Market history
My past monthly reads on the Central Oregon market, each dated so you can see what was happening when. For this month's numbers, start with the Market Hub or the latest updates.
2025
Central Oregon Housing Market Update: Another Month, Another Average Market? Here’s What That Means
September's numbers were steady again. Austin Buskohl explains why an 'average' Central Oregon market is actually good news for buyers and sellers alike.
We've Been Here Before (Cautionary Warning About Rates)
Rate cycles tend to rhyme. Austin Buskohl looks at past Central Oregon rate swings and what history suggests could happen next for buyers and sellers.
The Market May Be “Over the Hill,” But It’s Not Out of Gas
Central Oregon's market is slowing, not stalling. Austin Buskohl explains why there's still real opportunity left in this summer's housing numbers.
A Weird Market: But a Predictable Truth
Central Oregon's market keeps defying expectations. Austin Buskohl breaks down June's odd numbers and the predictable truth underneath them.
Today’s Secret Word is “Weird”
Weird is the word of the season in Central Oregon real estate. Austin Buskohl unpacks May's mixed signals and what they mean for buyers and sellers.
Forget the Headlines: This is the Stat That Matters Most to Sellers
Forget the headlines. Austin Buskohl breaks down the one Central Oregon housing stat sellers should actually be watching this spring.
What March Revealed About Central Oregon Buyers
March brought a shift in buyer behavior across Central Oregon. Austin Buskohl breaks down what the data means for anyone thinking about buying this spring.
Loan Rates, Tariffs, and Buyers, Oh My!
How will tariff's impact the local housing market and future mortgage rates in Central Oregon?
A Rather Strong Start to the Year
2025 is off to a solid start in Central Oregon. Austin Buskohl breaks down January's numbers and what a strong opening month means for the year ahead.
An Interesting Thing Happened in December
December usually slows down, but this year was different. Austin Buskohl explains what happened in Central Oregon's market to close out the year.
2024
2024 Wrap-Up: Buyer Power and What’s Ahead
It’s finally December, and I’m not sure what else can be said about the housing market. In the 10 months of newsletters I’ve sent out this year (November was a miss due to technical hiccups), I’ve talked about:
Buyer Power Grows Across Central Oregon
Back in September, I talked about how a mix of election-related uncertainty, bouncy mortgage rates, and high home prices could keep the market slower than what we saw before the pandemic. Now, as we enter November, we’re seeing this play out across Central Oregon counties—Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook—each in their own way. At this point, it’s a market where the details really matter.
How to Spot an Opportunity in Today’s Market
In anticipation of writing about the housing market in September, I fully expected to discuss a continued slowdown in buyer activity due to the upcoming election. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that wasn’t the case. While there were pockets of Central Oregon, like Redmond, where buyer activity was slower than expected, most of the area saw activity come in as expected or even a bit stronger.
The Two Conflicting Factors Having an Impact on the Local Housing Market
In my blog last month, I talked about what to expect in the local housing market for the rest of the year. Today, let’s look at two conflicting factors that will affect the market: people waiting until after the election to move versus improving mortgage rates.
What’s Next in 2024? Insights into the Rest of the Year
With the first 7 months of 2024 officially in the rear view mirror, let’s have a quick chat about what we could expect for the rest of the year.
Looking to the Market Bright Spots: Conversations with a few Loan Officers
Looking to buy a home in Central Oregon, but not sure how people are getting it done? I spoke with a handful of mortgage brokers and loan officers to find out what is working.
Lionel Ritchie and the Central Oregon Housing Market
I, like many others, enjoy Lionel Richie’s music. My appreciation probably began growing up in the early ’90s when my mother would put his hit “Dancing on the Ceiling” on the record player and turn up the volume. If you asked why she chose this song, I'd guess it was because of its quick tempo, likely to hype my sister and me up for our Saturday morning chores. Occasionally, the needle would snag, causing the record to skip and replay the same second or two until it was adjusted. This reminds me of the current state of the local housing market.
Turning the Tables: Why Deschutes County's Top Spot for Homes Selling Under List Price Benefits Sellers Over Buyers
A few days ago, the local media shared an article about how Deschutes County was leading in the number of homes selling below their original list price. At first glance, this might seem like a positive development. In a county primarily filled with high-priced homes, particularly in the Bend area, the title of the article could give readers the impression that prices are decreasing (or that this is the beginning of a hoped-for crash). However, I'm here to clarify that while it's beneficial to live in a county with this distinction, the situation isn't entirely favorable for potential home buyers.
Higher Mortgage Rates Putting the Squeeze on the $550k - $650k Bend Housing Market
If you checked out the C.O. Housing Market Index for Bend in the Market Trends section of the my site, you’d have noticed that buyer activity has tapered off in April since March. While there may be various factors at play, the primary reason appears to be the significant increase in mortgage rates observed in early April. This market shift has not only caused a slowdown but has also affected different segments of the Bend market in varying ways.
Where is the Market Focus in April vs March?
For anyone who rely’s on the start of each month to see what’s going on in the local housing market, stats like median home price and days on market provide some context, but leaves a lot still to the unknown. Unless something drastic has happened in a short period of time, it’s hard to determine where the market focus has shifted, if the market is under performing or over performing, and what the median days on market is for the particular price point a seller or buyer may be especially focused in.
What $500k-$599k Gets You in Bend & Redmond Since 2000
Bend Oregon real estate market trends in the $500,000 range
Effect of Improving Rates Already Showing
In real estate, there are near guarantees. In the month of December, slowing market activity, reduced inventory, and home prices down from earlier year highs would fall into that category. And for the most part, the Central Oregon real estate market held true to the trend. However, here are some deviations we saw last month:
2023
2019’s Echo in 2024: A Potential Roadmap to the Upcoming Market
What does the 2024 housing market looking like for Bend and Redmond Oregon
The Impact, or lack thereof, of 8% Mortgage Rates
Bend Oregon Real Estate and 8% Mortgage Rates
The Buyer’s And Seller’s Market
In real estate, there’s a simple, somewhat lazy, rule of thumb when it comes to describing who’s in control. It’s either a buyer’s market or a seller’s market. If you’re not familiar with these terms, here’s a quick rundown:
2019
The Deception of "Now is the Best Time to Buy": Let's Break It Down!
Now is a great time to buy…if you can afford it.