This morning at 7 a.m., under unusually threatening skies, the new Ray's Food Place opened in Sisters (just a block from the old Ray's). And what a scene it was! When I arrived at 9 a.m., the place was packed with folks checking out the new digs. As required by city code, the store boasts an 1880s frontier-type façade; however, Sisters has never before seen a Western scene quite on this grand a scale: 43,500 square feet, to be exact. That's almost twice the size of the former Ray's. In truth, the center's block-long sprawl is a bit daunting, although the store's series of mock rooflines (which probably spans more distance than most 1880s downtowns) does help keep the place from feeling like a generic big-box supercenter.   Inside, there's plenty to love about this Ray's: the massive pro... 11/12/2008

At last Thursday's monthly Realtor meeting with Sisters Planning Director Eric Porter, consulting planner Susanna Julber discussed some of the details of the new Sisters Housing Plan. The plan is part of the city's Comprehensive Plan Policy (which was adopted in 2005) and is designed to ensure that Sisters' long-range plan includes an adequate supply of affordable housing. The goal of the Housing Plan is "to explore and recommend how one in 10 of all new housing units built in the City by 2025 can be made affordable to families with low incomes." Here in Sisters, that's no mean feat. Nationally, "Affordable Housing" is defined as that in which residents spend no more than 30 percent of their gross household incomes on housing-related expenses. Since the Sisters Area Median Income (AMI) ... 10/28/2008

We've had a busy summer in Sisters, but it's still definitely a buyer's market, with expansive inventory in both single family residences and homes on acreage. However, we did experience another slight dip in the number of listings (down from 243 in July to 212 in September). And that decrease should continue into the winter months, when many buyers opt to hibernate, and sellers either pull their homes off the market or wait until spring to list. Here are a few September highlights: Active Residential Listings in Sisters:  212 (127 Single Family Residences; 85 Residential with Acreage) Pending Residential Sales in Sisters:  7 (4 SFR; 3 RW) Residential Sales in Sisters:  10 (7 SFR; 3 RW) Average Days on Market: 159 days for Active SFR listings                                            ... 10/15/2008

No, they haven't begun the reroute of Highway 20 so that it bypasses downtown Sisters, although her downtown streets are dotted with orange cones these days. In case you've recently traveled through town amid the maze, you've probably wondered what exactly is going on. Well, a couple of things: first, an ongoing sidewalk improvement project is in the works; and the confusing five-way intersection at Cascade, Cedar and Larch is being reconfigured into a simpler four-way set-up. But the discussion about exactly how to handle the ever-increasing traffic that funnels through town on its way to other Central Oregon locales is about to heat up (again). In the next few months, the City of Sisters will attempt to finalize its Transportation System Plan (TSP), which will address that problem. F... 10/01/2008

Yep, it's deer season. And here in Central Oregon, that doesn't just mean that hunters are on the lookout for our dear four-legged friends. Earlier this week I almost ran into a herd in my driveway -- literally (see photo, right). We have a fairly regular gang that enjoys meandering along the nearby irrigation canal and then plucking pears from our single fruit tree in the back yard. Yesterday, I passed a herd of at least a dozen clustered in a 10-acre field in Tumalo, munching on a neighbor's freshly cut hay; and today one leapt out in front of my car and zipped across the road as I was about to show property in a rural subdivision a few miles outside Sisters. All of which prompted me to remind everyone in the area to please take it slow when you're driving through Central Oregon this ... 09/19/2008

Most folks who are familiar with Sisters have at least heard of, if not attended, the famous Sisters Rodeo, which takes place each summer during the second weekend of June. Well, now a new fall rodeo tradition seems to be in the works. Hot on the heels of last weekend's venerable Pendleton Round-up in Eastern Oregon comes the new kid on the block: the Northwest Pro Rodeo Finals, which debuts its second season in Sisters this weekend (and for which my office, RE/MAX Town & Country Realty, serves as a main sponsor). Also located at the Sisters Rodeo Grounds, the event brings together the best of the regional cowboys for Northwest Professional Rodeo Association's annual finals in six main events. (The Northwest Professional Rodeo Association is the western United States' largest regional r... 09/18/2008

