Bend Oregon Lot Sales Data Show Varied Message Custom lot sales remain steady in Bend. When lots sold in Bend during 2016 are compared with 2015, the average active asking price is up 5% to $252,000 on all lots an acre or less and the average sold price is up 11.7% to $219,000. The lack of inventory does not appear to be an issue, as there were 6.8% more lots made available for sale in 2016 than in 2015, but 9.7% fewer sold and 14% fewer were pending at the end of 2016 than at the end of 2015. * Bend Lots Inventory There does not appear to be a lack of available custom lots in Bend right now. Multiple Listing Service data for 2016 show there were 15.2 months of inventory based on closed sales, which is an increase of 18.7% over 2015.* What appears to be an issue, however, is affordabili... 02/02/2017

Bend Real Estate Sales Show Growth 2016 was a year of continued real estate growth in Bend. When 2015 data is compared with 2016, the average sales price of a Bend single family home was up 12.5% with the average sold price up 9.3%.  There were 3.4% more homes sold in 2016 than in 2015 with 6.9% fewer properties available for sale. This has aggravated our lack of inventory and continues to push prices up. The average single family Bend home sold for $386,000 in 2015 and in 2016 it sold for $422,000.* Lack of Bend Housing Inventory Remains an Issue In late 2015, the expansion of Bend's urban growth boundary was finally approved. This need for additional development land has existed for over 10 years and finally the city was granted permission to increase Bend's size - but not by the 10,0... 01/25/2017

There are many ways to look at real estate trends in Bend, Oregon. Among the most in interesting is to compare sales over the last twelve months with those of the previous year. While the actual numbers of properties sold are up just slightly at 3%, the value of the property is up significantly at 11% on average, with the biggest increase found in the sale of multi-family properties at over 30% followed by commercial buildings at 22%.*There has been a significant lack of affordable housing in Bend over the last few years with the rental vacancy rate less than 1%. This helps to explain the reason that multi-family properties have increased so much in value. Anyone driving around Bend's eastside will see many new apartment complexes under construction. Hopefully once completed, these new ... 12/14/2016

Residential home sales remain solid in Bend. Data from November, 2016, reflect a strong real estate market moving into winter. The average price per square foot for sold Bend homes is almost 11% higher than November, 2015.  Although there is a seasonal slow down and less inventory than during October, the average sold price is up almost 12% over a year ago with 36% more homes sold during November 2016 than November 2015.*Interest rates on home mortgages have inched up a bit, so it remains to be seen how this will impact Bend home sales moving into 2017. Although still historically very low, the interest rate increase may make a difference to the lower end buyer where small changes in their monthly expenses can determine whether or not they can afford a home. For the higher end, lack of ... 12/09/2016

Bend Premier Real Estate has decided to move forward into 2017 with a television advertising campaign featuring a lifestyle ad. The campaign is "Life's Greatest Moments Begin at Home." We are excited to see what kind of response we get from the ad, but the initial feedback has been positive. Let us know what you think!Life's Greatest Moments Begin at HomeIf you are thinking about buying or selling real estate in Central Oregon, please contact us at 541-323-2779 or visit our website at Bend Premier Real Estate. 12/01/2016

We have been blessed in our local Bend Oregon real estate market over the last few years to be in a growing community with escalating prices and strong buyer demand. Multiple offers and closed sales over asking price are common.  However, when the market is like this, seller expectations often become unrealistic and inflexible which can create frustration for both the client and the real estate agent.Some common issues we are experiencing with listings include: Seller pricing above market Seller demanding open houses every weekend Seller demanding expensive print marketing Seller dictating marketing outside of normal real estate practices because they were in sales in an earlier time and that is how you sell Once the home is in contract, we are seeing an unwillingness to negotiate repai... 09/16/2016

Inflated Vacant Land Prices - Vegas Bob Shocked What could possibly be going on in the United States that land owners would put price tags on vacant land that is totally out of this world.Robert Vegas Bob Swetz has been purchasing vacant land across the nation for 30 years now, way before he became licensed as a agent.Last evening I started surfing vacant land in different states, from Oregon, Utah, Nevada, Arkansas, Idaho, Washington state, Montana just to name a few and (did not) even surf California.20-10-5 acre pieces of property for $300, $400, $500K on up to $1 million dollars plus.Who the hell is listing this vacant land for these prices? And who the hell is paying these prices for this vacant land.Are you people out of your minds?And if you have this type of money to waste pleas... 09/11/2016

