Flooring Tile - Tile over vinal or tear it out?

I'm looking to buy a new townhome and I'm going with next to no options so it comes with vinal flooring. Should I tear out the vinal floor and go down to the subfloor before I put ceramic down? I intend to screw the 1/4" cement board to the vinal and then tile over that. I'm only planning on living there for no more than 2 years. Aside my cabinet making business, I'm trying to make money in Real Estate too. I want to buy, sell, buy, sell until I can afford the 3,500 sq ft home I want.

If installing concrete underlayment over vinyl, vinyl should be cleaned or scarified to remove any contaminants to provide maximum adhesion of thinset to vinyl. Thinset acts as a filler for any low spots in the floor and prevents in flex in concrete underlayment board that may cause grout and/or tile to crack. Make sure board is properly screwed to the floor.

If it's cushion vinyl is has to come out. All of the cement board manufactures say NO to going over cushion vinyl. If you can dent it with your thumb nail...it's cushion.

Thanks for the responses.

I hate the fact that I can't do what I want with the Brand New townhome, but it's not a semi or custom home so I have to take their lowest stuff, allow them to install it and all to tear it back out.

I wanted to make the kitchen for it, but they won't allow that either. Grrrr.

note the title of the very first thread on this site!!!!

http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=152521