Blacke Velvet News

Houses for $1000 are you kidding me!!

blackevelvet — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:56:00 UTC

The real estate market is so awful that buyers are now scooping up homes for as little as $1,000.

There are 18 listings in Flint, Mich., for under $3,000, according to Realtor.com. There are 22 in Indianapolis, 46 in Cleveland and a whopping 709 in Detroit. All of these communities have been hit hard by foreclosures, and most of these homes are being sold by the lenders that repossessed them.

"Foreclosures have turned banks into property management companies," said Heather Fernandez, a spokeswoman for Trulia.com, the real estate Web site. "And it's often cheaper for them to give these homes away rather than try to get market value for them."

In Detroit for instance, Century 21 Villa owner Randy Eissa has a three-bedroom, one-bath bungalow of about 1,000 square feet listed at just $500. It's a nice place with lots of light, but it needs a total rehabilitation inside, which Eissa estimates will cost between $15,000 and $20,000. But that's not bad, considering that the home last sold for $72,000 in late 2007, according to Zillow.com.

With prices this low, lenders aren't looking to make any money on these deals. They just want to get these houses off their books, so they don't have to bear the cost of maintaining them and paying property taxes.

In fact, the $500, $1,000 or $3,000 that a buyer forks over often goes straight to the real estate brokers as a commission. And often the lenders have to kick in extra cash to make it worthwhile for a realtor even take the listings, according to Eissa.

"Usually these homes are bank repossessions that the lenders have already tried to sell on the market, perhaps then put up for auction without success and then re-listed," he said.

Fixer uppers

These houses are almost always small fixer-uppers. Wiring, plumbing and heating systems have to be replaced, walls and ceilings sheet-rocked, plumbing and light fixtures installed and new kitchen cabinets and counters put in. Few come with working appliances.

Often buyers are legally required to rehab these homes to bring them up to code. In Detroit, buyers are required to sign Affidavits of Compliance Responsibility, which obligates them to make repairs outlined in an inspection report. Only after that can a certificate of occupancy will be issued, which makes the house legal to live in.

But even factoring in these costs, they're still bargains.

And as the housing crisis drags on, there are more and more four-figure listings popping up, as lenders try to unload their repossessed properties.

Cleveland is another city with many incredibly inexpensive homes. On Ardenall Avenue, in East Cleveland, McMullen Realty has a listing for a four-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath house for $1,900. It's been vandalized inside, but the outside is in good shape.

It features a deep front porch with Doric columns, double dormer windows and a separate garage. It's an excellent opportunity, according to agent Tonya Stoudamire. The last time it sold was in March of 2008 when it went for $16,677, according to Zillow.

"East Cleveland has a beautiful housing stock," she said. "These houses just need someone to come in and love them a little."

Another property for sale in Birmingham Ala. is priced at $1,900. The one-bedroom, one bathroom home was built in 1923 and has major fire damage, according to its listing broker, Tom Murphy Realty. The listing states that "Rooms are hard to distinguish."

But it's on a nice-sized lot, about 0.38 acre, close to downtown and transportation and has all utilities. Nearby, comparable homes in good condition sell for about $100,000, according to Zillow.

Rehab money

Most of these $1,000 homes can be renovated relatively inexpensively, and buyers can actually get government help to finance these repairs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a special loan program for just such purchases.

Its rehabilitation mortgage insurance, available through FHA-approved lenders, was designed to encourage banks to issue a single, long-term loan to buyers that covers both the acquisition and rehabilitation of a property, according to HUD spokesman Brian Sullivan.

He adds that there may also be grant money available from the $4 billion Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which was a part of the massive housing rescue bill passed by Congress in July, to assist buyers with grants for down payments.

Buying homes like these is certainly a leap of faith; they're generally not in the best of neighborhoods and they're often surrounded by many other vacant and deteriorating homes. Still, some of these neighborhoods may turn around and provide residents with good, dirt-cheap housing.

"It's a sad time," said Stoudamire. "But it's also a time of opportunity, especially for low and moderate income people."

After Christmas Sales?

blackevelvet — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:33:00 UTC

Ok, I know we have all been wondering what happend to all the sales that were going on through the Christmas holiday. Well what happened was, all of the stores cut prices to 80% for about 4 days, and no one still didnt buy anything. The reason why is because people found it smarter and cheaper to shop online. Now the question is, what happened to all the overstock that was put out that no one bought? My guess is that wthey will see it throughoout the year at highr prices, and then bring them back againg for the next holiday. So really you arent saving anything. America is know for creating false realities so that people can spen all their money and become more broke and agitated. I really dislike most of the stores because everything is looking so cheap these days. So my recommendation is to find a good online store and see what deals you can get. If you didnt already know that things are way cheaper on the internet than the physical store. I can give you a great way to shop, find friends that are affiliated with some stores and buy it from them, they usually can get you a super low discounted price. Trust me, I have my own store and I can put the price that I want to sell the product for. Anyway, hope that this year is very prosperous for you!

