Bessie Butte is a Little Known Bend Hike Just a short drive east on China Hat Road in SE Bend you can find Bessie Butte. A quick 1.5 mile round trip, the hike has 500 feet elevation gain and easy access. Although not as well known or used as Pilot Butte, Bessie Butte is a great hiking option and provides for wonderful views from the top. On Sunday, March 22, 2020, after being at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, we drove the short distance to the Bessie Butte trail head and hiked to the top. During the walk, we did pass several parties coming down, but there were plenty of places to step aside and keep the distance needed to maintain safe separation. It was a beautiful day and although we wished the hike could have been longer, the views were stunning.   If you have hiked Pilot Butte S... 03/23/2020

Bend Oregon Home Sellers Have Options - Use Matterport 3D to Tour Virtually In this never before seen world with the coronavirus pandemic changing how we live our lives, having options on how buyers can tour a home is invaluable. At Bend Premier Real Estate, we invested as a brokerage in Matterport 3D two years ago. We currently own two cameras complete with all the set ups required and have two videographers trained to film these tours.  For our sellers, the benefit of having buyers virtually walking through their home enables us to screen through buyers for whom the house may not work - all without physically being there. For buyers, the opportunity to view the home in 3D can help them determine if that property makes their top list and eliminates time and work in viewing homes which ... 03/18/2020

As new information continues to evolve regarding the Coronavirus, so does the need to address potential health concerns that may impact the real estate industry.  Some States have created a Coronavirus Addendum, addressing the need for escrow extensions due to unforeseen delays.  Some real estate brokerages have put moratoriums on open houses.  Other offices have created a health questionnaires, requiring agents and clients to complete prior to viewing a home.  What can we do to protect ourselves and others?  Besides the obvious CDC recommendations regarding handwashing and social distancing, you can consult your brokerage and Association regarding policies being implemented locally.  Most State Associations have legal departments where you ask questions on how to proceed (legally) in c... 03/18/2020

I've often said... character doesn't shine when things are going hunky-dory.  Who needs refining around the edges when business is booming, money is plentiful, love is ever abounding, and toilet paper is in huge supply?  Everyone, said no one!Character SHINES when the $#IT hits the fan!There are plenty of opportunities for character to shine.  Just check out the comments on Facebook, where you'll often find not-so-gracious name-calling and finger-pointing.  Do you participate, or quell social bullies?  Are you kind?  Do your words pack a bite bigger than your neighborhood Doberman?  What do you do when the waitress gets your order wrong, or that person cuts you off in traffic, or someone grabs the last roll of toilet paper in the midst of a global pandemic?  THESE are perfect scenarios ... 03/15/2020

  Being the foodies we are, we really enjoy finding restaurants that are off the beaten path. One such restaurant we recently enjoyed was Boxwood Kitchen. Although located in the Old Mill District, this dining experience will not be found on the main road but rather was tucked in behind Naked Winery and Jimmy Johns.  We have visited Boxwood on several occasions since they opened their doors last year and their wonderful dishes have yet to disappoint. On our most recent visit we were able to enjoy an intimate setting with some close friends and really take the "Supperclub" name to heart. We were able to enjoy a nice leisurely dinner with plenty of good food, drinks and even some laughs with our server.  We began our meal with their Chicken Tikka Masala Meatballs. We didn't get a photo o... 03/10/2020

Lack of Inventory Impacting Bend Oregon Real Estate A mild winter and continued high demand has led to a boom for February 2020 home sales in Bend. When the February 2020 sales of Bend single family homes on less than an acre are compared with February 2019, the following changes can be noted: Homes for sale down 36.7% to 252* Homes sold up 17.6% to 127 Homes pended up 51% to 219 Average price per square foot up 7.3% to $265 Average day s on market up 10.1% to 131 Sold/Original listing price difference percentage unchanged Average active price up 13.2% to $771,000 Average sold price up 11.7% to $564,000 Months of inventory  down 46.1% to 2 Bend Oregon Home Sales Not Following Normal Trends Winter is typically a slower time for Bend home sales. Snow and inclement weather impacts the abil... 03/07/2020

Several years ago, I took some staging courses and became a certified Stager.  My intent was to use the skills I learned to add a complimentary staging consultation to my listing presentation.  The investment has paid off in spades.When I take a new listing, I spend a considerable amount of time with the Seller preparing the home for sale.  It's a two-step process, where the first meeting is spent walking throughout the home, discussing what needs to be done to prepare the home for market.  The Seller is given a list of items that address decluttering and depersonalizing the space to be completed prior to the second visit, where we stage the home.I ask for creative license from the Seller to move furniture, rearrange knickknacks, and accessorize the home with staging items.  This step s... 03/04/2020

