Ok… I haven’t blogged in a while.  Truth is, I’ve been really busy selling properties.  But I realize that blogging is a great way to inform potential Bend newcomers.  So I’ve decided to start an ongoing, “subdivision spotlight” blog.  This blog will highlight the benefits (and maybe drawbacks of subdivisions in Bend and maybe some in Sunriver and Redmond). I’ll run through whether or not the subdivision has HOA fees, CC&R’s, average lot sizes, average prices, and so on.

It’s going to be a mix of subdvisions.  The posts will include some high end golf course subdivisions like Pronghorn or Broken Top, some entry level subdivisions on Bend’s east side. and everything else in between.  I’ll focus on the real estate sales and current inventory, while also shedding light on the location, community, and overall vibe.

Time to get rolling on this new project.

Tags: Bend Oregon, Bend real estate, Real Estate Market, Redmond Oregon, Sunriver Real Estate, Westside Bend, real estate // Add Comment »

7560 NW Grubstake Way,  $695,000

Updated home with swimming pool and mountain views

 Your personal Central Oregon resort

• 4 Bedrooms (4th bedroom makes a great office)
• 3 Bathrooms
• 3,000 sq ft
• 5.1 acres
• A in-ground swimming pool
• Views of the Cascade Mountains and Deschutes River Canyon
• Private Deschutes River access
• Living, family, and bonus Rooms
• Attached 3 car garage
• 42×40 shop with RV door

Private, peaceful living in this updated home

This home has been updated with style.  The chef’s kitchen includes travertine tile floors, granite counters, and stainless steel appliances.  Enjoy the fireplace in the cozy family room.  The exterior includes a paved driveway, 3 bay shop with RV door, RV hook ups, swimming pool, wrap around deck, and a gourmet outside kitchen!  You’ll find great views from almost every window in this home.  Views include Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, and the Three Sisters mountains, plus views of the Deschutes River canyon and the meadow in the center of Odin Falls Ranch.
 

Live the Central Oregon dream

Great Location in Odin Falls Ranch

Odin Falls Ranch is a premiere gated community in Redmond Oregon with private Deschutes River Access.  This property is perched on a hill, and the home and swimming pool are situated perfect to take advantage of the panoramic views.  It’s a short commute to Bend, yet drier weather and more sunshine! 

Enjoy the Central Oregon lifestyle! View more information of this extraordinary Central Oregon home, and check out the virtual tour.

A Gourmet Kitchen

Amazing master bedroom with mountain views

Stunning entry way

Call for your private showing today. 541-419-1448

Tags: Bend real estate, Mt. Bachelor, Redmond Oregon, real estate // 12 Comments »

Wow!  Look at this new listing on the Deschutes River!

3 residences, plus shops, horse stalls, a corral, private docks, boat inlets, a boat launch, and more. Located one property up river from Sunriver, this is truly a Central Oregon paradise.

Deschutes Riverfront home

56750 Lunar Dr, Bend, OR 97707  $1,195,000

A Deschutes riverfront mini estate…  This property has it all.  There are 2 riverfront residences plus a guest apartment.  The main house is 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, with both living and family rooms.  The view of the river is spectacular from the living room and kitchen window!  The property includes 180 feet of dock, 2 boat inlets, and a private boat launch.  You won’t find another property like this on the Deschutes river.

The setting makes this a truly unique Deschutes riverfront property.  This property is the first property upriver from Sunriver, and it’s located near the biking/walking paths of Sunriver.  Located directly across the Deschutes river from Crosswater Golf Course’s 14th green, there are no homes obstructing the view across river.  The property is adjacent to a common area, so the .7 acre lot feels much bigger, and is very private.  The property is landscaped with 3 water features.

Amazing river views

There’s more. This estate also includes 3 huge shops, plus a covered 3 bay RV storage.  Two of the shops have heated cement floors.  There is also a horse corral and stalls.  You won’t find many riverfront horse properties!  There are many possibilities… The 2nd riverfront home and guest apartment are currently used as rentals, and the shops have been rented out in the past.

