You’re not ready to give up city living just yet. After all, it would be tough to walk away from being able to walk to everything. Apartment living works for your lifestyle. But hammering out those monthly rent checks isn’t working for your long-term plans to build financial stability.

Apartment living with a little more permanence is possible. Many people are getting the perks of homeownership without the prickly responsibilities of white picket fences by purchasing apartments instead of single-family homes.

While many of the same rules and processes apply whether you’re buying a two-story dream home in suburbia or a two-bedroom oasis in a metro area, putting your claim on an apartment is its own real estate journey. We talked to the experts and poured through the data to help walk you through the steps to buying an apartment, including how to get started, financing your apartment purchase, the differences between condos and co-ops, and all the questions you need to ask before closing.