fbpx

CUBA OPEN BUT NOT FOR PROPERTY BUSINESS

12.04.16

In Cuba, 220 miles south of Miami, real estate is considered hotter than any other commodity on the world market today. But foreigners so far are mostly shut out of this potentially lucrative product and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

That's because Raul Castro, President since 2006, has become an ardent pro-business advocate in a Communist country. He is allowing Cuban residents to buy and sell their own homes. That has never happened in such volume since Raul's ailing brother Fidel took over the island country 54 years ago.

But while bona fide Cuban residents may be enjoying what they perceive as a real estate revolution, foreigners, meanwhile, are blocked out of this new market. That has been the situation since 1962 when Fidel Castro seized nearly all foreign-owned real estate in Cuba without giving them a peso for it.

At that time, Fidel, now 88, nationalised most private companies. He also confiscated property belonging to Cubans who fled the country.  Raul so far is not saying whether his government would give back those properties to Cubans who later return to permanently reside in Cuba.

So what can frustrated foreign investors do right now to enter the Cuban real estate arena? Although the current real estate rush in Cuba sounds exciting to Cuban residents at least, there still remain several roadblocks, even for them.  For example, permanent resident Cubans can own only two homes, a primary residence and a holiday home. This allows the government to continue keeping tight control over the market.

So can a non-American, non-Cuban buy anything at all right now in Cuba?

The answer is yes, with qualifications. There still are around two dozen dilapidated apartment buildings developed 20 years ago in the Havana market. Foreigners are allowed to buy them. And unconfirmed reports from Cuban Americans claim those properties are being scooped up quickly.

Additionally, Raul Castro previously announced his Communist government has decided to go ahead with long-delayed plans to develop a golf resort and sell million-dollar-plus villas, townhouses and apartments to foreigners and Cuban residents - but not to legitimate Americans, of course. That project's development and completion, however, are perceived to be five to 10 years away.

But how can Cuban residents today find out what properties are available in their own home markets? Not easily, because most Cubans still don't have Internet access because the government hasn't gotten around to building a working cyberspace infrastructure for them to use. The ban on cell phone use was only lifted in 2006.

Instead, many Cubans turn to local weekly or daily penny-saver-like shopper tabloids that sell for pennies to a dollar a copy.

According to Cuban-American real estate broker Pablo Tacon, who is opening a new office in Havana this month called Cuba Tacon Inmobiliaria -- it's a tale of two markets in Cuba. Simply put, there are two different ways in which Cuba's real estate market functions; one for the locals, the other for outsiders.

Tacon tells The World Property Journal, "One market is called Permuta, which is for Cuban Nationals only as the buyers and the sellers amongst themselves, with the Permutaeros as agents; the other is for foreign investors only with particular designated properties and intermediaries."

In many ways, Cuba's way of transacting real estate today is archaic, opaque and fragmented. Yet, given it natural beauty, proximity to the Florida, thawing U.S. political relationship and global tourism allure, Cuba could deliver big results in the coming decade for property speculators worldwide.

Abode Affiliates

  • Alleyne Real Estate
  • Blevins Franks
  • Coldwell Banker
  • Crane Resorts
  • Monaco Real Estates
  • RDO
  • St Francis Links
  • Unique Home Stays
  • Yoo
  • Worldwide Dream Villas
  • Enigma Yachts Limited
  • Cornerstone Tax Advisors
  • Pedini London
  • Alexander James
  • Moore Stephen
  • Ibiza Transit Express
  • Oyster Yachts
  • Jumeirah
  • Wall Street Luxury
  • Heron Real Estate
  • Edenhurst
  • MG&AG
  • Gama Property
  • Touch Design Group
  • St Edward
  • Ultra Villa
  • Luxury Italian Living
  • Habitat First Group
  • BDO
  • 7Storeys
  • Worldwide Property
  • Dimora
  • Dominic McKenzie Architects
  • Harry Manning
  • Smart Living
  • Isle Blue
  • MAS Marbella
  • Millgate
  • Jersey Finance
  • guernsey-relocations-logo
  • viberts-logo
  • kpmg-logo
  • author-interiors
  • Wilkinson Beven
  • BoConcept
  • Ante Vrban
  • Deborah Garth
  • You home
  • Ra Shaw Designs
  • Caudwell Collection
  • accanto-interiors
  • Fritz Hansen
  • capital-rise
  • jarrods-staircase
  • neil-davies-logo
  • Tina Shone Group
  • Taplow riverside
  • Aimo
  • ns-ceramics-logo
  • Rusk
  • Consilium Expert Group
  • Ben Krupinski Builder
  • Swoffers
  • Guernsey Relocation Services
  • Douglas Graneto
  • Strutt & Parker
  • wilsons
  • MJC Associates
  • plainspace
  • Fine & Country
  • Bramble Ski
  • Penthouse queen
  • Sarco_Affiliate_Logo
  • taylor wimpey
  • cooper-gardner
  • M Design Architects
  • codan
  • Lovells
  • London DE
  • HELENA JORNET FINQUES
  • Prime Lands Group
  • Bellegarde Estates
  • Sinclair
  • Pippa Paton
  • Ecole d'Humanite
  • Benedek Lewin
  • Inspired Villages
  • Huelin Homes
  • Gaudin
  • Lovells Property
  • Racecourse Lodge Logo
  • Paseo
  • Lemay + Escobar
  • Octagon
  • Locate Isle of Man
  • Newlands of Stow
  • Hawksford
  • Holdun
  • Schule Schloss Salem
  • AR Architecture
  • lazaro
  • Sella Concept
  • Blakstad
  • SAREG
  • miller interior
  • Wealth Club
  • Yellow House Architects
  • Designer Touches
  • Zafiro
  • Nicole Murray
  • Scout Boats
  • Emerson Insinkerator
  • Forsters
  • https://www.cullenhomes.co.uk
  • https://www.londonlight.works

Enter your dream destination