you move out.

Collins: How much does your agency charge?

Murphy: The agency's fee amounts to one month-rent.

Collins: Is there a lease to be signed?

Murphy: Yes, there is. It's a two-year lease.

Collins: It was not in your ad where the apartment is.

Murphy: Downtown. Park Avenue, 79. Apt. ЗА.

Collins: Oh, I like the place. But unfortunately the rent is rather high.

Murphy: You won't find anything cheaper in this neighborhood.

Collins: I'm afraid, you're right. I'll think it over. Thank you.

Murphy: You are welcome.

Collins: Good-bye

3. A Wonderful View from the Window

Gold: Swanson Agency. Allan Gold is speaking.

Teilor: Hello. This is Ben Teilor. I called about a two-bedroom apartment two day

ago. Is it still vacant, I wonder?

Gold: It is, sir.

Teilor: When could I possibly have a look at it?

Gold: In the afternoon after 3 o'clock.

Teilor: Is 4 o'clock all right? Does it suit you?

Gold: O.K. Let's meet at the door of the apartment. Apt. 5A, No. 24. BeachStreet.

Teilor: All right. Thank you.

Gold: This is a living room, as you see.

Teilor: Rather large. What about the bedroom?

Gold: Come on, look at it. There is a wonderful view of the ocean from its window.

Teilor: Is there really? That's great! How many built-in closets are there?

Gold: Two wardrobes and a chest of drawers (one to keep clothes, the other one

for linen).

Teilor: Where is the bathroom?

Gold: This way, please. Here it is. A bath-tub and a shower. Now let us go to the

kitchen. As you see, it has up-to-date equipment, a new sink and a gas

stove. You can put a washing machine here, there is enough room for it. A

refrigerator, quite new. Do you like the apartment, sir?

Teilor: Yes. it's good. I'm ready to rent it.

Gold: Well you can sign the rental agreement in my study.

4. A Building Society

A: We've just visited the house we are going to buy. But there is a problem.

B: What is wrong?

A: The house is more expensive than we expected. We might not have enough money

to pay for the house immediately. What shall we do?

B: I advise you to go to the building society.

A: What for? How can they help us?

B: A building society's main function is to lend people like you enough money to buy

a house.

A: How do they make their money?

B: Building societies make their money by borrowing money from some members of

the public. Many British people have building society savings accounts. They save

their money with a building society, which pays them interest. The society lends

this money to people who want to buy a house.

A: Is it a long-term loan?

B: Exactly. It's called a mortgage.

A: Will they ask any questions?

B: Oh, yes, you will be asked a number of questions. What type of job do you have?

How much do you earn? What are your monthly expenses? And so on.

A: Will the society inspect the house before lending the money?

B: Surely. They should see if it is worth the money they are being asked to lend.

A: And if all is well, how much will the society lend?

B: It'll offer up to 90 per cent of the price of the house, to be paid back with interest

over 25 years, or sometimes less. After the money is paid for the house, you can

move in.