I did this in Somerville. I bought a two family in 2010. Rent from the bottom unit and one roommate back then covered the mortgage entirely. Of course, with Bos

I did this in Somerville. I bought a two family in 2010. Rent from the bottom unit and one roommate back then covered the mortgage entirely. Of course, with Boston rents rising so much, and a few new carpets and appliances I've been able to raise my original rent close to 40% the last few years. Now that I've moved on and fully rented it, it's generating close to 2k a month in profit. Not bad since I got a FHA loan and only put 5% down. Dealing with tenants can be a pain, but I have no regrets. Home ownership has certainly been a path to wealth for me, though I suspect most people who buy single families or condos with no rental income won't get any real returns.