Breaking News English

House prices in the U.K. are now so [high / increasing] that a third of British people believe they will never buy their own home. This is according [by / to] a new report published by the Halifax Bank. Home [owning / ownership] was once an achievable goal for [generations / generational] of Britons. However, rising prices now mean the [prospectus / prospects] of getting on the property ladder are on the [decline / incline] . The report says that one in five twentysomethings has [no / not] desire to own their own home. Craig McKinlay, mortgages director at Halifax, said: "We may be [heading / headers] towards the point where the aspiration to own a nice home will be replaced by the aspiration to [simply / simple] live in one." He added: "It seems that people are now beginning to [concept / accept] a lifetime of renting."

Britain's Office for National [Statistics / Stats] earlier this week stated that house prices have risen [as / by] 10.5% in the past year. It expressed [concerning / concern] at what it describes as "runaway [train / bicycle] " house prices. The average U.K. house was valued [of / at] $425,000 in 2013. Things get [bleaker / beaker] for house hunters wishing to buy in London. Prices in the [capital / capitalise] have risen by 18 per cent in a year to an average of $610,000. The Halifax report writes about possible long-term social problems [arising / arousing] from, "the division between homeowners and non-homeowners". The report warned that if there are [fewer / lesser] first-time buyers, "the market will come to a [standstill / standoff] ". If this happens, prices will have to come down.