🏡 Real Estate English – Talking About Properties: Past, Present & Future

 

🧠 1. Target Tenses in Real Estate

✅ Present Simple

👉 facts, descriptions, listings

  • “The apartment has two bedrooms.”
  • “The property is located in the city center.”

🔄 Present Continuous

👉 current situations, temporary trends

  • “We are renovating the kitchen.”
  • “More people are buying apartments in this area.”

⏳ Present Perfect

👉 experience, recent changes

  • “The owner has reduced the price.”
  • “Many investors have shown interest.”

⏪ Past Simple

👉 completed actions

  • “The property was built in 2010.”
  • “They sold the house last year.”

🔮 Future (Will / Going to)

Will (decisions, predictions)

  • “Prices will increase next year.”

Going to (plans)

  • “They are going to renovate the apartment.”

🧊 2. Warm-Up 

Ask:

  • What do agents say when describing a property?
  • What do buyers ask?

Write sample answers on the board and underline verbs.

📚 3. Presentation 

🏢 Example Property Description

  • “This apartment is located in a quiet area.” (Present Simple)
  • “The owner has recently renovated the kitchen.” (Present Perfect)
  • “They built the building in 2005.” (Past Simple)
  • “The agent is showing the property today.” (Present Continuous)
  • “Prices will increase in this area.” (Future)

✍️ 4. Controlled Practice 

A. Choose the correct tense

  1. The apartment ______ (have / has / had) two bedrooms.
  2. The owner ______ (has reduced / reduced) the price recently.
  3. They ______ (build / built) the house in 2015.
  4. We ______ (are showing / show) the property today.
  5. Prices ______ (will increase / increased) next year.

B. Fill in the gaps

  1. The property ______ (be) located near the park.
  2. The developer ______ (finish) the project last year.
  3. The agent ______ (talk) to a client now.
  4. Many buyers ______ (show) interest recently.
  5. They ______ (renovate) the kitchen next month.

🗣️ 5. Guided Speaking 

Activity: Describe a Property

Work in pairs.

👉 Student A describes using:

  • present simple
  • present perfect

👉 Student B asks:

  • past questions
  • future questions

Example prompts:

  • What features does it have?
  • When was it built?
  • Are they renovating anything?
  • What will happen to the price?

🎭 6. Role-Play

Scenario: Agent & Client

Agent must use:

  • present simple (features)
  • present perfect (updates)

Client must ask:

  • past simple (history)
  • future (plans/prices)

🧩 7. Production Task 

Task: Write a Property Description (5–6 sentences)

Include:

  • present simple
  • present perfect
  • past simple
  • future

Example start:

  • This apartment is located…
  • The owner has recently…
  • It was built…
  • Prices will…

🧾 ADVANCED PRACTICE 

Focus: Present Simple, Present Continuous, Present Perfect, Past Simple, Future

1. Tense Recognition (Awareness Stage)

Read the sentences and identify the tense.

  1. The apartment is located in the city center. → __________
  2. The owner has reduced the price. → __________
  3. They built the property in 2010. → __________
  4. We are showing the apartment now. → __________
  5. Prices will increase next year. → __________

2. Controlled Practice – Form & Meaning

A. Choose the correct option

  1. The flat (is / was / has been) very spacious.
  2. The developer (build / built / has built) the complex in 2018.
  3. Many buyers (show / are showing / have shown) interest recently.
  4. We (show / are showing / showed) the apartment right now.
  5. Prices (increase / will increase / increased) next year.

B. Correct the mistakes

  1. The apartment have two bedrooms.
    → __________________________________
  2. The owner reduce the price last week.
    → __________________________________
  3. They has renovated the kitchen.
    → __________________________________
  4. We showing the property now.
    → __________________________________
  5. Prices will increased next year.
    → __________________________________

3. Time Expressions Focus

Match the time expressions with the correct tense:

Time ExpressionTense
recently__________
last year__________
now__________
every day__________
next month__________

4. Gap-Fill (Contextual Practice)

Complete using the correct tense of the verb in brackets:

  1. The apartment ______ (be) located near the park.
  2. The owner ______ (reduce) the price last month.
  3. The agency ______ (receive) many inquiries recently.
  4. We ______ (show) the property to a client now.
  5. The developer ______ (finish) the building in 2022.
  6. Prices ______ (increase) next year.
  7. They ______ (renovate) the kitchen at the moment.
  8. The property ______ (have) a large balcony.

