Is Bend Moving Into a Balanced Market? The May data has been published and for those who are familiar with Bend Oregon real estate trends, the increase in the numbers of active listings is significant. May traditionally has been a month with a surge in new listings with sellers getting ready for the peak summer selling season. However, in May 2025 there was a huge 42% increase in active inventory year over year. With these numbers, Bend is now trending close to a balanced market with months of supply approaching 5 months. When May 2025 is compared with May 2024, the following changes can be noted for Bend single family home sales on less than an acre: Median sales price up 2.6% to $774,250* Original median listing price up 4.7% to $874,000 New listings up 3.6% to 285 Homes for sale up ... 06/04/2025

There Are Two Trailheads to Summit Black Butte Many people will hike to the summit of Black Butte during the summer. It is an iconic volcano located just outside of Sisters next to Black Butte Resort which challenges both visitors and locals. Most people will take the gravel road which transitions into a terrible dirt road to the upper trailhead which is located 1500 feet below the summit. Hikers who start here will find a limited space parking area complete with facilities which require a current forest pass. Those who really want to challenge themselves can start at the base of Black Butte at the historic trail head located near Camp Sherman. The road to this trailhead is mostly paved until the turn off to the parking area so hikers avoid driving over challenging dirt roads before th... 05/23/2025

What's in the May 2025 Bend Premier Newsletter?Our latest newsletter has some wonderful articles. Wondering what is up with Bend real estate market trends? How about information on a Central Oregon hike you can do today?  Bend Home Inventory Up With Closings Down Dutch Baby Pancake Outdoor Furniture Revival: How to Clean, Restore and Prep for Patio Season Alder Springs Hike in Central Oregon You Finally Have More Options for Your Move 05/13/2025

Bend Home Inventory is Up With Closings DownThe data has been published and the early spring trends year over year for 2025 reflect Bend's single family home real estate market with prices still rising, inventory up considerably, pending sales up, days on market up, and overall closings down.The increased inventory has provided more options for Bend home buyers and many sellers are willing to negotiate price and terms in order to get their property sold. Those sellers unwilling to do this are often finding their property sitting with little activity. The importance of hitting the market with correct pricing, top photography, top staging, and top curb appeal right from the start has become more important than ever. And those home sellers working with knowledgeable brokers should be heari... 05/08/2025

Lava Butte is Located Just South of Bend Lava Butte is part of the Lava Lands Visitor Center which is the interpretive hub for Newberry Volcanic National Monument. Located just south of Bend on the west side of Highway 97, the Visitor Center is closed from the middle of October through the beginning of May. However, the parking lot remains open year round (snow permitting) for people who hike the 5.5 mile Sun-Lava paved path over the lava fields or hike the 3.3 mile round trip up Lava Butte. The road up Lava Butte is traveled by a shuttle during the summer, but during the off season a gated fence stops vehicles from making the trip. However, hikers and bicyclists can access the butte through a person gate in the fence and enjoy the trek up the butte and views from the top. Those who wa... 04/22/2025

Bend Home Prices Appear to be Leveling OffSpring 2025 has begun with many economic and political changes within the country. The uncertainty of tariffs and the stock market may ultimately result in a pull back in home sales. However, the beginning of April has had strong real estate sales for Bend Premier Real Estate brokers. It could be with people not having confidence in the stock market, the proven reliability of real estate to consistently gain value over time coupled with more certainty in mortgage interest rates leveling or even dropping could result in a boom in Bend home sales. The next few months could be a roller coaster, or perhaps a more steady-as-she-goes market.For Bend home sales, March of 2025 compared to March of 2024, the data reflects the following changes: Homes sol... 04/10/2025

Alder Springs Flows Into Wychus Creek The hike to Alder Springs outside of Sisters limits motorized access from December 1st through March 31st to protect the winter rangeland of the local deer populations. However, access to the trail head is on rough dirt roads for which 4 wheel drive and high vehicle clearance is recommended. Directions to the official trail head can be found on the USDA website. The "unofficial" route involves travel on Locust Street (Camp Polk Road) in Sisters 3.1 miles north from East Cascade Avenue. Take this to Wilt Road, staying on Wilt when the pavement ends 4 miles. Past Rimrock Ranch the road is less maintained. Travel another 2.2 miles until you see a sharp unmarked turnoff to the right onto a rough dirt road. The weekend of April 5, 2025 this road was alm... 04/09/2025