The August 2008 real estate statistics for Sisters, Oregon showed more of the same summer story here in Central Oregon: Buyers are in charge, with more than 230 residential listings to choose from and numerous options in just about every price point, from $200,000 to $2 million and up. However, a slight dip in the number of listings from July to August (from 243 to 232) may provide sellers a bit of a break. As we approach the winter months, that number should continue to level off. Here's a closer look at what's happening in the Sisters real estate market: InventoryIn August, the hefty inventory declined slightly in Sisters, primarily in Active Residential With Acreage listings: As of August 31, there were 144 Active Single Family Residence listings (down from 146 in July) and 88 Active... 09/17/2008

What can we learn from the July 2008 real estate statistics for Sisters, Oregon? The summer in Sisters is shaping up to be an extremely strong buyer's market and a real challenge for many sellers. Here's a closer look at what's happening in the Sisters real estate market: InventorySince June, an already hefty inventory continued to rise in Sisters: As of July 31, there were 146 Active Single Family Residence listings and 97 Active Residential With Acreage listings (homes on one acre or more). Taking into consideration the number of sales during the previous 12-month cycle (97 SFR sales and 26 RW sales), that equates to an 18-month supply of Single Family Residences and a 44-month supply of homes on one acre or more. (A balanced market is one that has about a six-month supply of listings... 08/18/2008

Lots of folks in Central Oregon spent the past two weekends driving around -- with a purpose. It was the annual COBA (Central Oregon Builders Association) Tour of Homes, when 74 noteworthy new homes scattered throughout the region were open to the public for their inspection (it's especially popular among folks interested in learning the latest in home design ideas and trends). It's the 20th year for the self-guided free tour, and it was a double event for our RE/MAX office because it also served as the official debut of Sisters' newest subdivision, Pahlisch Homes' Saddlestone. Quietly completed earlier this year, Saddlestone's model home was featured on the tour, and the other three finished homes (one of which has already sold) were also open for perusing, as were the community picnic... 07/29/2008

Yesterday we went trailriding in Central Oregon along the Metolius River past Camp Sherman (10 miles west of Sisters). The last time we rode out here, in the fall, when the turning leaves added a spectacular backdrop, we had the place to ourselves. Should've known it would have been more crowded now that the summer camp crowd has arrived. Not to fret. Out here, riding the deeply wooded trail that runs along the river, it was easy to focus instead on the gorgeous scenery -- the mighty river itself, the many wildflowers in bloom, the various butterflies in residence. We weren't prepared for the heat, though: 95 by 11 a.m. Phew! Below are a few photos we took along the way. Riding along an old wagon road above the Metolius.   A local fly fisherman at work.   Emily borrowing a local log to ... 06/29/2008

Folks trying to decide which of the many Central Oregon Fourth of July events to attend have a new contender to consider: the Central Oregon Blues & Crawfish Festival, which takes place at Creekside Park in Sisters next Thursday through Saturday. Sisters residents Tom & Cheryl White are the founders of the festival, which was an idea two years in the making, Tom says. By teaming up with veteran concert booker Ryan Funderburg, they've assembled an impressive lineup and a broad spectrum of talent, including John Lee Hooker, Jr., along with Kenny Neal, the Ty Curtis Band, Stephanie Slade, Joe Leonardi, Jon MacLennan, T-Bone Stone, Lisa Mann, Blue Moon Society, Keegan Smith and Zsa Zsa. They've paired the music with some down-home Cajun food: fresh crawfish, red beans and rice, shrimp creol... 06/27/2008

Last night, our RE/MAX office hosted its annual summer Mix N Mingle soiree for the Sisters Chamber of Commerce (which holds a Mix N Mingle at a local business each month). Usually, we host our party at our downtown office, but decided to show off the new Pahlisch Homes subdivision, called Saddlestone, which we're representing. It's Pahlisch's first venture in Sisters, and it's a first-rate project. So this year, it was a REMAX/Pahlisch production. The site for the event was Saddlestone's outdoor pavilion, which also includes an expansive lawn and elaborate playground area. Along with the barbecue festivities, three of the new subdivision's homes were open for guests to visit (the model home, which has been staged beautifully, will be on the upcoming Central Oregon Association of Builder... 06/20/2008

