For the first time since 1979, Deschutes County has drafted a new Comprehensive Plan, the document prepared by a city or county in Oregon to provide a general overview of existing and future land use. Part of a statewide planning initiative instituted by Senate Bill 100 in 1973, the Comprehensive Plan was designed to provide direction on land use issues for the next 20 years.
Well, 30 years have come and gone, so it's high time the plan was overhauled. Although it has been amended and updated over the years -- and a review of the plan that began in 1988 was completed in 2003 -- the current plan still contains outdated information and doesn't necessarily reflect current thinking.
In an effort to involve the public in the new plan, the Deschutes County Community Development Department has organized a series of public meetings during the next three months to hear feedback on the new plan it has drafted, called "Comprehensive Plan 2030." Between now and Jan. 7, 2010, the CDD will be accepting informal comments and suggestions on the draft plan. It will then be revised based on comments received, and a formal adoption process will begin next February.
Here's a schedule of the upcoming meetings:
Oct. 19 at 6 pm: Plan Overview/Open House. Terrebonne Grange Hall.
Oct. 20 at 6 pm: Plan Overview/Open House. Tumalo Community School.
Oct. 22 at 5:30 pm: Planning Commission Meeting on Natural Resources, other sections. Deschutes Services Center, Bend.
Oct. 27 at 6 pm: Plan Overview/Open House. Brothers School.
Oct. 28 at 6 pm: Plan Overview/Open House. Redmond Fire Station.
Oct. 29 at 6 pm: Plan Overview/Open House. Three Sisters 7th Day Adventist School, Bend.
Nov. 05 at 5:30 pm: Planning Commission Meeting on Resource Lands (Farms and Forests). Deschutes Services Center, Bend.
Nov. 10 at 6 pm: Plan Overview/Open House. Mid-State Electric Building, La Pine.
Nov. 12 at 5:30 pm: Planning Commission Meeting on Rural Development, Housing, Economy. Deschutes Services Center, Bend.
Nov. 19 at 5:30 pm: Planning Commission Meeting on Destination Resorts. Deschutes Services Center, Bend.
Nov. 30 at 6 pm: Plan Overview/Open House. Three Rivers School, Sunriver.
Dec. 1 at 6 pm: Community Plan/Open House. Terrebonne Grange Hall.
Dec. 2 at 5:30: Planning Commission Meeting. Deschutes Services Center, 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend.
Dec. 7 at 6 pm: Plan Overview/Open House. Deschutes Services Center, Bend.
Dec. 9 at 6 pm: Plan Overview/Open House. Sisters Library.
Dec. 10 at 5:30 pm: Planning Commission Meeting on Urbanization & Unincorporated Communities. Redmond Council Chambers.
Dec. 14 at 6 pm: Community Plan/Open House. Tumalo Community Church.
Dec. 15 at 6 pm: Community Plan/Open House. Three Sisters 7th Day Adventist School, Bend.
Dec. 17 at 5:30 pm: Planning Commission Meeting on Appendices. Deschutes Services Center, Bend.
Jan. 7 at 5:30 pm: Planning Commission Meeting Wrap-up.
Deschutes Services Center, Bend.
For more information about the Comprehensive Plan meetings, visit the Deschutes County website.
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.
For the third month in a row, Tumalo's real estate market was most notable for its decreases (which is actually good news). Once again, the number of Active Residential with Acreage listings shrank (from 93 to 86), which continued Tumalo's downward trend in inventory (from a high of 99 RW listings in January). Similarly, the supply again decreased, to a 26-month supply in September (compared to a 40-month supply in February).
That decrease in supply can be attributed in part to the ongoing increase in sales. And this month, eight of the 13 Pending and Closed sales were above $500,000 -- more good news for sellers. Although the median price for Active RW listings in Tumalo also increased (from $689,000 in August to $722,000 in September), the number of Active million-dollar listings remained below 30 again (for only the second time this year).
As a horse-property specialist, Tumalo has always been of particular interest to me because that's where you'll find many of the most desirable horse properties in Central Oregon. Because its boundaries are up to interpretation, please consider the following statistics a general barometer of the area's real estate activity that includes most, but not necessarily all, of the listings in Tumalo.
Here are a few September highlights of the Tumalo market:
LISTING ACTIVITY
Active Residential With Acreage Listings in Tumalo: 86
Contingent Residential With Acreage Sales in Tumalo: 3
Pending Residential With Acreage Sales in Tumalo: 6
Residential With Acreage Closed Sales in Tumalo: 7
Average Days on Market: 240 days for Active RW listings
142 days for RW listings sold in September
Median Sales Price: $722,000 for Active RW listings
$350,000 for RW listings sold in September
INVENTORY:
Residential with Acreage: 26-month supply (40 sales in the previous 12 months)
SALES PRICE:
Least-Expensive Residential with Acreage Active Listing: $119,500
Most-Expensive Residential with Acreage Active Listing: $3,750,000
Price Point with the Most Active Listings: $1,500,000-$1,749,999 (9 listings)
Listings at $1,000,000 or more: 29
If you're interested in studying the market in more depth, below are a number of charts that capture various aspects of the Tumalo real estate market in detail.
