Posts in category 'Bend Real Estate General Information'

If you stepped back from your home search over the past few years, you're not alone – and you're definitely not out of options. In fact, now might be the ideal time to take another look. With more homes to choose from, prices leveling off in many areas, and mortgage rates easing, today's market is offering something you haven't had in a while: options.

Experts agree, buyers are in a better spot right now than they've been in quite a long time. Here's what they have to say.

Affordability Is Finally Improving 

Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, says affordability is finally starting to turn the corner:

"Slower price growth coupled with a slight drop in mortgage rates will improve affordability and create a window for some buyers to get into the market."

Mortgage rates have e...

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A few years ago, inventory hit a record low. Just about anything sold – and fast. But now, there are far more homes on the market. Listings are up almost 20% from this time last year. And in some areas, supply is even back to levels we last saw in 2017–2019. For sellers, that means one thing:

Your house needs to stand out and grab attention from day one.

That's especially true when you consider why the number of homes for sale is up. Here's how it works. Available inventory is a mix of: 

• Active Listings: homes that have been sitting on the market, but haven't sold yet
• New Listings: homes that were just put on the market

Data from Realtor.com shows most of the inventory growth lately is actually from active listings that are staying on the marke...

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If you paused your plans to move because of high rates or prices, it may finally be time to take a second look at your numbers. Affordability is improving in 39 of the top 50 markets, according to First American. And that's the 5th straight month where buying a home has started to get a little bit easier.

Let's break this down into real dollars, so you can see the difference this could make for you (and your move).

Monthly Payments Are Coming Down

One of the clearest signs of this shift is in monthly payments. The latest data from Redfin shows mortgage payments on a median-priced home are now $283 lower than they were just a few months ago (see graph below):

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These days, you're going to want to get your price right when you get ready to sell your house. Honestly, it's more important than ever. Why? While you may want to list high just to see what happens, that's a plan that can easily backfire, and it's going to cost you in today's market.

And the risk isn't just missing out on offers, it's missing out on the move you needed to make in the first place.

The Real Pitfall of Overpricing

Many homeowners remember what their neighbor's house sold for a few years ago, and they want to chase that same sky-high number. The problem is, that was a different market.

Today, there are more homes for sale. Buyers have more options to choose from. They don't have to ge...

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If you've been watching from the sidelines, now's the time to lean in. It's officially the best time to buy this year. According to Realtor.com, this October will have the most buyer-friendly conditions of any month in 2025:

"By mid-October, buyers across much of the country may finally find the combination of inventory, pricing, and negotiating power they've been waiting for—a rare opportunity in a market that has been tight for most of the past decade."

So, if you're ready and able to buy right now, shooting for this month means you should see:

• More homes to choose from
• Less competition from other buyers
• More time to browse
• Better home prices
• Sellers who are more willing to negotiate

Just remember, every market i...

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