As of Sunday (June 1st), Central Oregon has officially entered fire season. That means that burning permits are now required on all private and state forestlands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry within Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties. So it seems as good a time as any to remind everyone of the importance of ensuring that the property they own or are about to purchase in Central Oregon is fire-safe. Wildfire is, after all, a very real concern here in the high desert. According to an article in the Bend Bulletin, since 2002, there have been seven fires in the Sisters Ranger District larger than 3,000 acres. The largest, 2003's B & B Fire, scorched more than 90,000 acres. Last year, the residents of Black Butte Ranch were evacuated when the G.W. Fire came within a qu... 06/01/2008

All you visitors who've been in Central Oregon for the past seven or eight days and have seen nothing but gray clouds and rain: don't fret. This is not typical. This is, in fact, quite unusual. We really do only get 12 or so inches of rain per year. I promise. The reason I'm bringing this up today is that I basically need reminding myself. I'm rained out. I moved to the east side of the Cascade Mountains because it was the dry side. So what gives? I know I should be grateful -- water is always a welcome sight in the high desert -- but I miss my mountains! They're hidden behind all that gray. This (see photo left) is what it's supposed to look like in Central Oregon this time of year. This is why so many of us love it here. They say we can expect rain through Sunday (sigh).              ... 05/29/2008

        Well, it wasn't exactly a grand opening -- the weather, after all, was lousy, especially for a holiday weekend (rainy and chilly off-and-on all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday) -- and the list of vendors was pretty small (not quite a dozen), but the Sisters Farmers' Market was a welcome sight last weekend. What's not to love about another area outlet for home-grown products? In its inaugural outing, the Sisters Farmers' Market offered visitors fresh fruits and vegetables (although, alas, no Oregon-grown berries); locally grown honey and bee pollen; fresh baked breads and cookies and homemade jellies; roasted coffee; handmade candles; two local soap/scent purveyors; and several jewelry vendors. I did also notice a set-up for live music, but either the rain or the sparse attendan... 05/28/2008

So here it is, Memorial Day weekend, and in a good year (i.e., one in which much of the snow has melted by May), many folks would be thinking about taking a day trip along the popular 82-mile-loop known as the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway. The McKenzie Pass, the western leg of the byway (which begins in Sisters), is one of my favorite quick escapes because it has so much to offer with so little thought required -- you've got a little driving combined with a bit of history, some gorgeous scenery (some consider it one the most beautiful drives in Oregon) and several opportunities to venture off the beaten path, all easily doable in an afternoon. Granted, there's plenty of interesting diversions along the way if you'd like a more extended getaway. But this year, thanks to unusua... 05/23/2008

Summer is approaching, and in Sisters, Ore., folks are gearing up for the town's busiest season. That means that hardly a weekend goes by without some sort of cultural event coming to town -- often, more than one. Sure, because of Sisters' Western ambiance (downtown buildings all sport 1880s facades), you'll find plenty of pioneer-influenced events. But you'll also find a surprisingly diverse cross-section of cultural affairs (not to mention, attendees).  It says a lot that a town of 2,000 is able to successfully host so many major events, and to regularly ntice hordes of followers to return again and again. Maybe one reason Sisters has become home to so many festivals and fairs is because so many artists and entrepreneurs have settled in this area. Or maybe everyone who comes here just... 05/14/2008

Sisters is a lovely town located in western Deschutes County. The population of the City of Sisters is 1706 and the population within the school district boundaries is about 15,000. Known for the western-style store fronts, Sisters exudes a country charm that is undeniable. The scenery here is breathtaking. Recreational opportunities abound with hiking, biking, rafting, skiing, swimming, fishing, golf and sightseeing readily available. Tourism is the main industry for Sisters and the city hosts a variety of events each year. Some of these are the Sisters Starry Night Concert Series, the Sisters Art Stroll, the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (one of the biggest in the U.S.), the Sisters Jazz Festival and the Sisters Rodeo. Bordering town, there is roughly 1.6 million acres of Deschutes Natio... 02/17/2007