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I thought that the gov't owns all properties and land in Cuba? Or is that not entirely true?
I can't verify this for sure, but I did some quick Google searches and saw some stuff about how there is property that can be bought and sold between foreigners only. It's not even really the local market at that point, and your money would go further elsewhere, but if you were dead set on it I guess it would be possible.
would be very risky and physically dangerous to buy.
In the Dominican Republic, squatters need only erect a fence with four sides to claim a price of land. Many hire soldiers to patrol bare land. You will sometimes see branches stuck in the ground and lines with barbed wire in the middle of a field. There the squatter got there first. Except the same and more in Cuba, where 50 years of Communism and falling behind their brethren in Miami will unleash God knows what.
Don't even think you will have definite property rights. if your land is desired by the daughter of the police chief, lol, it is hers.
I thought that the gov't owns all properties and land in Cuba? Or is that not entirely true?
There's no foreign property, all hotels, for example, are Cuban even if managed by foreign chains.
Most people that have government issued property deeds are "Squatters" (colaos) since legal owners are in the US for the most part.
So, I wouldn't buy anything. I would not trust any current law except if I were a very large corporation capable of dealing direct with the brothers.
Hemingway's house was confiscated.
I know that many tourists bought houses under the name of their Cuban wives, but most have been "reconfiscated", at least if in a nice neighbourhood in Havana. But there are plenty in "Provincias" (not in Havana).
I remember that around 500 houses bought by foreigners under the name of their Cuban wives (mostly Italians) were "rereconfiscated" some 10 years ago in West Havana. The government accused the wives of being prostitutes that were acting as a cover...!!!!
Now there's a market for Cuban residents, even Cuban residens from abroad, but prices are exhorbitant and you'll never be the owner. If the house or land is nice, the rightful owner (even their great-great son) will get it back "algún dÃa"...or maybe the general's daughter needs a house, there are a ton of generals, etc.
But indeed, there are some Americans.
I remember that some 16 years ago, the one with the beard (they call him "sideburns") must have taken too much medication and allowed the sale of a limited number of apartments in Quinta Avenida, the poshest area. The condos were bought by Spanish, mostly Spanish socialist that were laundering money in Cuba (corruption money)...but now they can't sell the properties. They have to sell the condos to the government at a "rated price". Cuba is always a loose-loose situation, even the hotel chains are loosing money.
But if you have some money (not much), you can live in Cuba. Problem is the visa, just 2 months. If you marry a Cuban women, then you can stay 6 months. Lots of Italians, there are also Canadians but I don't know any living there all year. Most are European, Italian, Germans, some Spanish. Italians are very similar to Cubans. Lots of Russians, former East Germans that know people, etc. There were also Vietnamese, but they are gone.
No crime, people are cultured for the most part, nice place, but everything is like a rat's maze. But nice place if you know the country, I wouldn't change it for any American country. If uou are American, main problem are Canadians, Canadians there are rabidly anti-American, and Cubans are rather pro-American, even communist ones. They are not very nice people, they gulf down all the "all you can eat" tables and they act as they were far poorer than Cubans!!! Maybe Canadians there are a special crowd.
There's no foreign property, all hotels, for example, are Cuban even if managed by foreign chains.
Most people that have government issued property deeds are "Squatters" (colaos) since legal owners are in the US for the most part.
So, I wouldn't buy anything. I would not trust any current law except if I were a very large corporation capable of dealing direct with the brothers.
Hemingway's house was confiscated.
I know that many tourists bought houses under the name of their Cuban wives, but most have been "reconfiscated", at least if in a nice neighbourhood in Havana. But there are plenty in "Provincias" (not in Havana).
I remember that around 500 houses bought by foreigners under the name of their Cuban wives (mostly Italians) were "rereconfiscated" some 10 years ago in West Havana. The government accused the wives of being prostitutes that were acting as a cover...!!!!
Now there's a market for Cuban residents, even Cuban residens from abroad, but prices are exhorbitant and you'll never be the owner. If the house or land is nice, the rightful owner (even their great-great son) will get it back "algún dÃa"...or maybe the general's daughter needs a house, there are a ton of generals, etc.
But indeed, there are some Americans.
