I've seen many examples of owner financed sales. Many times it is a unit tgat has been on the market for a long time, or a unit that was inherited by the children who have no use for it. Usually you will have to put enough down to clear any existing mortgage debt, if any, then work out a personal mortgage with the owner. The income is better for the owner than sitting with a unit on the market. Many times it will be either a short-term mortgage or a baloon mortgage. Work with a real estate agent who knows the sellers. Tell the agent you want to see only units with owner financing. If you go bad on the mortgage, the seller gets the unit back and as long as the downpayment covers his legal expense, he is no worse than when he started.