No, seriously, don't. Smoking can kill you. But for the first time in a half-century, Cubans will be allowed to buy and sell real estate openly, bequeath property to relatives without restriction, and avoid forfeiting their homes if they abandon the country. The highly anticipated new rules instantly transform islanders’ cramped, dilapidated homes into potential liquid assets in the most significant reform yet adopted by President Raul Castro since he took over the communist country from his brother Fidel in 2008.
But plenty of restrictions remain: Cuban exiles continue to be barred from owning property on the island, though they can presumably help relatives make purchases by sending money. And foreigners can also hold off on dreams of acquiring a pied-a-terre under the Caribbean sun, since only citizens and permanent residents are eligible and besides, there are a lot of other islands in the Caribbean for foreigners to have their dream home on. But Raul needs to do more, for instance, hold elections and bring democracy to the island. Or maybe enter into an annexation treaty with the United States.
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