Sisters, OR

At last, the popular Old McKenzie Highway (also known as Highway 242) has opened for the season, a few days before its Aug. 15 deadline. A nearly $4 million dollar highway improvement project, funded by the Federal Highway Administration, caused the delay (read my blog post about the Highway 242 closure here).

That multimillion-dollar price tag is a far cry from the historic wagon route's original toll of $2 for a wagon drawn by two horses (or $2.50 for a wagon with four horses, $1 for a man on a horse and 10 cents each for loose cattle and horses).

The first route over the McKenzie Pass, which was completed in 1872, connected the Willamette Valley with Camp Polk, near what is now Sisters. The McKenzie Pass Highway became a seasonal scenic highway in 1962 with the completion of the Clear Lake-Belknap Springs section of Highway 126.

Because of the delay, heavy traffic on the scenic byway (which is also popular with bicyclists and pedestrians) is expected. The route should remain open until late fall.

Want to know more about this area?

* Here's my guide to the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass scenic byway.

*And here's my photo essay showing the gorgeous fall foliage that can found along the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass scenic byway.

About the Author:
Lisa Broadwater is a Central Oregon-based real estate professional who specializes in listing and selling homes, especially in Sisters, Tumalo, Redmond and Bend. If you'd like to learn more about Central Oregon, please visit www.CentralOregonHome4You.com.

Last Saturday, while returning a library book in Sisters, I stumbled upon an event I hadn't even realized was in town. Just around the corner from the library, folks had gathered for the first annual "Glory Daze Car Show," which meandered along Main Street (plus several side streets).

Automotive aficionados are frequent visitors to Sisters because of the many scenic roadways nearby. So I wasn't too surpised to see that the show had gathered an impressive crowd of car buffs, both young and old alike, by the time I arrived mid-afternoon. There was something of interest for just about everyone, from classic hot-rods of all shapes and sizes (not to mention colors) to old-time pickups and vintage roadsters to my personal favorite: a luscious bright-orange-and-white 1937 Ford dubbed "Creamsicle."

Here's a sampling of some of the show's more eye-catching autos:

About the Author:
Lisa Broadwater is a Central Oregon-based real estate professional who specializes in listing and selling homes, especially in Sisters, Tumalo, Redmond and Bend. If you'd like to learn more about Central Oregon, please visit www.CentralOregonHome4You.com.

Original photograph of a doe and her twin fawns in downtown Sisters, Oregon, taken by Lisa Broadwater, Broker, GRI; RE/MAX Town & Country Realty, 178 S. Elm, Sisters, OR, 97759. 541-549-3333. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission For more images or for more information about Sisters, Oregon or information about real estate in Sisters, Oregon, visit www.CentralOregonHome4You.com.

2009 Sisters Quilt Show Now Underway

Having lived here in Central Oregon for most of my life, I had always wanted to attend the Sisters, OR annual quilt show. It is said to be the largest Quilt show in the entire United States. For whatever reason it has taken my wife and I decades to finally attend it.

I've always known it was a big event, however once we were heading out of Bend towards Sisters, there was a traffic road sign that said 'Caution Slow Traffic, Sisters Quilt Show.'

Sure enough as we drove towards Sisters, about 1/2 a mile outside of town, there were cars that were parked alongside the Highway. We decided to chance it and drive into the town itself hoping to find a parking space that some sun weary tourist might be vacating to go back to their hotel and catch a cat nap.

We were fortunate enough to actually get one right off of main street in the middle of the Quilt show. The entire town of Sisters becomes a bazaar of handmade quilts of every shape, size and color.

I was instantly taken by what is called the 'Double Wedding Ring' quilts which as I understand were used as a traditional wedding gift to a newlywed couple. The intricacy was fascinating. Here is a photo of one such quilt along with a closeup to see the detail.

When you take the time to examine these intricately designed works of art, you can't help but marvel at the artistry that takes shape from seemingly worthless scraps of material that are sewn together in such a way that the whole becomes greater than it's individual parts and forms a striking, singular, artist rendering.

I was struck by the variety of ideas and designs that were presented. Every city block in Sisters was covered in these unique art pieces. Prices started at about $200 and went up to around $1,300. Most of the quilts were already sold to appreciative buyers.

It makes me wonder just how many tedious hours are put in to making one of these works of love. There were quilts that had been made as far away as Uganda, Africa where women gather together forging small community businesses that create these one of a kind treasures to sell to admiring buyers. the money they make not only help their families and themselves, but also help in providing needed services within their own communities, small loans to other women who wish to have their own business and provide rent monies for elderly widows who have no way to work. Who knew so much could come from a craft that is probably as old as civilized society!

The quilt show gave me yet another reason to reflect upon the blessing of living in Central Oregon. We have so much variety in the way of arts, crafts, music, theater and more to enjoy while living here. All it takes is taking a break from the routine of life and taking a moment to smell the proverbial roses...and we certainly have a lot of roses to smell in Central Oregon. Here are a few more pics of beautiful quilts I saw during the show.

Only minor changes from May to June in the Sisters real estate market. Inventory continued to increase (from 198 to 212, with the bulk of the new listings in Homes on Acreage) while sales remained in the double digits (14 pending and closed sales).

However, there wasn't as much activity in the above-$300,000 markets as there was in May, and the overall high volume of inventory continues to be a long-term concern for sellers.

Here are a few June highlights of the Sisters market:

LISTING ACTIVITY
Active Residential Listings in Sisters: 212 (122 Single Family Residences; 90 Residential with Acreage)
Contingent Residential Sales in Sisters: 2 (SFR, 0 RW)
Pending Residential Sales in Sisters: 5 (3 SFR; 2 RW)
Residential Sales in Sisters: 9 (6 SFR; 3 RW)
Average Days on Market: 185 days for Active SFR listings
226 days for Active RW listings
145 days for the SFR listings sold in June
103 days for the RW listing sold in June

Median Sales Price: $492,500 for Active SFR listings
$724,450 for Active RW listings
$308,750 for the SFR listings sold in June
$211,900 for the RW listing sold in June

INVENTORY
Single Family Residence: 24-month supply (54 sales in the previous 12 months)
Residential with Acreage: 43-month supply (25 sales in the previous 12 months)

SALES PRICE:
Least-Expensive Single Family Residence Active Listing: $169,990
Least-Expensive Residential with Acreage Active Listing: $199,900
Most-Expensive Single Family Residence Active Listing: $1,950,000
Most-Expensive Residential with Acreage Active Listing: $4,900,000
Price Point with the Most Active Listings:
$250,000-$299,999, $400,000-$449,999 & $550,000-$599,999 in SFR
(each with 12 listings)
$1,000,000-$1,249,999 in RW (9 listings)

If you're interested in studying the market in more depth, below are a number of charts that capture various aspects of the March 2009 Sisters real estate market in detail.

If you'd like to learn more about the Sisters real estate market, don't hesitate to email me or call me toll-free at 866-963-2760.

About the Author:
Lisa Broadwater is a Central Oregon-based real estate professional who specializes in listing and selling homes, especially in Sisters, Tumalo, Redmond and Bend. If you'd like to learn more about Central Oregon, please visit www.CentralOregonHome4You.com.