Cascade Lakes Brewing Produces a Meal to RememberBend Oregon has become a beer hot spot for any hop connoisseur. With over 27 breweries to choose from, there seems to be a flavor and experience for any palate. Last week, we were able to have a fun and unique dining experience at one of our favorite brew stops, Cascade Lakes. Founded in 1994, Cascade Lakes Brewing has its origins in Redmond, Oregon. Over 25 years later, the brewery has greatly expanded its brewing system and also has added "The Lodge,",our go-to weekend stop in Bend, Oregon on the way to Mt. Bachelor. On our most recent visit, Cascade Lakes offered an exclusive, 30 ticket only event for a 5 course beer pairing which was called "Beer and Bites." Based on teaser photos leaked on social media, this looked as though it promi... 02/21/2020

It's no surprise that Oregon touts the Nation's 10th-fastest rate of net migration.  What does this mean?  People are moving to Oregon and not leaving.  Here are 7 reasons why people love Oregon.Oregon is beautiful.  You don't have to travel far to experience towering redwood trees, clean coastal beaches, gorgeous Cascade mountain range, flowing rivers, and tons of wildlife.  There is so much to do outdoors; from biking, hiking, skiing, fishing, rafting, boating or simply enjoying nature.Oregon is friendly.  People tend to be more patient and kind.  Perhaps it's the clean air, or the chill lifestyle that puts them at ease.  In any case, don't expect to rush through the coffee line without chatting to the Barista about your plans for the day.  They genuinely want to know =)Oregon has cle... 02/18/2020

Bend Oregon Home Sales Surging The Bend real estate market has been strong since coming out of the recession.  However, the figures from January 2019 were beyond expectations with the number of new ratified sales contracts hitting new highs. When January 2019 is compared with January 2018, the following trends can be noted for Bend single family residences on less than an acre of land: Homes for sale were down 29.6% to 269* Homes sold up 3.1% to 131 Homes pended up 24.6% to 177 The average price per square foot on sold home was up 6.1% to $259 The days on market were up 1.6% to 130 The sold/original listing price difference was up 1.1% to 96% The average active price was up 5.8% to $752,000 The average sold price was up 6.7% to $525,000 The months of inventory based on closed sales was ... 02/07/2020

With Superbowl Sunday just around the corner, I thought I would share one of my favorite dip recipes.  I'm not a huge football fanatic, but I certainly enjoy a party, and I like to cook!  This recipe is super easy to to make, healthy to eat, and quite tasty too!  Your Superbowl friends and family will be delighted, and they'll likely be singing your Dip Dip Hooray praises!If you have a Trader Joe's in your area, pick up a 16oz container of organic sour cream, and a 2oz bottle of onion salt (in the spice section).  Mix half the bottle of onion salt (1 oz) with 16oz sour cream and garnish with chives.  Voila... you've got an award winning yummy onion dip for your party in just minutes!  If you don't have a Trader Joe's in your area, any sour cream and onion salt will do, but add a little ... 01/28/2020

New Italian Restaurant a Great Addition to Downtown Bend Being a restaurant owner in Bend is not easy. From tight food margins to difficult customers, building a new business to a place people talk about and come back to is no easy task. Bend's newest restaurant is on track to follow that challenging path. Salute' Bend is an Italian restaurant in Bend worth remembering.  This cozy restaurant is located in the old High Tides location, or more recently the old Citizen location on Bond in Downtown Bend across from Deschutes Brewery. This space has a strange hallway entrance that looks more like the beginning of a bad horror movie with unique lighting and a sterile feel than the entrance to a wonderful Italian eating establishment. Make your way past the elevator to a glass doorway on your ... 01/25/2020

You've heard the ole' cliche... He who speaks first, loses.  Have you ever been in the middle of a negotiation, and suddenly, the room is filled with a deafening silence?  Do you find yourself fidgeting uncomfortably during the loooong pause, waiting for someone to say something?  Are you tempted to jump in to fill empty space, or do you silently contain yourself while others yak their lips and spill their beans?Listening is an art, pausing is a discipline.  Both are highly coveted pearls of wisdom when engaging in negotiation.  The goal with any exchange is to seek to understand.  Sometimes that means you gotta zippa your lippa.When silence fills a room, practice your pause.  Let others yak their lips while you quietly assess the situation.  Then, ask questions for clarity.  Start with... 01/19/2020

