ABOUT BEND

Nationally known, Bend is the crown jewel of Central Oregon, and Bend Real Estate is a perennial hot property. Most folks who move to Deschutes County from out of the area look at Bend first, as it gets a lot of press. Home to numerous parks, including the sprawling, riverside centerpiece of Mirror Pond and Drake Park, Bend is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Many professional athletes, including NFL players, Mountain bike and Snow sports World Champions, and Pro Golfers call the town home because it offers them unparalleled opportunities to train or recreate in all four seasons. And there is always something to do, as Bend hosts festivals year round, drawing tourists and residents from all over the area. Population is currently about 80,000 happy people. 

Few towns can match the proximity to recreation we have here- The trail system for mountain bikers known as the “Phil’s Trail complex” has been nationally recognized numerous times, and is a big draw for people who dream of riding straight from their homes to single-track trails, while Mount Bachelor, the largest ski area in the Northwest, is a twenty minute drive from the West side of town, and cross country, hiking, snowshoeing, and more mountain biking trails are even closer. The Three Sisters Wilderness area, featuring the Pacific Crest Trail and others, and the Cascade Lakes Highway are less than thirty minutes away. The High Lakes are renowned for fabulous fishing, and there are hundreds of them. Numerous golf courses dot the area, including Widgi Creek and River’s Edge. And of course, the Deschutes River cuts right through downtown for swimming and summer floating. 

Bend holds the Cascade Music Festival each year, where Classical and contemporary artists show their skills. The Tower theater downtown has been renovated into an upscale performing arts center, and the Les Schwab amphitheater, located on the Deschutes River, hosts larger outdoor concerts by acts such as Beck, Bob Dylan, Korn, Willie Nelson, and Fiona Apple. A pair of Realtors from Eugene, Oregon commented to me upon visiting, “Wow, so this is what a revitalized downtown looks like!” Downtown has numerous shops and restaurants, from low end to high end, including Merenda, Deep, El Caporal, Staccato, Toomie’s, Typhoon, The Blacksmith, El Jimador, and many more. In fact, great restaurants, including ethnic choices like Japanese, Thai, and Indian, are scattered all about the city, second only to Portland in restaurants per capita in Oregon. That also includes the micro brewpubs, which have grown in number over the years from the original Deschutes Brewery, to Bend Brewing, Cascade Lakes Brewing, McMenamins’ Saint Francis School- where you can eat and drink while watching first run movies in the theater, and the Silver Moon Brew Pub. We also have our own distillery, the Bend Distillery, makers of fine vodka and gin, and owner of two Martini Bars in town.  

The Old Mill has revitalized shopping here with stores like Chico’s, Banana Republic, Victoria’s Secret, The Gap, American Eagle Outfitters, and REI, to name just a few. There are also large shopping centers at The Forum (East), The Cascade View Mall (North), and The Bend River Mall (Center) with all of the usual big box stores, plus many other locally owned little guys. Central Oregon Community College sits at the edge of Awbrey Butte, and the Oregon State University Cascade Campus sits next door with full four year programs. 

As far as property values go, the West side is generally more expensive, due to proximity to dining, shopping, strolling, and the trails and mountain access mentioned earlier. Houses range from the high 200’s to several millions. The Westside is generally more treed, as it is close to the National Forest, and looks less like the High Desert than does the East. Therefore it gets less wind, but much more snow.  

You will find gorgeous luxury homes here in places like Broken Top, Awbrey Glen, Awbrey Butte, Three Pines, and many more, as well as a few golf upscale golf course communities. Larger lots can be found here at Sunrise Village and Saddleback. The old mill row houses in the alphabet streets tend to be very small and often rundown, but quaint and close to the action. And the homes of the Historical District harken back to a more leisurely time. Vacation homes, Investment properties, and Second homes are all very popular here. You can also find condos and townhomes for those on a budget, or retirees who desire less upkeep. 

