Cuban Woman Sells Home in a Day to Fund Journey to the U.S.: "I Had the Ticket, But Not the Travel Money"

A Cuban woman now living in the United States took to TikTok to narrate her extraordinary tale of selling her apartment in Cuba in just one day to finance her migration. The user, known as Melissa (@meloncitalafaraonayeyeo), recounted through a video how she swiftly secured a buyer after listing her home.

Melissa detailed that the property originally belonged to her mother and was transferred to her following a family arrangement. Selling it became her only viable option to gather the funds necessary for her journey. "I had my ticket and everything ready to come, but the only thing missing was the travel money, which was the most crucial part," she admitted.

In her account, she revealed that she initially tried to sell the house by putting up a sign on the street, only for it to be ruined by rain. Despite her mother's objections to advertising the sale online, she went ahead and listed it on social media. "Folks, I posted my house for sale on social media around 9:30 in the morning, and by a little after 10, I already had a buyer," she shared. The apartment was purchased by a doctor living in Ecuador who bought it for his wife and daughter in Cuba. The deal was closed in under an hour.

The video sparked a variety of reactions on TikTok. Some users expressed sorrow over the circumstances forcing many Cubans to sell everything to emigrate. "It's a shame we ended up with a dictatorship in our country because we could be happy there. Blessings," commented one user. Others remarked on the specifics of the property: "Fifth floor... no elevator," noted someone critically.

Messages of support and congratulations also poured in. "Congratulations," "You're blessed for being such a wonderful person," and "I've watched 3 or 4 of your videos and I like you already... new follower" were among the responses Melissa received.

Stories like Melissa's have become increasingly common as more Cubans sell their assets to fund their departure amidst the ongoing economic and social crisis. The housing shortage and high real estate prices in Cuba mean that well-maintained properties often sell quickly, especially on social media, where buyers aim to bypass intermediaries and complex transactions.

Melissa's experience resonates with other accounts of Cubans facing cultural adjustments upon arriving in the U.S. In a previous video, she shared how her newly arrived mother struggled to get accustomed to the taste of American food, sparking a debate among Cuban emigrants about the culinary differences between the two countries.

These narratives highlight the reality faced by countless Cubans who, in response to the crisis, choose to part with their most valued possessions in pursuit of a better future abroad.