Bend Home Sales 2019 Show More of the Same As we move from 2019 to 2020, it is always good to look back and see how the sales from one year may affect the next. For Bend Real Estate in 2019, the trends provided more of the same with lack of inventory impacting home prices, days on market and closed sales. When the 2018 figures from Bend single family homes sales on less than an acre are compared with those from 2019, the following can be seen: The numbers of homes offered for sale were down 17.2% from 396 to 328 at the end of the year The numbers of homes sold were down 4.2% from 2452 to 2352 The number of homes pended were down .8% from 2417 to 2397 The average days on market were unchanged at 103 The sold/original listing price difference was down 1% from 97% to 96% The average price ... 01/08/2020

A Surprising Number of New Bend Oregon Home Sales in November Traditionally as the weather cools and we move toward the end of the year, Bend home sales decrease. There are fewer buyers actively looking for homes in the winter and the holiday celebrations of most families impact real estate sales. This year, however, there has been a large uptick in the number of Bend homes which went into contract during November.  When Bend single family home sales in November 2019 are compared with those from November 2018, the following changes can be noted: The number of homes for sale are down 10.5% to 408* The number of homes sold are down 1.8% to 167 The number of homes pended are up 23.6% to 183 The average price per square foot on sold homes is up 6.2% to $258 The average days on market are do... 12/10/2019

Bend Oregon Home Prices Still Going Up Will the top of the market come anytime soon?  We are often asked that when we work with buyers. The Bend Oregon real estate market has been strong since coming out of the recession and prices have risen yearly since 2011.  2019 has followed the trend with Bend home prices up each month over the same time frame in 2018. Extremely low inventory persists and the demand for Bend homes remains high. The real estate data on Bend Oregon single family home sales for October 2019 have been published and the following changes can be noted when compared with October 2018: Bend homes for sale down 5% to 480* Bend homes sold down 1.8% to 221 Bend homes pended up 21.4% to 221 Days on market unchanged at 103 Sold/Original listing price difference down 1.1% to 94... 11/06/2019

We hope your Halloween festivities result in many fun activites and not too many scary ones! 10/30/2019

Bend Oregon Real Estate Prices Still Rising The September, 2019 data has been published and the price for a Bend single family home on less than an acre is still going up.  Although September is traditionally among Bend's biggest months for price reductions when sellers whose property did not sell during the summer lower the asking price to hopefully get a buyer before winter hits, Bend home sales in September 2019 still reflect higher prices than the same month a year before.  When Bend single family home sales on less than an acre in September 2019 are compared with September 2018, the following trends can be noted: Homes for sale down 6.7% to 556* Homes sold up 8.7% to 212 Homes pended up 9.7% to 214 Days on market down 4% to 95 Sold/Original Listing Price difference unchanged at 0% ... 10/08/2019

Commercial Real Estate in Central Oregon     Bend Premier Real Estate is pleased to represent commercial clients in all aspects of their commercial needs, icnluding leasing, sales, investments, tenant representation and consulting services. Our commercial Brokers know how to put a commercial deal together. Plus we answer our phones on weekends!   Bend Premier Real Estate Brokers Rachel Greenwald Rhoads and Kacey Taylors' new listing at 17605 Vandevert Road is 98.68 acres of prime development land bordering Caldera, with amazing access to the Cascade Lakes Highway. The property has been up-zoned to F2 with a Resort overlay allowing for a multitude of options, including but not limited to a zip-line park, water park, small house clusters, campground and RV park. This property benefits fro... 09/11/2019

Bend Home Prices Up The Bend real estate market continues to be impacted by a limited supply of inventory, rising prices and changing seasons. August 2019 was a strong month for Bend home sales and we believe the lack of summer forest fires may have impacted our market positively.When August 2019 is compared with August 2018 for Bend single family residential sales on less than an acre, the following trends can be noted: Homes for sale down 5.5% to 585 Homes sold down 5% to 248 Homes pended up 4.1% to 229 Average price per square foot up 4.3% to $266 Average days on market down 4.4% to 86 Sold/original listing price difference is 0 Average active home price is up 2.9% to $681,000 Average sold price is up 7.1% to $558,000 Months of inventory is unchanged at 2.4* The average sold price of... 09/10/2019