5. Sentence Transformation

Rewrite using the word in brackets.

  1. The owner reduced the price. (recently)
    → __________________________________
  2. They built the house in 2015. (when)
    → __________________________________
  3. The agent shows the property today. (now)
    → __________________________________
  4. Prices increase every year. (next year)
    → __________________________________

6. Mixed Tense Challenge

Complete the paragraph:

“This apartment ______ (be) located in a quiet area. The owner ______ (renovate) the kitchen last year. Many buyers ______ (show) interest recently. We ______ (meet) a client at the property right now. Prices in this area ______ (increase) next year.”

7. Question Formation

Write questions using the correct tense.

  1. (Where / the apartment / be located?)
    → __________________________________
  2. (When / they / build / the property?)
    → __________________________________
  3. (you / show / the apartment now?)
    → __________________________________
  4. (the owner / reduce / the price?)
    → __________________________________
  5. (prices / increase / next year?)
    → __________________________________

8. Error Correction 

Find and correct the mistakes:

  1. The property is build in 2010.
  2. The owner has reduce the price.
  3. We show the apartment now.
  4. Prices will increases next year.
  5. Many clients contacted us yesterday and show interest recently.

10. Writing Task (Production)

Write 6–8 sentences about a property.

Include:

  • Present simple (description)
  • Present perfect (recent change)
  • Past simple (history)
  • Present continuous (current action)
  • Future (prediction/plan)

📚 VOCABULARY BOX (Real Estate Tenses – Enhanced)

🏠 Property Description (Present Simple Core Language)

  • features / includes / consists of
  • offers / provides
  • is situated / is located
  • overlooks / faces (the sea, park, etc.)
  • comes with (parking, storage, balcony)
  • benefits from (natural light, good location)
  • is ideal for (families, investors, professionals)

👉 Examples:

  • “The property features three bedrooms.”
  • “It benefits from excellent natural light.”

🔄 Current Activity & Market Trends (Present Continuous)

  • is currently being renovated
  • is under construction
  • is being marketed / advertised
  • is attracting interest
  • is experiencing growth
  • buyers are looking for…
  • investors are showing interest

👉 Examples:

  • “The property is being renovated.”
  • “More buyers are showing interest in this area.”

⏳ Recent Changes & Experience (Present Perfect)

  • has been renovated / upgraded
  • has recently been listed
  • has attracted significant interest
  • has increased / decreased in value
  • has been on the market for…
  • has just been sold
  • has already received offers

👉 Examples:

  • “The owner has reduced the price.”
  • “The property has been on the market for two months.”

⏪ History & Background (Past Simple)

  • was built / was constructed
  • was renovated / was refurbished
  • was previously owned by…
  • was sold / purchased
  • was listed / advertised
  • was developed by…

👉 Examples:

  • “The building was constructed in 2010.”
  • “The property was renovated last year.”

🔮 Future Predictions & Plans (Future Forms)

  • will increase / decrease in value
  • will attract more buyers
  • will be completed by…
  • is going to be renovated
  • is going to be developed
  • is expected to rise (prices, demand)
  • is likely to become more desirable

👉 Examples:

  • “Prices will increase next year.”
  • “The area is going to become more popular.”

💰 Market & Investment Language

  • market value
  • asking price
  • competitive price
  • price reduction
  • strong demand
  • limited supply
  • investment potential
  • return on investment (ROI)
  • capital appreciation

👉 Examples:

  • “The property has strong investment potential.”
  • “There is high demand in this area.”

🧱 Condition & Quality

  • in excellent / good / poor condition
  • newly renovated / fully refurbished
  • requires renovation / needs upgrading
  • move-in ready
  • well-maintained
  • high-quality finishes
  • modern fittings

📍 Location & Lifestyle

  • prime location
  • residential neighborhood
  • within walking distance
  • close to amenities
  • well-connected area
  • quiet / vibrant neighborhood
  • sought-after area

🗣 Functional Language for Descriptions

  • This property stands out because…
  • One of the key features is…
  • Another advantage is…
  • It is worth noting that…
  • In addition,…
  • Overall, this property…

💡 High-Impact Professional Phrases

  • a highly desirable property
  • a rare opportunity
  • a turnkey solution (move-in ready)
  • a solid investment
  • a fast-growing area
  • a property with great potential
  • priced to sell
  • expected to appreciate in value 

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