“Everybody Wants To Live In Bend . . .”

Everybody Wants To Live In Bend

“Everybody wants to live in Bend” . . . yep, sure felt like it in December! Magnificent snow conditions

brought what seemed like unprecedented crowds to Bend. The result–snaking lines at the check out counters at Safeway, the inability to get a frosty IPA at my local pub, backups at the roundabouts, sizable waits (and reservations!) at most restaurants, and a very slow parade of cars to Mt. Bachelor each morning. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not whining . . . December also brought an excellent conclusion to a stellar year for Bend real estate.

Overview Of Bend Real Estate

We saw the purchase of 213 homes (single family residential on an acre or less) or a bump of 39% from November. That’s a very robust number given the season and when compared with previous years.

Only 4% of those sales were distressed properties. If it makes you feel better, check out this post from December 2010, when 66% of sales were either bank-owned or short sales.

Inventory levels remained almost scary low . . . just 2.1 months overall (only 433 available homes). Might be a great time to list!

High End Bend . . . $2,100,000

The only home this year selling for more than two million, a magnificent Tuscan retreat backing to the driving range at Pronghorn.

Four bedrooms, four and a half baths, and 5118 square feet; only the finest materials–English oak, Texas mesquite cowboy hickory (not sure what that is either), Venetian plaster, Telluride gold stone. Almost like a geography lesson!

The home, which sold for $410/square foot, also offered the requisite gourmet kitchen, wine cellar, and private casita.

Bend’s Median Price . . . $325,000

Bend’s median price stayed steady, hovering around the $325,000 mark. For that amount, one could expect to find a home like this 3/2, 1488 square single level on a .35 acre lot on Bend’s southwest side.

Set on a corner lot amidst the tall ponderosas, close to shopping and schools, the home featured an open plan with new paint, carpet, and hardwood. It sold for $218 per square foot.

A Home In Bend For Under $200,000

What more to be said . . . wow! Two bedrooms and one bath, 984 square feet. A “cutie” (not my word!) of a house with a largish, fenced back yard. Ideal for the baseball aficionado . . . located close to Vince Genna Stadium.