Why This Hike Tops the List If you're looking for a high-country hike near Bend that delivers big rewards, the Todd Lake to No Name Lake route is hard to beat. It's a staple for locals and a must-do for hikers visiting Central Oregon. Clear views, striking geology, and a turquoise lake tucked under Broken Top's cliffs—this trail earns every bit of its reputation. Trailhead: What to Know Before You Go Todd Lake is the gateway to the high country and a gentle start to an otherwise rugged hike. Summer permits are required, and parking fills up early—no sense pretending luck will save you. Get there ahead of the crowd and you'll have a smoother day. The hike begins with calm lakeside views, but you'll leave the easy terrain behind quickly. Plan for a steady climb and pack more water than y... 11/18/2025

A Cooler Fall Market Emerges for Bend Home Sales October brought signs that the Bend real estate market is continuing to find balance as the year winds down. While closed sales and overall sold volume rose modestly from a year ago, several key indicators—such as new listings, pending sales, and median home price—show the market is cooling after a busy late-summer season. With homes taking longer to sell and buyers showing more caution, Bend's fall housing market reflects a shift toward more normal seasonal behavior after several years of atypical trends. When comparing October 2025 to October 2024 for Bend single family home sales on less than an acre, the following changes can be noted: Median sales price down 3.1% to $770,000 Closed sales up 7.9% to 163 Pending sales down 7.6% to 133... 11/07/2025

As the holidays approach, many Bend homeowners find themselves asking the same question: Should I list my home now or wait until after the New Year?The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all answer—but there are compelling reasons to consider making your move before the year ends.Why Selling Before the Holidays Can Work in Your Favor Motivated Buyers Are Still LookingNot everyone slows down for the season. Many buyers in Bend are relocating for work, making year-end moves to take advantage of tax benefits, or finally finding time to focus on their home search during the holidays. These buyers are serious—and they're often ready to make strong offers. Less Competition Means More AttentionInventory in Central Oregon typically dips during November and December. Fewer listings mean your hom... 11/06/2025

Don't be scared of a tough listing — sometimes the biggest fright hides the brightest opportunity.Every agent has that one listing that gives them chills. You know the type — the one that lingers on the market while others fly off the shelf, the one buyers love online but vanish after the showing. For one Bend agent, it felt like the house itself was haunted.A Spooky ReputationPerched on a quiet, tree-lined street, the craftsman looked perfect from the curb. But once inside, visitors whispered that "something felt off." Lights flickered during showings. The air felt drafty. Doors creaked when no one was near them. Word spread quickly — the house was haunted!Before long, even seasoned buyers hesitated to schedule tours. The seller was frustrated, the listing grew stale, and the agent beg... 10/31/2025

Lower Mortgage Interest Rates Are Making a Difference for Bend Home Sales For many Bend real estate brokers, the first half of 2025 had mixed sales results. Home prices moderated, and inventory levels increased. With more homes on the market, buyers had more choices. However, high mortgage interest rates kept many would-be home buyers off the market. Home sales proceeded through the summer at a relatively lower pace than was typical for Central Oregon. However, the market changed in September. In the beginning of September, mortgage rates dropped below 6.5%. This coupled with more motivation from sellers in accepting buyer's terms and prices resulted in an increase in pending sales, an increase in closed sales, and a lowering of original sales price. This is great news for Bend home bu... 10/07/2025

Take the Climbers' Trail to Reach Hayden GlacierFor Central Oregon hikers looking for something different that does not require a paid permit, the climbers' trail on Middle Sister is well worth it. Most hikers would start in the burned forest at the Pole Creek Trailhead located off forest service road 15 outside of Sisters (the parking at the trailhead requires $5 payment or a forest pass). After hiking the trail to the junction with Green Lakes Trail 17, trekkers continue on Trail 17 toward Park Meadow. Shortly after crossing Soap Creek is the junction with Camp Lake which hikers should take to reach the unmarked junction with the Climbers' Trail. If hikers miss this trail, it loops with another section of the Camp Lake trail near one of the branches of Wychus Creek which hikers to Cam... 09/22/2025