The Beacon Report came out this last week with figures for Bend and Redmond real estate.  We did a recap of the graph data and came up with some interesting numbers on Redmond.  As housing has been unaffordable for much of the work force in Bend, people are moving to other cities and commuting (see link to Bend Bulletin article).   I think this has a lot to do with the increase in activity for Redmond and increase in median sales price. Bend Summary Aug-16 Aug-16 % Change         Median Bend Sales Price 345,000 359,000 4% Number of Sales in Bend 223 259 16% Days on Market-Bend 79 74 -6% Median Price/s.f.-Bend 187 201 7%                 Redmond Summary Aug-16 Aug-16 % Change         Median Redmond Sales Price 219,000 283,000 29% Number of Sales in Redmond 88 98 11% Days on Market-Redmond... 09/10/2016

 Bend — the largest in Central Oregon — boasts 71 parks and 48 miles of recreational trails. Less than an hour outside town, you’ll find 26 golf courses, whitewater rafting and fly-fishing in the Deschutes River, more than 1,000 climbing routes and 3,600 skiable acres at Mount Bachelor. Within two hours? More than 1,200 miles of narrow dirt mountain bike trails (or singletrack), which double as snowshoeing and Nordic skiing trails in the winter.You can paddleboard on one of the 40 lakes in the region, hike and camp in the Three Sisters Wilderness, or summit Pilot Butte, a 479-foot-tall cinder cone in the center of town. Or just find something that floats — an inner tube, an inflatable mattress — and drift on a mellow stretch of Deschutes from Bend Park to the center of town; a $5 shuttl... 08/20/2016

I've lived in Redmond, Or. for over 20yrs. and know that Central Oregon is one of the Best Places in Oregon to Live. In Outside's "The 16 Best Places to Live in the U.S.: 2016," Bend and Yachats are the only two Oregon towns to get the shout-out. And, let's be honest, they both kind of deserve it.Back in January, this very publication named Yachats the best place to stay on the Oregon coast. With Cape Perpetua, Heceta Head Lighthouse and the Hobbit Trail, plus empty beach, delicious food and tide pools, this mid-coast village benefits from being between big cities and is generally a little less crowded than your Seasides and your Newports. Outside calls it "Oregon's loveliest sea­side town."They aren't wrong.And Bend. What hasn't been said about Bend at this point? Do you like to ski? G... 08/20/2016

 Bend feels like it is bursting at the seams this summer with crowds filling the streets, trails, restaurants and shops. A record-breaking summer tourism season is partly the cause, but the fact is that more people move here every day to make our fair city their new home.The slump that followed the Great Recession is over. Bend's population is increasing again, and that has many residents worried that the city is losing its small-town feel. In fact, some people are even whispering the 'M' word—Moratorium.Why not put the brakes on for a few months or a year? Can we give the community a breather, time to catch up on infrastructure, widen a few roads, put in more sidewalks, and kick out a Californian or two?That's not in the cards. There'll be no moratorium on construction or growth for a ... 08/15/2016

Bend Brewfest celebrates hand-crafted beers! The 14th annual Bend Brewfest returns to three days in 2016—that’s right we’ll be pouring delicious beverages Thursday-Saturday, August 18-20—at the Les Schwab Amphitheater. This is your chance to drink in some fine beverages.This year’s event is slated to offer 180+ craft beers. New breweries for 2016 include Kobold Brewing, Ballast Point Brewing, Fat Heads Brewing, Old 99 Brewing Co. and Plank Town Brewing.Stop by the X-Tap in the Brewtality Tent to sample low production beers from a variety of brewers. Cider row grows to twelve cideries this year and includes No. 6, Doc Fields, and d’s Wicked, Whiskey Barrel, Reverend Nat’s, Three Mugs, Portland Cider and more. Enjoy a variety of wines by Willamette Valley Vineyards.   Bend is here and so ... 08/10/2016

