TINA (There Is No Alternative). When it comes to Vancouver Real Estate you either own or rent. Do the math on renting long term in a city as expensive as Vancouver then compare that to the cost of buying and holding your Vancouver home for the next 20-50 years. Throw in the principal residence exemption, 1.99% interest rates and the fact it continues to get more difficult every year to qualify for a mortgage and you should be almost possessed to save that downpayment and buy your principal residence.