There’s no other property like it! What makes this property truly unique, is the fact that it has 3 legal residences.  The footprint of the riverfront homes is grandfathered in with the county, so someone could re-build without having to conform to the current setbacks from the river.  You won’t find many homes situated this close to the river. 2 boat inlets and a boat launch also contribute to the unique features.

Views of the Deschutes river from the living room

2 private boat inlets on the Deschutes River

Shops, Barn, and Guest Apartment

Deschutes Riverfront Horse Property!

Bring your boats, toys, horses, Skis, and fishing poles!  This home is located near Mt. Bachelor and the high lakes of the Cascade Mountains. And you can fish from right out your back door!  This would make a great primary residence or vacation home/rental.

Call me today for more information or a private showing 541-419-1448.

Additional listing Information for Deschutes Riverfront property. (click)

Tags: Bend real estate, Sunriver Real Estate // 11 Comments »

Bend the number 2 real estate market in the nation?

Thats right… Bend was named the #2 housing market in the nation over the next 5 years by Business Insider. Read the full report about the top housing markets in the nation HERE. Bend followed Carson City, Nevada on the list of top real estate markets.

While some still think we haven’t hit bottom yet, I beg to differ.  Currently our market inventory is down from 1 year ago. Lets look at the under $200,000 price range in Bend for example.  In June of 2010 there were 285 stick built, single family homes available in this price range.  This June there were 174 homes available in this market, while the Pending sales remained almost the same at 77 last year, and 83 this June.  Currently there are only 164 homes listed as “active” in this price range. I’m currently working with a handful of buyers in this price range that are running into multiple offer scenarios on many of the new listings.  We’re even seeing multiple offers in the $500K-$1 million price range.

Is our market recovering?  Only time will tell…  But from what I’m seeing in the current housing market, things are beginning to change in Bend.

Tags: Bend Oregon, Bend real estate, Real Estate Market // 20 Comments »

New MLS Search Bend Oregon

My new MLS search for the Bend area is up and running!  Check out the new Bend MLS Search here! The new search is easy to use.  You can search by city, subdivision, zip code, MLS number, school boundaries, map search, and much more.  You can also search for Bend foreclosures and short sales on the site, or you can exclude either foreclosures or short sales from your search.

When you register for the search, you have the ability to save your searches so that you don’t have to type in your criteria each time you visit.  You’ll also be able to save your favorite listings, as well as e-mail them to friends or family.

Please stop by and check out the new search.  I think you’ll find that its one of the best and easiest to use in the Bend real estate market.  I’d love to get some feedback from users.  So leave some comments for me!

Tags: Bend Oregon, Bend real estate, Real Estate Market, real estate // 2 Comments »

Housing Benefits to Oregon Service Members and Veterans 
By Matt Polsky
          Exclusively available to service members and veterans, the VA Home Loan Guaranty program has helped more than 19 million men and women finance a home. Today, military homebuyers continue to make use of the program because of its many borrower-friendly features.
          Having the option to pay 0 percent down is at the top of the list of benefits for Oregon service members; however, not every VA loan borrower qualifies for zero money down, but down payments for VA loans are seldom higher than 5 percent, a fraction of conventional loans, which can reach as high as 20 percent. Oregon VA loans also carry a high VA loan limit, making it possible to borrow up to $417,000 without putting a penny down. Other factors contributing to immediate savings include:

·        Lower closing and concession costs

·        No Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

·        No prepayment penalties

·        Competitive loan rates

The military lifestyle is known for frequent moves and deployments, which has the tendency to prevent families from building strong credit or savings. Due to this, the VA declined to set requirements for credit score, but VA approved lenders usually require at least a 620 to secure financing.  The VA loan program’s benefits make homeownership an attainable goal for all eligible military members. 

Eligibility for the VA loan program depends on discharge type and service history. Veterans with a dishonorable discharge are disqualified from the program, while injury-related and honorable discharges are allowed. Those who may qualify for an Oregon VA loan fit into one of the following categories:

·        Military members who served on active duty for 90 days during wartime or 181 days during peacetime

·        Reservists or National Guard members who served for at least six years

·        Spouses of those who died in the line of duty or died due to an injury

          A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) needs to be completed to get started on the path to getting an Oregon VA loan. The COE form is available through the VA website or a VA-certified lender, who also can guide homebuyers through the home-financing process.