Bend Real Estate Inventory is Way UpThe real estate trends for Bend single family homes are reflecting a changing market. Sales are dependent upon a mortgage interest rate that works for the majority of home buyers, but also upon available homes from which to choose. February 2025 saw a shift in both categories with a large increase in home inventory as well as a more moderate reduction in mortgage interest rates. Buyers are finding many more homes on the market that may meet their search criteria. Sellers are finding that in order to make their home stand out, pricing the home correctly right from the start can be the difference between selling quickly and sitting on the market.When February of 2025 is compared with February 2024 for Bend single family homes on less than an acre, the f... 03/07/2025

What Happened With Bend Luxury Homes in 2024? 2024 was a year that reflected changes for Bend Oregon real estate. The high end luxury home market had more listings and more activity in 2024 compared with 2023. In particular, homes listed in all categories over $1,000,000 had strong sales with the only exception in the $1,300,000 to $1,599,999 category in which there was a 14.4% decrease in home sales. In this same category, days on market were up over 113% with an increase of 85% in months of supply (up to over 5 months). Based on an earlier 2024 review of the Bend luxury market, it was determined that many listings taken in this price point required price reductions, sometimes significant reductions, in order to receive offers. Despite this anomaly, overall more listings in almost all... 02/20/2025

2025 Bend Home Sales Have Started Off With a BangAfter the slower market traditionally experienced in December, Bend home sales started 2025 with an strong uptick. Many home sellers are no longer waiting to spring to list their properties, and many buyers are back in the market, despite the 30 year mortgage rate near 7%. Both new listings and new sales were significantly up in January 2025 compared with the previous year.Historically, during a presidential election year, home sales slow across the country. However, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), home sales have increased the year after nine of the last eleven presidential elections (the exceptions were in 1981 and 1989). If this trend holds true in Centr... 02/05/2025

What's in the January 2025 Bend Premier Newsletter? More Inventory and Moderate Price Increase the Norm in 2024 Creamy Mushroom Pasta Cozy Ideas to Transform Your Living Room This Winter Hike Smith Rock for a Winter Challenge Get Ready to Sell a Home in 2025 Check out more newsletters at Bend Premier Real Estate's website.  01/10/2025

The Burma Road, Summit Trail, Misery Ridge Loop Can be ChallengingFor those looking to undergo a challenging Central Oregon hike when the Cascades are covered with snow, Smith Rock State Park can provide many options. Typically very busy in the summer when rock climbing is at its peak and the weather warm, winter hikes in Smith Rock can be rewarding with fewer crowds and different perspectives of the rocks. Before sections of the park are shut off in the spring due to falcon nesting, hikers can explore little known social trails and see portions of the park rarely visited. However, for those who wish to exert themselves, hiking along the Wolf Creek trail until connecting with Burma Road, climbing it and then hiking the north side of the park along the Summit Trail, then up Mesa Verde un... 01/08/2025

More Bend Home Inventory and Moderate Price Increases Were the Norm for 2024 Sales 2024 Bend home sales experienced modest price increases for the year, but Bend home buyers were fortunate to have more options. Sellers who had hesitated putting their property on the market during Covid and following when mortgage interest rates were close to 8% finally had more inclination to do so when mortgage rates dropped to the mid 6% range during the summer of 2024. Delayed moves which were offset by high mortgage rates for a subsequent purchase finally made sense when rates dropped. Although there was an increase in home prices and sales for Bend single family homes, it was modest. With more inventory on the market, Bend home buyers could be more discerning with their purchase and homes which we... 01/07/2025

