I brew in an apartment and can do 5 gallon partial mash batches with little issues. I mash anywhere 2-3.5lb of grain in a small 2 gallon cooler mash tun. Mash + sparge usually gets me to around 3 gallons for boiling. Then I just kick up my OG with extract, usually DME. That's just my preference, though I've used LME too. I will also do a late addition at about 30 min. I made a smaller wort chiller and was able to buy the connections to attatch it to my kitchen sink hose.
Make sure, if you are using extract, you take the pot off the burner when you add it. Electric stoves are notorious for darkening wort and scortching extract (at least in my experience and when i've talked with some people at my LHBS).