If you'd like to learn more about the Tumalo real estate market, don't hesitate to email me at lisabroadwater@remax.net 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.
As summer turned into fall, the Sisters real estate market continued to gain momentum. August's strong increase in sales carried through into September, with 27 Pending and Closed sales (up slightly from 25 in August). The difference this month was that all but one of the 14 Pending sales were Single Family Residences, with only one Residential With Acreage Pending sale).
Also noteworthy is a significant decrease in inventory (down from 217 in August to 194 in September), which is a welcome change in what was an increasing inventory throughout the year (there were 136 active Residential listings in January).
Here are a few September highlights of the Sisters real estate market:
LISTING ACTIVITY
Active Residential Listings in Sisters: 194 (111 Single Family Residences; 83 Residential with Acreage)
Contingent Residential Sales in Sisters: 1 (1 SFR, 0 RW)
Pending Residential Sales in Sisters: 15 (14 SFR; 1 RW)
Residential Sales in Sisters: 13 (7 SFR; 6 RW)
Average Days on Market: 204 days for Active SFR listings
265 days for Active RW listings
199 days for the SFR listings sold in September
171 days for the RW listings sold in September
Median Sales Price: $419,000 for Active SFR listings
$795,000 for Active RW listings
$525,000 for the SFR listings sold in September
$424,000 for the RW listings sold in September
INVENTORY
Single Family Residence: 25-month supply (53 sales in the previous 12 months)
Residential with Acreage: 37-month supply (27 sales in the previous 12 months)
SALES PRICE:
Least-Expensive Single Family Residence Active Listing: $149,990
Least-Expensive Residential with Acreage Active Listing: $199,900
Most-Expensive Single Family Residence Active Listing: $1,475,000
Most-Expensive Residential with Acreage Active Listing: $4,900,000
Price Point with the Most Active Listings: $300,000-$349,999, in SFR (13 listings)
$950,000-$999,999 in RW (8 listings)
If you're interested in studying the market in more depth, below are a number of charts that capture various aspects of the 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 at lisabroadwater@remax.net 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.
Original photograph of Wednesday morning's foggy sunrise in Tumalo, 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, visit www.CentralOregonHome4You.com.
How fitting that just in time for my 100th blog post, Sisters was named one of the Top 100 Adventure Towns in National Geographic Adventure magazine. The October issue provides a handy state-by-state guide of the country's "top outdoor hubs," which touts the Sisters area for its hiking, rafting, road-cycling, mountain-biking and skiing.
Receiving specific nods are the McKenzie River (for its Class III rapids), Black Butte (for its scenic hiking), Smith Rock (for its sport climbing) and Mount Bachelor (for some of the best ski runs in the West). Too bad the guide neglected to mention our much-closer (albeit less-glamorous) neighbor, Hoodoo Resort, located at the summit of Santiam Pass.
I was also bummed to see that Sisters only ranked #84 -- until I gave the intro a closer read. The list -- which also features Hood River (#33), Klamath Falls (#39) and Portland (#69) -- was organized alphabetically. In any event, it's great to see Sisters acknowledged once again.
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.
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Your Resource for Central Oregon Real Estate sales & information, especially Rural, Resort & Horse Properties in Sisters, Tumalo, Bend & Redmond. Learn more at www.CentralOregonHome4You.com
If you've 
ever visited Central Oregon, that's an easy question to answer: because it's one of the most gorgeous settings in the country, with an unparalleled quality of life (can you tell I love it here?).
Comprising three counties-Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson -- and three main cities -- Bend, Redmond and Sisters, plus a handful of smaller communities (Prineville, Powell Butte, Tumalo, Sunriver, La Pine and Caldera Springs) -- Central Oregon is one of the fastest growing regions in the Pacific Northwest. With its combination of ideal climate (300 days of sunshine), extensive recreational opportunities, its entrepreneur-friendly environment and broad slate of cultural outlets, Central Oregon has proven a popular destination among young and old alike.
To find out more about Central Oregon or to search for properties in the area, please visit my website, http://www.centraloregonhome4you.com/.
Good question. And, in truth, there are a number of things that should factor into your decision about whom you select to represent you in your next real estate transaction.
But what expectations do you have for the real estate professional you choose to work with? And remember, you do have a choice -- actually, in Central Oregon you have a lot of choice -- so don't settle for just any real estate broker; we really aren't all the same.
What qualities do you value in the people you do business with? Obviously, you want someone who's experienced, competent, trustworthy and knowledgeable, so consider more than just their skill sets. Think about the type of person you're most comfortable working with. Because the business of real estate is really a business built on relationships. As Realtors®, we live or die based on the success with which we satisfy our clients' expectations. And remember: The decision you make about the real estate professional you choose can affect not just the type of experience you have (i.e., an enjoyable one or a nightmare) but the quality of the process itself.
