GayRealEstate USA

Around the Nation -- Residential Real Estate Update - Louisiana

By Jeff Adolph

State-by-state

Louisiana is situated in the Southern region of the United States with a population of 4,468,976 people. This states economy relies heavily on the oil and gas industry, as well as seafood, cotton, soybeans, cattle, poultry and eggs, paper products and food processing.

Income tax is taxed in three increments ranging from 2-6% and sales tax is set at a rate of 4%. Property tax is assessed and collected at the local level ranging from 10-15% of fair market value. However, Louisiana offers a Homestead exemption of $7,500 if the property is the person's main residence.

French Quarter

This area of Louisiana has condos, townhouses and free standing single family homes nestled in amongst antique shops and historical gems. The average price per square foot in this area is around $360-$400.

Uptown

This region of New Orleans is also known as the Audubon/University section of New Orleans this area offers Victorian cottages, contemporary houses and shotgun singles and doubles, along with condos. Prices in this area range from $140-$180 per square foot.

LGBT Real Estate Facts: There are some 8,808 same-sex couples residing in this state, making it the 23rd gayest state in the U.S.A. The gayest zip codes in this area are 70117 Crescent City/Holy Cross - New Orleans; 70115 Delachaise/Uptown - New Orleans; 70119 Midcity - New Orleans; 70116 Bourbon Street/ French Quarter - New Orleans; and 70118 Calhorn/Palmer/Maple Area - New Orleans. -- gaydemographics.com

Main Story Source: House Hunt (2008) Real Estate Market Trends; available online at http://www.househunt.com

Picture Source: wikipedia.org

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Life After Katrina - Rebuilding

By Jeff Adolph

Special Interest

On August the 28th 2005 Hurricane Katrina forced many people like Jason Toups and four other gay men out of the area to change their lives forever.

Two years on, Toups resides in Atlanta despite the fact that his second story flat in uptown New Orleans went mostly untouched by the hurricane and extensive flooding.

As Toups said, 'the life I had, the life I knew, the reason why I loved the place just aren't there anymore.'

And, while the French Quarter has been be built and is possibly in much better shape than it ever has if you stray from the New Orleans tourist path the sight that beholds you is still one of devastation with boarded-up buildings and graffiti everywhere.

For Bi-sexual film-maker Katina Parker (pictured left) this sight needs to be changed and in the very near future. Parker is determined to effectuate change in New Orleans through her feature length documentary "New Orleans: A Labor of Love."

The movie will be aired throughout U.S colleges in hope of recruiting volunteers for a rebuilding project under the same title.

Parker's film (see trailer below) focuses on a student group who in March of 2007, during spring break try to assist in the rebuilding of the city but are 'overwhelmed by the rampant, unchecked destruction they face.'

Parker has since founded an organization under the same title, "New Orleans: A Labor of Love" and hopes to recruit some 5,000 volunteers and raise $400,000 to rebuild parts of New Orleans throughout 2008. 'The group's website aims to connect potential volunteers.'

As Parker said, 'we're taking an approach to recruiting that is radically inclusive. It's not so much that gay people or straight people are any more special to do this work. It's that everyone is needed.'

If you'd like more information please visit http://www.nolaboroflove.com/

Source and Image: Hudson, Z (2007) Bi-filmaker Seeks Help to Rebuild New Orleans; available online at http://www.washblade.com/2007/9-7/news/national/11183.cfm

Image: www.nasa.com and www.nolaboroflove.com

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The French Quarter May be at Risk

By Jeff Adolph

New Orleans Update

While  the government repairs hurricane ravished levees to ensure that a recurrence of Katrina's devastation does not occur in New Orleans, it is believed that the French Quarter is now at greater risk of damage.

Experts have stated that the 'stronger levees and flood walls could funnel storm water into the cul-de-sac of the Industrial canal, only 2 miles from Bourbon Street, and overwhelm the waterway's 12-foot-high concrete flood walls that shield some of the city's most cherished neighborhoods.'

And, it is only these barriers that prevent the Creole bungalows and St. Louis Cathedral from being flooded.

