If money were no object, do you have a specific property (whether it's for sale or not) and address that would be an ideal first investment for you?

Renting an individual room is all but guaranteed to be cheaper than them renting a 1/1 apartment alone.

Your best bet is to read information from public blogs that approach both options objectively.

 This individual might have a furnace problem?

Start with your primary, rent out any spare bedrooms "house hack"Use that to practice upgrades, kitchen, bathroom, curb appeal... etcNow you have experience as a landlord and flipper, use that to buy a distressed propertyAdd 40% equity to the property through home makeover, refinance into a low cost mortgageNow you are cashflowing a healthy margin on a second property, use that to build equity over time, cashout later and buy your duplex/quad.If it's going to take you 10 years to save up a down payment for a small apartment building, yeah it makes more sense to start growing your portfolio with cheap SFR flips instead.Every market is different, every borrower is different, every property is different, it would be ill-advised to recommend anything without recognizing the individual's nuanced goals and objectives with their next acquisition.

@Sufyan Minhasgoing to depend on the rules in individual buildings

In this situation, can all the partners claim mortgage payment as expense in their individual taxes (or just the partner who owns the mortgage)?

Certain expenses are all lumped together for the sake of the P&L like insurance and taxes and others like repairs and maintenance can be viewed collectively or by individual property.

Have you tried contacting the main office or different individuals in the company? 

Ironically it's normally the individuals who go to the greatest lengths believing they are protecting themselves who are the most reckless in the way in which they operate their real estate.