Cage's New Orleans homes sold at auction

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Two New Orleans homes owned by actor Nicolas Cage were sold at foreclosure auction for a total of $4.5 million, an official says.

New Orleans Civil Sheriff Paul Valteau said Regions Bank based out of Birmingham, Ala., made the only bids on the two homes, purchasing Cage's French Quarter home for $2.3 million and his Pataniya Street property for $2.2 million, CNN reported Friday.

The French Quarter home was appraised at $3.5 million and the Pataniya Street home at $3.3 million.

Thursday's auction came amid significant financial troubles for Cage, 45, including $5.5 million the "Ghost Rider" star owes in mortgage payments.

Cage, who also owes $151,730 to the city of New Orleans in real estate taxes, has blamed his troubles on his former financial manager, Samuel Levin.

CNN said Cage alleges in an October lawsuit that after hiring Levin in 2001, the financial manager tricked him out of more than $20 million.