Reply #3: Earlier this week Raul had declared

[dipsydoodle]

the State would not allow "extensive land ownership" or words to that effect. That locks out estates being recreated which is the risk if any "foreign money" starts flying in. Having said that I have a feeling that the State retains land ownership even for privately owned houses.

It does seem to be technically possible for outsiders to own property there even now. That may be a bi-product of houses which have gone to State ownership as a result of the owners dying and having no children or siblings to will to.

The two Russian lads with Canadian citizenship I pal'd up with last October had another Canadian friend who apparently owned one. He was paying locals remotely to do the restoration a bit at a time which sounded like a forever job to me. It had taken two months to hand carve a front door. Could be he was doing it almost as an act of kindness to provide some with woodworking skills meaningful work.

:hi: