Cuban property market booms after limited reforms

For almost a year now, Cubans have been free to buy and sell their houses legally as part of the limited programme of reforms initiated by President Raul Castro. In a country where commercials were banned as brainwashing and property deals long prohibited, state television is now advertising private houses for sale.

For decades the only way to move house in communist Cuba was to arrange a swap. Officially, no money changed hands but the highly restricted and bureaucratic process spawned a thriving black market. Faster or otherwise prohibited swaps could be secured for a fee; house sales were even disguised through arranged marriages: you'd pay, wed, transfer the property title, then divorce.

But The property market remains closed to foreigners and even Cubans are only permitted to own one home, to prevent speculation. But the freedom to sell has brought all sorts of people out onto the streets.

While anecdotal evidence points to a boom in property sales, official statistics from January to August only record about 15,000 transactions, while the number of property donations is twice that. That appears to support claims that many sellers are disguising house sales as "donations", which incur a far lower fee. For many Cubans, though, the Change - albeit imperfect - is welcome.

"I've got a lot more sales on my books than swaps now," says Yolaida, one of many unlicensed agents "facilitating" both types of transaction for a fee.

"Swapping was much more complicated. People used to wait up to a year for something that suited them. Now they can buy and sell wherever they want. It's much faster and simpler."