I came across this website about a different type of tiny home -larger than your typical tiny home on wheels.  They are bigger and cost a lot less.  They are an evolving project among architecture students and cost less than $20,000 to build.  Here is the link to the website for this project: http://www.fastcoexist.com/3056129/this-house-costs-just-20000-but-its-nicer-than-yours?cid=ps002ros&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=newsfeed&utm_term=changegeneration&utm_campaign=ps002ros Like tiny homes, they face the same dilemmas of zoning, ability to obtain a mortgage, and acceptance of construction methods by city planners.  I must say these look attractive and I even think I could live in one.  A lot of people who want to minimize their carbon footprint and obtain affordable housing are attr... 04/26/2016

Zillow may have the facts... (albeit skewed at times) but it's usually the neighbors who have the skivvy.  Yes indeed... everything you ever want to know about a home or property, just ask a neighbor.  After all, it's only neighborly, right?!Sometimes neighbors can be so helpful.  They love to share things... like the last time your house flooded from a broken pipe, or the year before last when you replaced your roof because it leaked.  Some neighbors even know about your extra-curricular activities (if you know what I mean).  Yes indeed, neighbors tell all.   If you're planning on selling your home or property, make sure you carefully consider the part on the Seller's Property Disclosure Statements about 'material facts.'  What's a material fact, you ask?  Anything that may possibly in... 02/26/2016

From underdogs, to underprivileged, to plain ole' under the weather... nothing grabs my attention more than people in need.  Perhaps it comes from a heartfelt place of having experienced all of those things personally.  Recently, my friend and chairman of CRS Oregon, Adam Bogle, threw down the gauntlet and challenged his fellow CRS designees to donate to the Maslow Project for its annual Back-to-School event.  He asked for donations to purchase backpacks to fill them with school supplies for underprivileged kids.  No brainer... consider it done!Another friend and fellow ActiveRainer, Tammy Lankford, set-up a GoFundMe.com site to gather donations for medical expenses for fellow Realtor and ActiveRainer, Steve Loynd.  Steve fell from a 30 ft' ladder last year and broke his pelvis and jaw ... 01/28/2016

According to our local news station KTVZ, the Bend City Council is leaning towards relaxing ADU (additional dwelling unit) development restrictions which apparently can be more stringent than those for building a single family residence.  I think this is ridiculous.   First of all, the downtown Bend area has serious parking issues on residential streets, many of which have no sidewalks or off street parking, so they are already bike and pedestrian unfriendly.  It is a hazard to walk down these streets.  I can guarantee that most of the additional dwelling units will not be for family, but rental properties to take advantage of our out of control rental market with skyrocketing prices.  I can't blame people for taking the opportunity,  but realistically, due to our high rental rates, the... 01/21/2016

My Magic Potion...  Seriously! 08/28/2015

From Trails to Ales... The New York Times has tagged Bend Oregon as one of the top 52 Places to Go in 2015.  It's no surprise the area attracts outdoor enthusiasts for its world-class skiing, biking, hiking, fishing and paddle boarding. But here's some facts you may not know...  Bend, Oregon has close to 300 miles of single track bike trails... a mountain bikers paradise by definition.  In fact, Oregon is the only state in the Union to designate 5 scenic bike ways for its passionate riders.  Bend is clearly the place to BikeInOregon.com! That's not the only thing that gets our wheels in motion. Bend Oregon is becoming the ale capital of the Pacific Northwest with a bit of national notoriety burgeoning the Bend scene.  Seriously... Central Oregon has more bikes and breweries than any oth... 07/26/2015

Thank-You's Matter!     This is a brilliant marketing video from Coca-Cola with a simple take-away message for all of us.  People matter.  Kindness matters.  Thank-you's matter.  Smiles are priceless.  Happy Sunday everyone!  Let's make someone else's day a little brighter =)  10/26/2014

Bend ranks on the USA Today Readers 10Best list!                           Chosen by readers of USA today and 10Best. Beer lovers of America have made their voices heard!  Bend came in number 4 for the “Best Beer Town” title. Here is the complete list of winners! Grand Rapids, Mich. Tampa Asheville, N.C. Bend, Ore. Fort Collins, Colo. San Diego Portland, Maine Portland, Ore. Denver Burlington, Vt Not only did Bend rank in the top 10. Bend’s famous Deschutes Brewery of launches with several events in Lansing, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The beer, which is now in 26 states, is being distributed by West Side Beer.   All we have to say is.... CHEERS TO THAT!    Birtola Garmyn High Desert Realty www.bendoregonrealestate.com 541-312-9449 10/20/2014