What's in the September 2025 Bend Premier Newsletter?Our latest newsletter has great articles on Bend home sales, a fun fall recipe, a great fall hike in Central Oregon, information on a fall home improvement project and what concessions are. It's a Mixed Market for Bend Home Sales Butternut Squash Soup Why September is the Best Month to Paint Your Home's Exterior Jefferson Park Has Had 2 Fires in 8 Years What You Need to Know About Concessions Original article can be read at Bend Premier Real Estate. 09/10/2025

Its a Mixed Market for Bend Home SalesAugust is usually a month where home buyers with young children close their purchases and get settled before school starts. It is also a month in which sellers who didn't sell their properties during the peak summer selling season consider their next options. Often, for those who really need to sell, lowering the asking price can be the answer. For others, taking their property off the market may make more sense. However, in 2025, the August Bend home sales reflected a mixed market with prices up, closings up, inventory up and days on market up.When August 2025 is compared with August 2024, the following changes can be noted for Bend single family home sales on less than an acre: Median sales price up 8.3% to $768,913 Closed sales up 8.2% to 172 New... 09/09/2025

It is Taking Longer to Sell Bend Homes Summer is traditionally the peak selling season for Central Oregon homes. For home buyers looking to buy a Bend home before school starts, July is usually the month when many purchases happen, with August the month for closing these sales and new owners moving into their new homes. While July 2025 has followed these trends to a certain extent, the change in the market with high mortgage interest rates limiting buying power, it has become a price driven market with sellers recognizing that if they really need to sell, the asking price has to match today's market and not that of previous years. July 2025 also saw a market in which some sellers pulled their listings rather than wait for a buyer, becoming discouraged with lack of a sale and hoping the... 08/08/2025

What Happened With Bend Luxury Home Sales the First Six Months of 2025? 2025 has been a year so far that has seen a significant increase in real estate inventory across the country. The greatest increase in inventory in Bend has happened in the second quarter, although there was movement in the first as well. For the high end market, the increase in listings has resulted in many more options for would-be Bend home buyers. And buyers have become very discerning in their choices. Days on market have increased as have months of supply. Many sellers who wanted to test the market or wanted to list their home at a price to provide room for negotiation may have been disappointed to receive no offers, or even worse, no showings. With million dollar plus inventory levels up over 70% in the firs... 07/10/2025

What's in the July 2025 Bend Premier Newsletter? Its All About Price for Bend Home Sellers Beet Salad With Carrot, Quinoa & Spinach Creating a Kid-Friendly Backyard For Summer Fun The Bear Grass is Blooming at Patjens Lakes Loop Trail Why Your Home's Asking Price Matters More Today Original Blog can be read at Bend Premier Real Estate's Website. 07/09/2025

Its All About Price for Bend Home Sellers In a transitioning real estate market where home buyers all of a sudden have many choices, it comes down to asking price in whether or not home sellers have showings, much less offers. For Bend home sellers who experienced multiple offers with less than a month of supply (sometimes less than two weeks) pushing home prices upwards during the Covid Pandemic, this change to the Bend real estate market can be challenging; adjusting to a more balanced market can lead to frustration and disappointment, but for sellers who are willing to revise their asking price based on current market conditions rather than what the reality was five years ago, success in offers and closed sales can result. For home buyers, the multiple options available can provide ... 07/08/2025

Patjens Lakes Loop Trail is a Moderate Hike in the Mt. Washington Wilderness For those who are looking for a Bear grass hike in Central Oregon, Patjens Lakes Loop Trail is hard to beat the end of June 2025. When hikers leave Hwy 20 to drive to the paved trailhead near the end of Big Lake Road, blooming Bear grass can be seen on each side of the road, a great indicator that the hike has a significant amount of it seen during the trek. Patjens Lakes Loop Trail runs adjacent to Big Lake at Santiam Pass before it leaves the lake to run south into the Mt. Washington Wilderness where it skirts the 4 small Patjens Lakes before returning to the starting point next to Big Lake. There are still signs of the B & B complex fire of 2003 which burned over 90,000 acres in the Mt Washington and Mt Jef... 06/30/2025

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