Bend Home Sales Slow

There is a seasonal slow down experienced every fall for Bend real estate sales. When school starts, many would-be Bend home buyers focus on other things. While retirees and second home buyers may be active in early to mid fall, once Thanksgiving comes, the number of Bend real estate sales drop as both buyers and sellers tend to concentrate on holiday activities with home sales secondary to celebrating the season. In 2023, however, the annual slow down for Bend home sales typically seen in November was exceptional. When November of 2023 is compared with November of 2022, Bend single family home sales on less than an acre reflect the following:

• Average sales price up 3.5% to $859,650*
• Median sales price up 1% to $702,750
• New listings down 26.1% to 82
• Homes for sale down 29.9% to 281
• Pending sales down 18.7% to 87
• Sold homes down 24.1% to 104
• Average days on market up 22% to 50

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Will Mortgage Rates Continue Their Downward Trajectory?

For the past five weeks, mortgage interest rates have dropped, returning to figures that haven't been seen since August. Any relief from the high rates recently experienced is welcome. With each 1% reduction in mortgage rates, it roughly reduces the monthly mortgage payment by 10%. The chart below shows how purchasing power is impacted by mortgage rates.

Bend Home Buyers Have More Options with Lower Interest Rates

When potential home sellers have great mortgage interest rates, they hesitate to list, even when a different home may be a better option for them at this time in their lives. When the financed cost of a new home would make their monthly payment significantly more, the benefit of a different living arrangement is offset by the monthly cost for the...

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Peter Skene Ogden Trail is a Favorite Off Season Hike

We have hiked from McCay Crossing to Paulina Falls multiple times, typically in the late fall and early spring when crowds are gone and snow accumulation is limited. We have always enjoyed the experience and have seen Paulina Creek and the numerous falls along the path in various stages of flow - spring run off, fall with lessened volume, and winter ice. Some of our favorite experiences have involved the ice, and we have named that experience "chasing frozen waterfalls."

The hike we did 11-11-23 was in the fall after first snow, but after warmer temperatures had melted much of the snow in the lower elevations. We saw just a handful of people the entire day and our hike up and back was much faster than we experience when we have to walk through snow. But we had an opportunity to discover little seen or accessed waterfalls and had a wonderful day. The total hike was 13.8 miles with roughly 1600 feet of elevation gain.

What's in the November, 2023 Bend Premier Newsletter?

• Bend Real Estate Sales Lacking Listings
• Brussel Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans
• 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Thanksgiving
• Hike to Broken Top From Todd Lake
• The Benefits of Buying a Multi-Generational Home

Bend Real Estate Sales Lacking Listings

The October 2023 figures for Bend single family home sales have been produced and lack of inventory appears to be a consistent problem. Inventory levels have dropped year over year as have pending sales and sold homes. Despite a rise in new listings, the overall Bend real estate market reflects an anemic number of sales with prices remaining high and high interest rates greatly impacting the buying power of would-be purchasers. 

When October of 2023 is compared with October of 2022, Bend single family home sales show the following changes:

• Average sales price down 3% to $795,928*
• Median sales price up 7.6% to $731,500
• New listings up 6.9% to 140
• Homes for sale down 33.1% to 297
• Pending sales down 8.9% to 102
• Sold homes down 21% to 128
• Average days on market down 7.3% to 38
• Months of supply down 15.4% to 2.2
• Average price per square...

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