填空题

In the United States today, the cost of housing is very high. It is very (36) to pay one fourth to one third or a family’s income for a place to live. The price of a house depends on its size and (37) . Big houses are more expensive than smaller ones, and houses (38) to the center of big cities are more expensive than ones in the (39) or in small towns. (40) of the cost, it is very normal for people to buy their houses over a period of time. When a family buys a house, it is (41) to borrow money from a bank in regular installments. This kind of bank (42) is called mortgage. Families can take 30 years to pay off the mortgage. (43) a mortgage it would be impossible for most people to own their own houses. (44) . The money they pay for this is called rent. Usually (45) . Also when something needs to be repaired, the renters can ask the landlord to fix it. Some people rent houses, but most renters live in apartments. (46) . Recently it has become common for renters to buy apartments. When this happens, the cost will go up.