A Cuban expatriate in Spain recently took to TikTok to share three financial decisions she stands by since arriving in the country: purchasing her first home, crafting a fully customized kitchen, and designing a bathroom exactly to her liking.
Known on TikTok as @belsisalbumdeunamedica—a username suggesting she is or was a doctor in Cuba—she posted her story on Monday. In just a few days, the video garnered nearly 2,100 views.
"When I arrived in Spain, I had to work extremely hard to save every penny to buy my first home," she recounts in the brief video.
Transforming an Old House into a Dream Home
The home she purchased was "very old and worn out," in her words. Together with her husband, they renovated it almost entirely on their own because they had depleted their savings on the purchase.
"Once we put all our love into it and worked on it every day, I am now the happiest person on Earth," she declares.
A Personalized Kitchen and a Perfect Bathroom
The second choice she doesn't regret was investing in a completely customized kitchen, despite it being her first home and having no prior experience with such projects.
"I took advice from a kitchen company that I still use for all my kitchen projects," she explains, acknowledging that professional guidance made a significant impact.
Her third point was designing a bathroom in white, tailored to her taste, stating she "wouldn't change it for anything."
Navigating the Challenges of Buying an Older Property
While the overall outcome is positive, she admits that buying an old property came with its challenges: "We initially thought buying an older home was a much better option, but it turned out to be a bit complicated."
Her experience aligns with a documented trend among Cuban immigrants in Spain who often choose rundown or low-cost homes to enter the real estate market. For instance, a Cuban couple in Murcia bought a house in a dilapidated state that no one wanted and completely transformed it, with the husband dedicating himself full-time to the renovation.
Other stories follow different paths: a Cuban woman known as Yuris Latina bought her first home outright after two years in Spain, using income from social media. Meanwhile, another Cuban expat purchased her home a year and four months after arriving in the country.
The narrative of a Cuban doctor emigrating adds an extra layer to the story. Health professionals coming to Spain face a lengthy process to validate their degrees, which can take several years, during which they work in other fields and save money. One Cuban doctor took four years to validate her degree in Spain before she could resume her medical career.
Understanding Challenges Faced by Cuban Expats in Spain
What are the challenges of buying an old property in Spain?
While old properties may be more affordable, they often require extensive renovations that can be costly and time-consuming, as experienced by many Cuban expats.
How do Cuban professionals navigate the job market in Spain?
Cuban professionals, especially in healthcare, often work in different sectors while awaiting the lengthy process of degree validation, allowing them to save money in the meantime.