Matt Polsky is a blogger associated with VA Benefit Blog, a blog focused on providing veterans and service members with current news and information on the benefits they have access to.

Tags: Bend Oregon, Bend real estate, mortgage, real estate // 11 Comments »

YES. .. There is 100% financing available in Central Oregon still.

The USDA Rural loan is a great loan for those looking to get into a home without having to come out of pocket too much. The USDA loan is for rural properties in Central Oregon.  The loan works almost everywhere in Central Oregon except for within the city limits of Bend.  The loan works in Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver, Prineville, LaPine, and Madras.

There are qualifications for the buyer and property.  Check out the USDA loan site for more information.

There are usually a couple expenses that the buyer will have to come up with  The first is Earnest Money.  In some cases buyers can get away with putting little money down as Earnest Money, ($500 or so). The second is the appraisal fee.  This can no longer be wrapped into your closing costs, and has to be paid for up front.  The average appraisal fee is $600.

Typically a buyer is responsible for the closing costs associated with the loan and property.  However, the closing costs can be paid for by the seller.  And if the house appraises for more than the purchase price, the extra can be used for your closing costs and financed in your loan.  It is typical in this market to ask the sellers to pay for the buyer’s closing costs.

Call me if you’d like to learn more about the USDA Rural Loan.

Tags: Bend Oregon, Bend real estate, Real Estate Market, real estate // 9 Comments »

I stumbled across this blog post by writer, Aric S. Queen, and thought I’d share it with my readers.  Aric reviews the city of Bend from an outsiders point of view. His bus drivers had been telling him what a great place Bend was for some time.  So Aric decided to spend some time here. This is a great read for someone who is considering the move to Bend. 

Aric says  ”It is, simply, the greatest city in America”, talking about Bend, OR.  Read his full blog post here.

Please contact me if you’d like more information on the city of Bend, or if you have any questions.

Tags: Bend Oregon // 23 Comments »

Bend Foreclosure Listings

There are currently some great deals on foreclosures in the Bend area.  These foreclosures are all REO’s (Real Estate Owned by the bank).  This means that the bank has listed the property with a local real estate agent.  Most of these sales are not auctions.  The bank looks at offers as they get them.  Take a look at my TOP 20 Bend Foreclosures under $200,000 (link will be available for 30 days).

Foreclosures can sell quick with multiple offers on them.  Its important to be on top of the market if you’re looking to buy a foreclosure.  One of the best ways for you to do this is to sign up for my Central Oregon foreclosure listings update link.  You pick the area, (Bend, Redmond, Sunriver, Sisters, Prineville, Madras, etc.), your price range, and your search criteria.  Then I’ll e-mail you all of the foreclosure listings that match your needs.  You’ll continue to get new foreclosures as they come on the market matching your search criteria.  You’ll also be set up with your own property portal, where you can view and manage all of the foreclosures I send. 

When buying a foreclosure there are some things that a prospective buyer needs to know.  First, the bank requires proof of funds, and/or a loan pre-approval letter.  Second, the banks sometimes use title companies out fo the area.  And in some cases, banks will require that the buyers pay for the home to be de-winterized and re-winterized for inspections.

Contact me if you have any questions about foreclosures, and/or if you’re interseted in any of the foreclosures linked above.

Tags: Bend Foreclosures, Bend Oregon, Bend real estate, Real Estate Market, real estate // 10 Comments »

THIS MT. BACHELOR $25 EVENT IS NOW OVER

It’s charity week at Mt. Bachelor.  You can get $25 lift tickets this week.  The tickets have to be purchased through the chartity beneficiary of your choice.  You can find out more information on Mt. Bachelors community page.

It looks like Mt. Bachelor will be getting new snow tonight.  Take advantage of the $25 dollar tickets and get some powder turns in.  Its been a great season thus far.

Tags: Uncategorized // 3 Comments »