yea.. but...lets say i buy a condo and take a loan out for 150k... then i'm paying $1100 a month for the loan... so then i sell the condo in 5 years for lets say 170k... then i pay off the loan and put the 20k towards a house loan that will be even more... but lets say i rent a nice place for 600/month and in 5 years buy a house. i will have saved 30k from 1100 vs 600 a month... 30k > 20k
600 for rent or 1100 for P & I? you have to also add taxes insurance and condo fees plus you pay for all repairs and upkeep then run the major risk of noone wanting to buy it and it depreciating.
If you are looking for capital gains, don't buy a condo. Buy a home with at least 3 bedrooms and 2 baths in a stable neighborhood in a city with stable to growing employment. Very few condos appreciate, if at all, at the same rate as houses.