I remember that some 16 years ago, the one with the beard (they call him "sideburns") must have taken too much medication and allowed the sale of a limited number of apartments in Quinta Avenida, the poshest area. The condos were bought by Spanish, mostly Spanish socialist that were laundering money in Cuba (corruption money)...but now they can't sell the properties. They have to sell the condos to the government at a "rated price". Cuba is always a loose-loose situation, even the hotel chains are loosing money.
But if you have some money (not much), you can live in Cuba. Problem is the visa, just 2 months. If you marry a Cuban women, then you can stay 6 months. Lots of Italians, there are also Canadians but I don't know any living there all year. Most are European, Italian, Germans, some Spanish. Italians are very similar to Cubans. Lots of Russians, former East Germans that know people, etc. There were also Vietnamese, but they are gone.
No crime, people are cultured for the most part, nice place, but everything is like a rat's maze. But nice place if you know the country, I wouldn't change it for any American country. If uou are American, main problem are Canadians, Canadians there are rabidly anti-American, and Cubans are rather pro-American, even communist ones. They are not very nice people, they gulf down all the "all you can eat" tables and they act as they were far poorer than Cubans!!! Maybe Canadians there are a special crowd.
Yeah, that's pretty much what I would have assumed - gov't confiscates everything.
Canadians. I lived in South Korea for years, and tons of Canadian English Teachers in Korea. They are easily the most anti-American and pro-nationalist citizens I've ever met. Many of them couldn't go 5 minutes without interjecting the words "In Canada," into the most random topic you can imagine. The cheapness is legendary as well. In the bars around Korea, they'd be the ones who would never order the round, after enjoying others' continuously buying round. Or, if you bought a few pitchers for the table, they'd certainly drink those up. But, if the beer went dry, they'd be the first to head onwards and leave, before they'd contribute as well. In short, if you experienced Canadians like that in Cuba, than they weren't a special crowd of them, sounds like a typical Canadian crowd. These are the 5 most popular conversations that nearly every Canadian group of people when they get together abroad : 1) How much they hate Americans, 2) HOw much they loved Canada, 3) Tim Hortons is a fastfood place like McDonalds, but Canadian, so its great, 4) Hockey and how Canadian it is, 5) Listing Canadian celebrities who 'made it' in the U.S. It gets really tedious. I always wondered why they even went to Korea or Cuba, if all they are going to do is talk about Canada or those 5 topics with every breath they take.
They go to Cuba because it's cheaper than paying heating bills in Canada!! They go to "all inclusive" roach palaces, or rent a house for 15.
The worse ones are those that speak funny French, many wear the Che's T-Shirt and think they are the "comandante". Yes, they are always saying that they are great admirers of the "revolución" and at first Cubans thought they were confidents, not just clowns.
They don'y have anything in common with Americans or Europeans, really strange people. They reminded me of French peasants frozen in time and dressed as priests in "civvis".
Once, "el comandante" (Cubans say "coma-andante" or "walking comma") said that he was tired of "motel tourism" referring to Canadians. Of course, he wants rich Americans but he will never see them.
I have a friend that married a Cuban girl and bought a house under his mother in-law' name..(crass error) in "provinces", but he can't stand more than one month. Problem is that you marry some girl from a poor Cuban family (there are people with money in Havana) the "yuma" (foreigner) will be the "Manna", "the Provider"..just as was the state during the USSR....
Problem is that you marry some girl from a poor Cuban family (there are people with money in Havana) the "yuma" (foreigner) will be the "Manna", "the Provider"..just as was the state during the USSR....
I see that same thing in Southeast Asia...Thailand, Philippines, etc.
Maybe if people get over their obsession on owning a property they can see how it could easily happen. I own property now for a few reasons, but once I'm retired things are going to change. Chances are good I will sell all my property at some predetermined points and after that I am a free agent. If I liked the Cuban lifestyle I'd consider it. I wouldn't bring in all my money and I would understand things may change and I might have to leave on short notice. Further I wouldn't be egotistical enough to think my presence there was alone putting a stamp of approval on the government nor would I buy into this nonsense I was propping them up or making them rich. People need to get over themselves.
Maybe if people get over their obsession on owning a property they can see how it could easily happen.
Good point. Yeah, funny how whenever it's a dialog with Americans and retirement, BUYING PROPERTY always enters into it.
That's usually the furthest from my mind, particularly in foreign countries where rent could be exceptionally low. And where you'd most likely want way more flexibility in the 'idle years', to come and go, and mix things up a bit.
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