Those of us who take our job seriously spend our time focused on our clients, ensuring that they are well-informed, well-educated and well-prepared for every aspect of their transaction. Yet we aren't focused solely on the transaction itself, because we know our job doesn't end with that transaction. Our goal is to establish clients for life, so we follow up and nurture the relationships we have so they'll endure over the long haul.
Here's what you can expect from me:
I'm not a native Central Oregonian, but I love this place. Even before I became a Realtor®, I explored the area every chance I could get. And I love the business of real estate. I love making what can be a very stressful, intimidating process for my clients a positive experience for everyone I work with (that means clients, other agents, lenders, title officers, home inspectors -- everyone).
I'm passionate about what I do and give 100 percent of my focus to every task I undertake. I don't do things halfway. I was a journalist for 20-plus years, so I actually enjoy asking questions, solving problems and investigating issues. Research is my middle name.
But if you're looking for a fast-talking, Palm-toting, appointment-driven, call-me-at-midnight-on-a-Sunday-if-it-means-a-sales-tonight style agent, I'm not your gal. I spent 25 years living life on the edge, and too much of the really important stuff (my family, friends, personal life, etc.) passed me by while I was out working myself sick. My approach these days is much more relaxed, and my business is, by design, primarily referral-based. I don't ever want to be too busy juggling transactions to devote the time to my clients that they deserve.
But if you're looking for someone who will work diligently to make your real estate experience a positive one, who will work closely with you to address each issue that comes along in an effort to find the ideal outcome, look no further.
Not surprisingly, the Central Oregon real estate market has shown the effects of its rapid growth. From 1988 (when the city ended its last major real estate slump) until 2007, the average price of a Bend home rose an average of 11.3 percent per year, In 2006, home prices here appreciated faster than any other city in the country, according to the National House Price Index. (To put that in perspective, nationwide, the price index rose 5.9 percent.) From the beginning of 2002 to the end of 2006, home prices in Bend appreciated 104.5 percent.
Actually, for a while there, the real estate speculating and building-for-the sake-of-buildling mentality had gotten out of control. City and county planners could no longer keep up with the workload, appraisers could no longer keep up with the price increases, and buyers and sellers could no longer agree to much of anything.
Meanwhile, too many builders built too many spec homes and too many investors hung their fortunes on the quick flip. So after what seemed like an unstoppable boom, things came to a grinding halt. Inventory began to pile up. The national mortgage industry's free-wheeling lending policies began to catch up with them. Homeowners who thought they were on firm financial ground found out otherwise. More and more people began to learn the meaning of "short sale" and "bank-owned."
And home prices began to decrease. (By the end of 2008, the median price for a home in Bend was $289.450, compared to $351,978 at the end of 2006.) Because the high inventory meant that homes that once would have been on the market for four days were know sitting dormant for up to 14 months (or longer), sellers began to slash their prices accordingly. Even so, buyers, by and large, sat on the sidelines, waiting for the dust to settle. And the frenzy that had been Central Oregon real estate sales was no more. We had rejoined the real world.
But the long-term real estate picture in Central Oregon is enviable. This is an incredible place to live!
"People are going to continue to come here," Roger Lee of Economic Development for Central Oregon predicts. "It's a very attractive Western U.S. community. It's hard to find other places that are comparable. They're out there, but many of them are larger or are smaller and don't have the amenities that the tri-county area offers.
"Plus, if you look at the job creation here over the past seven years, I think there were 16,600 jobs created," he adds. "There's not a metro area in Oregon outside Portland that can match that -- even though there are much larger populations. So our population growth here in the past 15 years has been dramatically larger than the rest of the state -- and the nation. And the forecasts are, in the next 10 to 12 years, that we're supposed to actually pick up that pace. So if the forecasts are correct, we'll see more jobs created in the years going forward than we have in past years. And that's obviously really important to sustaining our economy long-term."
So How Can I Help You?
My areas of expertise include resort, rural and horse properties, investor opportunities and first-time home buyers. I've earned the Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI) designation, and as such have completed a course (including 90 hours of specialized education) that most real estate professionals never even pursue and have gained skills many agents will never have.
This spring, I received my Certified Distressed Property Expert designation, which provided me extensive education in dealing with sellers facing foreclosure and buyers interested in purchasing short sales. Like most communities, Central Oregon is seeing a significant increase in the number of short sale and foreclosure properties on the market.
I'm committed to the business of real estate, but I'm also committed to my community. I'm a member of the Communications Committee for the Central Oregon Association of Realtors® and participate in fellowship whenever possible at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch.
If you'd like to know more about me, please visit my website, www.centraloregonhome4you.com, email me at lisabroadwater@remax.net or give me a call at toll-free (866) 963-2760.
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