: You can buy a 2–4 unit building, live in one unit, and rent out the others to help pay the mortgage. Comparison: Buying vs. Renting in 2026
When transitioning from renting to ownership, your primary paths include: can you buy an apartment instead of renting
Yes, you can buy an apartment, though in the United States, this is typically referred to as purchasing a or a co-op . While apartment buildings are generally owned by single entities (like property management companies) and leased to tenants, condos are individual units within a larger complex that you can own outright. : You can buy a 2–4 unit building,
: You don't own the unit itself; instead, you own shares in a corporation that owns the building, which entitles you to live in a specific unit. live in one unit