As Robert Bea, a lead investigator of an independent National Science Foundation team that examined Katrina's levee failures explains, 'a system is much like a chain. We have strengthened some lengths, and those areas are now better protected. When the chain is challenged by high water again, it will break at those weakest links, and they are now next to some of th oldest neighborhoods, including the French Quarter, Marigay, and all of those areas west of the cul-de-sac.'

To help alleviate the danger, the barriers are said to have been reinforced but they will not be replaced due to lack of time and money. Whether they withstand another hurricane as ferocious as Katrina will remain to be seen when the test comes.

Source: The associated Press (2007) Levee Work May Imperial New Orleans Gay Area; available online at http://www.365gay.com

Image Source: www.danheller.com and www.iscas2007.org

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Have Your Say On the LGBT Political Front - August 19th 2007

By Jeff Adolph

LGBT Politics

In a national first, the Democrats are challenging the Republicans by staging a debate that is dedicated to the LGBT community and will answer many of the issues facing Lesbians, Gays, Bi-sexual's and the Transgendered across the nation.

The leading candidates for the Democratic  nomination for presidency will actively involve themselves in this debate on August the 9th, which is being telecast by LOGO, a gay cable network. Alternatively, you may view proceedings on http://www.logoonline.com/ if you are unable to access the network.

Participants in the debate will include Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards (pictured above), with the moderators being singer Melissa Etheridge and Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign's president.

If you would like to actively participate by lodging questions for the candidates to answer you may do so by logging on to LOGOonline.com as well as on HRC.org.

Source: Demorcrats to Hold Gay Debate (2007) available online at www.wweek.com

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Real Estate Boom Rides the Aftermath

By Jeff Adolph

Tenants and Landlords

Wonders will never cease... just when it seemed the residents of New Orleans may find it hard to rebuild and move on, a market boom in the general vicinity of those flood ravaged homes is leading to real estate being picked up at bargain prices, with the drier localities fetching higher prices than before Hurricane Katrina made her not so graceful entrance.

It is reported that the gay friendly state has sold over 7,000 homes between January and June of this year with the median price of $221,000US.

Many predicted the housing market in this region would be crippled for many years too come and yet the spirit of the residents has experts dumbfounded, by the interest in not only renovation possibilities but also buying and selling realty in general.

Joan Farabaugh, a real estate agent in New Orleans, said she had earned as much income in the past six months as she did in all of last year, with non-flooded and flooded homes. As Farabaugh said, 'Most of my sales are people who are locals, buying and fixing up.'

While residents thought their flood ravaged homes would no longer be of any value many are discovering that they are receiving at least a 50% return on the properties value prior to the hurricane hitting.

Beth Amadon and her husband, a real estate developer, had their eye on a home near Lake Pontchartrain just before the hurricane devastated the area. While their initial offer fell through due to the unforeseen circumstances the couple have recently purchased in the same area, for $300,000US, 50% less than they had originally anticipated spending.

The properties the Amadon's owned near the French quarter has increased by 20% since the hurricane. This is mainly attributed to it being unscathed by Katrina's wrath, and many of the property buyers becoming landlords and capitalizing on the rental boom that they anticipate occurring as workers and families return to the region.

Kim and Reginald Glass are two such people who are optimistic about the future, as they have just purchased eight homes in the area ranging in price of between $50,000-$112,000US each. As Ms. Glass, a lawyer stated, 'We had too much invested in New Orleans to walk away, we needed to figure out a way to stay here and make a living, so we decided to purchase properties in Gentilly.'

There is optimism everywhere, and challenges around every corner. Some neighborhoods still smell foul, while others are vibrant, some areas are safe and others not. There are those who say that the Glass's and Amadon's are taking a huge gamble that normality will return to the region and others that think the fruit is ripe for picking if you don't mind hard work and using a little elbow grease.

As Ivan J. Miestchovich, director of the real estate market data center and economic development said, ' We don't know how things will pan out, there's a readjustment period right now. I think there is still a big question mark.'

Source: Saulny, S (2006) Investors Lead Home Sale Boom in New Orleans: available online at http://www.nytimes.com

© 2006 Jeff Adolph GayRealEstate USA