One of the questions I hear from homeowners is, "Is now a good time to sell?"

It's a reasonable question. But after 20 years in Bend real estate, I've found that the better question is usually:

"Is now the right time for me to sell?"

Those are two very different questions.

Real estate markets change. Interest rates move. Inventory rises and falls. Buyer demand can look different from one season to the next. Trying to wait for the perfect combination of high prices, low rates, strong demand, and plenty of good replacement homes can leave homeowners waiting for conditions that may never line up perfectly.

Instead, I think the decision to sell should start with your life, your finances, and what you want to accomplish after the sale.

Start With Why You're Considering Selling

Most homeow...

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When buyers start looking at homes in Bend, the conversation usually begins with the purchase price, down payment, interest rate, and monthly mortgage payment.

Those numbers are important, but they don't tell the whole story.

After 20 years in Bend real estate, one thing I've learned is that being comfortable with your mortgage payment isn't necessarily the same as being comfortable with the total cost of owning a home.

That's especially true here in Central Oregon, where expenses can look very different depending on whether you're buying a newer home in town, an older property on a larger lot, or acreage outside Bend.

I've always believed buyers should understand the full picture before making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.

Here are some of the expenses I encourage buyers to consider before purchasing a home in Bend.

1. Propert...

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If you've been browsing homes online, you've probably noticed those little notifications:

Price Reduced

For buyers, it can feel like an opportunity.

For sellers, it can feel discouraging.

The truth is, a price reduction isn't automatically good or bad. It's simply a response to what the market is telling us. After nearly 20 years helping buyers and sellers throughout Central Oregon, I've learned that understanding why a price reduction happens is much more important than simply noticing that it happened.

Here's what buyers and sellers should know.

Sometimes a Home Starts Too High

The most common reason for a price reduction is s...

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If you're thinking about selling your home, one of the first questions you might ask is, "Should I remodel before I list?"

It's a great question, and the answer isn't always straightforward.

Over the years, I've seen sellers spend tens of thousands of dollars on renovations they never fully recovered. I've also seen homeowners make a handful of smart, inexpensive improvements that led to multiple offers and a quicker sale.

In today's Bend market, buyers are more selective than they were a few years ago, but that doesn't mean every home needs a complete makeover before it hits the market.

Here's what I recommend.

Start With Repairs Before Renovations

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When buyers are shopping for a home, it's easy to get distracted by trendy finishes, paint colors, or whatever design style happens to be popular at the moment.

But after nearly two decades in Bend real estate, I've noticed that the homes that hold their value best usually have something else in common: they offer features that continue to make sense year after year, regardless of market conditions or changing design trends.

If you're buying, these are the features worth paying attention to. If you're selling, these are the features buyers tend to place the most long-term value on.

1. Functional Floor Plans Never Go Out of Style

A well-designed floor plan can make a 1,800-square-foot home feel larger and more livable than a poorly designed home with hundreds of additional square feet.

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