The Eastside features many more family neighborhoods, and is more affordable, if not quite as Chic. It’s a great fit for people with kids who need affordability and quality neighborhoods, and people who want space, as lots tend to be a little larger. First time buyers often start on the Eastside. Costco and the Forum shops are close by, as are the Desert trails just outside of town. Houses run as low as the high 100’s here, to the multi millions for some of the large and beautiful properties on the edge of town. This side of town holds St. Charles hospital, listed as one of the 100 best hospitals in the country and much of the medical community, so is a natural for seniors concerned about the proximity of health care. Bend is so lucky to have such a great hospital, because so many medical professionals want to live here. Small farm and ranch properties dot the outer rim of this side of town, and bare land is more available than on the Westside. There are many retirement complexes here as well. 

North and South of town you will find many more small acreage properties, from Deschutes River Woods in the North, to Starwood and Whispering Pines in the South. The South end is higher, and has more snow and trees, while the North is known as the “banana belt” of Central Oregon, with warmer temperatures and less snow, though we challenge you to try to grow the yellow fruit there. 

Folks tend to be slightly more conservative on the Eastside, which tends to vote Republican, while more liberal on the West, which tends to vote Democrat. Unlike many towns in Oregon, however, polarization is rare, and the two sides generally find middle ground in a laid back fashion. The great thing about Bend versus most of the other towns in the area is that it generally has a neighborhood or home type to fit any need or desire. It has become a bit of a melting pot, and you will find neighbors here from every state in the Union and many foreign countries as well, all gravitating here to live a recreational, laid back lifestyle, with many amenities not found in other towns of its size, anywhere. 

BEND’S BEDROOM COMMUNITIES

Alfalfa and Tumalo

Other than the larger towns of Sunriver, Sisters, Redmond, Prineville, and LaPine, Bend has two much closer bedroom towns, Alfalfa, and Tumalo. 

Tumalo is a real gem. Situated between Bend and Sisters, it features, for my money, the best views in all of Central Oregon, as the entire Three Sisters range is viewable from the best angle, where you can see them in their entirety, something not possible even from Bend, due to Tam MacArthur Rim blocking much of South Sister and the beautiful saddle between it and Middle Sister. Property here is very valuable, and some of the most expensive homes you will find in Central Oregon real estate are here. The west side of Highway 20 provides close access to the Mountains, and there are many upscale horse ranches here, where people can ride right from their home into the Cascades. Properties here are rarely less than 500K, and can be in the several millions. The east side of the Highway features luxury view homes along the rim of the canyon overlooking the Deschutes River, which runs through town. A trail lines the river, with some great swimming and hiking/ horse riding/ biking fun to be had. Past the rim, there is a mix of large, irrigated acreages, and smaller, upscale acreages.  

Beyond this, there is the Whispering Pines subdivision that sits on and around Long Butte, where 2-3 acre, desert properties are the norm, and prices are still reasonable, from the high 100’s for a manufactured home, to the high 200’s and up for a stick built home. Across Tumalo Road sit the nicer and more expensive communities of Starwood and Cascade View Estates. Starwood is a secluded, yet suburban looking subdivision of single family homes from the 300s, while Cascade View features small acreage bare land lots and homes from the 400s up. 

Alfalfa retains the feel of Eastern Oregon, with large farms and ranches, home to cattle and hay. Brasada Ranch features fine homes around a Peter Jacobsen designed golf course from the 500’s, but manufactured home properties on dirt roads can be had from the 100’s on up. Views of the Cascades, though far away, are gorgeous, snow accumulation is rare, and Bend is just minutes away. Alfalfa often means anything East of the Bend airport, in real estate terms. It is not uncommon to see residents going into the little town center on horseback. 

Figured out which area is for you? Head over to our listings player, and search for homes in the area you like. Or, email us with the area you are looking for, with your criteria (square footage, bedrooms, acreage size, baths, area, etc...) and we can set the MLS up with your own page where it will send you those properties, homes, or condos that match your requirements! And you can always ask us questions about different areas. That’s what we are here for, and we really do believe we are the best choice in Bend Oregon Realtors! 

~ Thom Gardner 

Get to know Central Oregon with these helpful links:

• Bend Chamber of Commerce
• City of Bend
• Bend Parks and Recreation
• Deschutes County
• Central Oregon Visitors Assn

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