why buy a cheap apartment when he is not in USA? buy in cash can save > $3K closing related cost with a mortgage this size (assume around $100K), and about hundreds $ per month besides mortgage paymment to maintain one, even with no one living in it. US house price does not soar like East Asia mega cities, so don't expect increasing value in most of the USA markets. best strategy is to buy a similar apartment after he saves up enough money and comes to USA.