The Vancouver Sun recently wrote a piece about quashing real estate myths.  One of the myths they dispelled is the ability to make money from a Vancouver rental property.

With the average Metro Vancouver home selling for $568,127, an 80% LTV 40-year mortgage might run you $2250 a month. Then you have taxes, maintenance, etc. When all’s done you might need $3,000 a month to be cash flow positive. Yet market rents might bear only $2500 a month.

What do you do?  How about build a micro-house in the backyard?  Vancouver-based Smallworks will build you a nice 300 square foot bungalow (maybe in your laneway?) for about $71,000.  Get a mortgage on it for $350 a month, charge $895 a month rent, and voila!  Income gap closed.

We say this half in jest, but some people are really doing it.  If a lightbulb is going off, check your zoning first.