Social Media Success Stories: Buying a House in Cuba

A Cuban content creator, known online as @yaneisycanta_98, has joyfully announced on TikTok her achievement of purchasing a house in Cuba, thanks to her endeavors on social media. In a video where she beams in front of a moving truck, she declares, "I bought a house in Cuba," and offers encouragement to those looking to venture into the digital world. "In January of this year, I started taking all this very seriously… and by ignoring what people might say, I've achieved a lot," she confessed. Despite the challenges, her passion fueled her success: "When you love what you do, nothing can stop you."

She urged her followers to shed their inhibitions and start creating content: "This message is for you… grab your phone and, instead of being a spectator, start entertaining the audience." She also gave a glimpse of her new home, noting it requires repairs but expressing confidence in her persistence: "This little house I bought needs a lot of work, but that's nothing for a focused mind that knows what it wants."

Her followers congratulated her in the comments section, with some inquiring about the cost of homes on the island. When directly asked about the price, the TikToker confirmed it was $4,000. Addressing property rights, she clarified: "That's false," countering a user's claim that all houses in Cuba are state-owned.

Responses on the platform include supportive messages, queries about the purchasing process for foreigners, and reflections on the Cuban economy. "The only good thing in Cuba is that the house is yours and you don't pay taxes or anything in life," one user noted. Another mentioned, "You can find a house in Cuba for as low as 2,500 dollars," while someone else argued, "That's no longer true. It's upwards of 10,000 now."

This story adds to a growing list of Cuban women who have acquired homes in Cuba through social media earnings. A young mother, @anita.cubanita64, shared that she bought her house in Cuba after years of sacrifice, seeing it as her child's future and thanking her supporters. Similarly, influencer @caliope128 disclosed buying a house in Villa Clara for $2,300 through TikTok income, emphasizing it was a dream come true, despite needing repairs.

These achievements would not be possible without the backing of their social media followers, who provide an alternative income stream within Cuba. These personal success stories starkly contrast with the country's housing crisis. Cuba faces a shortage of over 800,000 homes, with the regime constructing only 0.3% of this number so far in 2025, according to the Ministry of Construction. Production of basic materials has stalled, and living conditions worsen annually.

The Housing Crisis in Cuba

The growing number of informal settlements, now exceeding 960 across the country, suffer from lack of access to basic services and absence of urban planning support. As a stopgap, authorities have proposed building homes from recycled metal containers, a measure highlighting the collapse of the construction industry.

In this challenging context, stories like those of @yaneisycanta_98 are not just tales of individual perseverance but also signify how social media has become a crucial economic lifeline and a means for personal fulfillment amid a structural crisis.