Can you purchase a single family home with a conventional mortgage when you will not occupy it immediately? That is my point. An apartment building has a record of occupancy if it’s already developed and with 70% occupancy still brings in revenue. Depending on the real estate market, there are many single family homes sitting vacant with for rent signs.
Regardless the numbers don’t’ add up and I feel sorry for the OP because it’s not the OP’s finances but rather the parents.