A Cuban resident in the Valley of Aosta, in northern Italy, explained on TikTok how her partner managed to buy a house in that country despite having lived there for less than three years and not being an Italian citizen.
The young woman, known on social media as @ely_china, posted several videos between late December and January where she outlines the steps taken and the conditions that the bank assessed to approve the loan.
In the first video, from December 28, he stated that "buying a house in Italy as a foreigner, as a Cuban, as someone from any country" is possible if certain requirements are met. He shared that his partner obtained the loan before completing three years of residency and that they pay "350 euros" monthly for the housing, a small studio in a tourist area.
He explained that "here in Italy, it is essential, extremely important to have a permanent employment contract," and he clarified that "it doesn't mean you won't be dismissed at some point, but it is less likely, or at least it's not as easy."
He added that Italian law provides benefits for young people buying their first home. "If you are under 36 years old, and it’s your first house, you can apply for 100 percent of the mortgage," he said, although he clarified that notary fees and transfer costs must be paid separately.
According to the report, the bank requires reviewing the account statements and verifying that the income is sufficient to cover the monthly loan payment—which he referred to as a "rat." In his case, he specified that they requested "100 percent of the mortgage" and that the bank took about 15 days to respond.
Ely also explained that for those without a permanent contract, "they must have at least one guarantor," meaning a person who will be responsible for paying the debt if the holder stops doing so.
In a second video, published on December 29, he addressed criticisms regarding the purchase. “The worst comments we received were about whether we should have rented it, whether it’s too small, and whether this is not an investment,” he quoted regarding the feedback he received. He clarified that the property was acquired as an investment and not necessarily for living there: “The house was not purchased with the goal of living in it; it is obviously an investment. We have plans for it, especially taking advantage of the fact, I repeat, that we live in a very touristy area.”
In a new video published three days ago, he elaborated on the reasons why the bank approved the loan. He mentioned that his partner, although not an Italian citizen, had a long-term residence permit, which allowed him to be considered a "financable subject."
"If you have been living for three years and can demonstrate consistent income in Italy, the bank considers the risk of default to be low, regardless of your passport," he explained. He also mentioned that banks in the Aosta Valley "tend to have a very good understanding of the real estate market here," which makes it easier for them to grant loans since it is a tourist area.
The Cuban emphasized that "having a permanent work contract is more important than citizenship itself."
His series of videos sparked a wide exchange of opinions among users, particularly Cubans residing in Italy. Some expressed gratitude for the information and shared their own experiences with the banking system; others questioned the ease of the process.
Among the comments, one notes that the approval of the loan "is due to the fact that they live in the Aosta Valley, an autonomous region with special status," while another states that "it's not easy" to find a house and appreciates their efforts.
In response to those who downplayed the significance of the purchase, the creator replied with humor: "The achievement is having it in Cuba."
Her testimony, focused on her partner's experience and the specifics of the Italian system, has sparked the interest of other migrants seeking information on how to access housing in Italy.
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