More Inventory Means More Choices for Bend Home BuyersThere are more homes on the market for potential Bend home buyers to choose from than there were at the same time last year. With more inventory, there has been more motivation for sellers to negotiate price and terms with buyers. This in turn has resulted in homes selling for less than asking price, often after price reductions in order to generate offers. While the overall sales price is up slightly over the same time last year, the months of supply is up over 11%.When the data from November 2024 for Bend single family home sales on less than an acre is compared with those from November 2023, the following changes can be seen: Average sales price up 4.1% to $888,821 Median sales price up 2.6% to $711,875 New listings up 29.5% to 11... 12/06/2024

Once the roads into the high Cascades have been closed for the winter, there are more limited hiking opportunities for Central Oregonians. However, one favorite hike is close to La Pine state park and on the road to Newberry Crater. This is the Peter Skene Ogden trail which follows Paulina Creek all the way to Paulina Lake. Hikers can take the trail as far as they wish, although during winters with heavy snow, it can be challenging and snow shoes would be recommended.November 2, 2024 was scheduled to be cloudy, but dry. The lower elevations of Peter Skene Ogden Trail had patchy snow, but it was easy walking. Two and a quarter miles into the hike, the second large, "twin" waterfall is passed and then the hike steepens until the bridge is reached which crosses over Paulina Creek. Past the... 11/07/2024

Bend Home Prices Up In October The trend seen over the past four months changed in October when year over year Bend home prices rose rather than fell. Both average and median Bend single family home sales prices were up, perhaps a reflection of lower interest rates seen in September which enabled more home buyers to purchase higher priced homes or an unusual anomaly which was reflected with a large number of million dollar plus homes (over 35% of total home sales) closing. Typically in the fall, home sellers which did not sell their properties during the summer peak selling season will often discount their asking price - often generating offers. Of the sixty Bend homes that closed in October for over a million dollars, forty-seven closed significantly under their original asking price ... 11/05/2024

Cascade Mountain Hikes in Fall Can Have Unexpected Weather Conditions Hiking in the Oregon Cascades in the fall can offer amazing experiences with stunning views, early snow, fall colors, and no need for forest passes. However, the weather can also change suddenly and hikers need to be prepared. On October 26, 2024, the hike from Three Creeks Lake to Tam McArthur Rim began with low clouds covering the Cascades. The hike up from the trailhead (the sign was already covered for winter), to the rim experienced some wind, although much of the early part of the trail was in sheltered forest. Once reaching the rim, the winds really picked up, but the clouds also lifted so that the mountains (Broken Top, The Three Sisters, Mt Washington, Three Fingered Jack) could be seen. Typically the unmain... 10/31/2024

Bend Luxury Home Inventory is Up For Bend buyers looking for their ideal luxury home, there was a significant increase in the number of homes for them to pick from in 3rd quarter 2024. When we look at Bend million dollar homes, the categories of homes for sale over $1,300,000 had anywhere from 45% to 89% more listings for buyers to consider. It appeared that more sellers were willing to list their property in 2024 than in 2023, perhaps tied in with lower mortgage interest rates experienced in this time period; the cost to sellers for their financed replacement home would be less with lower rates, often making the seller determine that the time to list was then. Is it a Seller's Market for Bend Luxury Home Sales? We are seeing changes in the Bend high end market. Homes that sold quickly... 10/23/2024

Redmond Oregon Home Prices Have Leveled Off Redmond is a quick 15 minute drive north of Bend and has been a great option for those Central Oregon home buyers who cannot afford Bend, in addition to those who just want to live in a growing community that is supportive of business and family. Unlike other areas of Central Oregon, Redmond has been consistent with its home prices. Few luxury homes are found in Redmond, but rather a more homogeneous housing mix of middle class homes. Redmond home sales for third quarter 2024 reflect this consistency. Looking year over year comparing single family home sales on less than an acre third quarter 2024 with third quarter 2023, the following changes can be seen: Average sales price down .8% to $552,519* Median sales price down 3% to $509,235 New li... 10/17/2024

What's in the October 2024 Bend Premier Real Estate Newsletter? Our latest newsletter has some great articles on Central Oregon market trends, activities and more. Check it out! Bend Home Sales Are Up Easy Cheeseburger Soup Fall Activities in Central Oregon Canyon Meadow Hike The Top Three Reasons Affordability is Improving .   10/09/2024