Applying makeup is not easy! Get into it!

blackevelvet — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:25:00 UTC

HEy friends, I just wanted to post about me doing makeup on myself and others, and how difficult it really is behind the scenes. I have been doing makeup and hair for the last 10 years, but recently I found myself more and more interested in Pigments, and matte colors. I sit at my computer when i am bored and then all of a sudden I get this idea to apply makeup and put htem in pictures and videos. Trust me the finished look always look good to me because I normally edit out the parts that took the longest to do. Just to let you know, all of the pictures that I post are taken by me and by photographers who follow my drag friends and I. And yes, some of them, I mean some of them are photo shopped. I had a recent photo shoot early this morning performed by R.Stowe and he is really good at what he is doing. Not all makeup is to be worn by everyone, but you can always play around in it an see what works for you. I have found that lighter colors on medium to dark skin is best. Here are some of the pictures from my photo shoot:

All I use to do these photos is by using my web camera, a dexk lamp, and makeup! Enjoy:)

I'm Ok

blackevelvet — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:08:00 UTC

Hey everyone, it's a New year, and I am still missing my rabbit, but i will get over her untimely death. Anyway i just wanted to say that I am so blessed to be able to help someone else by making videos, and just being myself. I am not ashamed to know how to apply makeup and do drag every now and again. I am going to contine to show my talent to the world no matter what disagreements other may have. If I let the world judge me, then who will I be. Thanks to all on Myspace, Facebook, and the other social site that I am apart of for all of the warm comments. I thank you so much. In the meantime, make sure you check my site often because I do alot of uploading and making sure things updated and correct. Have a hopeful New Year and keep me in mind. Love ya!

R.I.P Mz Wiggles

blackevelvet — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:21:00 UTC

I just cant believe that my best friend has died(Was killed By my Dog)Mz. Wiggles! I purchased Mz. Wiggles From a pet store in Joiliet, Il back in 2006 after Hurriane Katrina because I didnt want to live in this City alone. I went to work yesterday with a good head on my shoulders and my friend called me about 1:30 am and told me that the dog killed our rabbit. All I could do was cry and sob on the Blue line train platform. My friend said that he cried too when he walked into the house and found her clinging on fro dear life. But she just didnt make it. She would have been 3 years old come Feburary 9th of 2009 but I am so sad that she is gone now. She will be forever missed and my grandchildren will know about her. You never know how you miss someone or something so much until they are gone. Mz. Wiggles love to stretch out and chill, and she was very loving and one of the tamest rabbits I have ever seen. It's strange that I was just getting ready to move to a new place and she was going to be the first one to Hop across the new carPet as far as she could. Mz. Wiggle, I will always love you, and now I dont even know what to do. Love always, Ron Mz. Wiggles Born Feburary 9th 2006-Died January 1st, 2009

Ending The New Year Right

blackevelvet — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:01:00 UTC

My new Year Resolution is to get better at my work, be prosperous, and live life the way it is supposed to be lived. I also want to trace my family tree, and read more on my ancestors. I hope to be more productive, and also being more active in the gay community. Also I hope to be in a new home sometime in the middle of the year for my animals and I. For 2009, I hope to be know in the gay commuinty by making short documentaries about gay life in Chicago and also hosting plenty benefits for great causes. This is only the beginning of a successful lifestyle that I am goin to persue. Love you, and see you in 2009

Starting My Own Drag Production

blackevelvet — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:03:00 UTC

You know I have come to realise that people only want what they can get outta you then leave you alone, but My eyes have opened wider than ever before. 2009 is approaching so fast and I feel like I dont have enouh time to get out there and do me. So many Drag Queens in Chicago, and they all act like they are too good for others. I have also noticed that most black drag queens dont give tips on makeup and what products they use for their Drag get up. Thats where I am different! I plan on making a name for myself in this type of industry without help from Pressed Queens.(depressed) Now that I have gained the experiance in my career, I am going to take it a step further by participating in more competitions around Chicago, taking more photos, and Making my own Costumes. Its really not hard to do, I just need to push myself some more so that i can get it Cracking. I am not your average Drag Queen who want to get surgery and hips, and collegen im my face(GROSS). I am an impersonator and it's all about the illusion aspect of it. Also I still talk in my regular voice and will not change for no one. The company that I am naming for myself is called "QGE Productions"(Queens Gotta Eat) and I hope that it goes well for me in "09"

Actress and Singer Ertha Kitt Dies at Age 81

blackevelvet — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 22:37:00 UTC

Sultry singer and dynamic actress Eartha died today of Colon cancer.

The Tony, GRAMMY and Emmy award nominee is noted for a number of songs and her role as Catwoman in the 1960s television series “Batman.” More recently, she became a pop culture symbol for her role as a sexy cougar in the popular 1990’s flick, “Boomerang.”
A family friend, Andrew Freedman, told the Associated Press that Kitt was treated recently at Columbia Presbyterian in New York for complications related to her cancer.

Kitt was born in South Carolina to a 14-year-old mother but moved to New York at 8 years old to live with an aunt before becoming a world renowned performer, style icon and sex symbol. In the 1960s, she was blacklisted by the government for speaking up against the Vietnam War at a White House function.

A self-proclaimed “sex kitten,” she was also famous for her catlike purr and her rendition of “Santa Baby.”

Source BET

Why animals love more than humans?

blackevelvet — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 20:05:00 UTC

Well today for Christmas, I just sit in the house and watched "A Christmas Carol" like a million times, and played around on the computer. Even though Christmas seems like its gettin played out, my animals reminded me how important it is to have animals as companions. My Dog(Jazmine) and My Rabbit (Mz. Wiggles) showed me so much love by just bein in my presence. I love those animals and couldnt trade them for no one. Here they are Looking cute and curious. Here They Are:

ROTFL! Do you see a resemblence?

blackevelvet — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 20:02:00 UTC

Ok, now this is a mess in itself. Pictures say a million things about people, but that about the products we use everyday?? I guess Chaka Khan took an idea way too far, but its form fittin, I can tell you that.