Community land trusts develop affordable housing on land held in trust by a non-profit housing organization. Portland has such a program called Proud Ground that has provided affordable housing since 1998. Many of us are familiar with community land trusts that are conservation oriented, but the housing ones are conservational to the extent that often […]
Take Me Home
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Finding the Right Offering Price
Bend is a seller’s market, so buyers often wonder what is an appropriate offer on a home, particularly when competing offers are likely, which is increasingly common nowadays. This past week, the April real estate statistics for Bend were released, and according to the Beacon Report, the median sales price rose to $365,000, with a […]
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Competitive Strategies for Bend’s Tight Market
As all of us in Bend know, homes are selling quickly, prices are rising, and we have an inventory shortage. Like many parts of the country, Bend is truly a seller’s market. It is not uncommon to have multiple offers and occasionally bidding wars. With competing buyers for the same property, it’s necessary to act […]
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Rural Studio’s Affordable Design-Builds
Social media is a great source of ideas and inspiration about new solutions to affordable housing. As a realtor, one newsfeed that caught my eye recently included $20,000 homes created by architecture students at Auburn University’s design-build program called Rural Studio. Rural Studio “seeks solutions to the needs of the community within the community’s own […]
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Accessory Dwelling Units Provide More Housing
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs), also known as mother-in-law quarters, are popular to homeowners for multigenerational living and are often converted to rentals for additional income. This year, the housing shortage in Bend has led to a closer look at the possibility that ADUs may be used to help add affordable housing and increase density within […]
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Portland Restaurants Come Down to Meet Housing Needs
More than 50 percent of Oregonians spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Thus, it is not surprising that affordable housing has become a hot issue from the governor’s office to the Portland Development Commission and very much so here in Bend. Even though more affordable housing is desperately needed in Portland […]
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New Habitats Tiny Home Community Shows How It’s Done
A new neighborhood of 50 tiny homes averaging 300 square feet is under construction in San Diego. The homes are expected to cost occupants $750 per month space rent plus the cost of the home. This is compared to the average rent of $1,152 for a one-bedroom apartment in San Diego. Habitats Tiny Homes is […]
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Wood Stove Issues in Selling a Home
One of the required seller disclosure checklists most realtors go through when writing up a listing is for wood stoves. Since 1985, a certification sticker from Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to indicate that the wood stove is certified. These stickers are typically on the back of […]
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Take Me Home 3/30-4/6
Subsidized Housing Proposals for Middle Class Wage Earners
Realtors see that the housing crisis is very apparent on a daily basis. Articles published on the subject of affordable housing are often based on cities much larger than Bend, but the principal causes are similar. The common problem is lack of affordable housing for lower and middle income wage earners. According to a recent […]
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Spring’s Tight Market is
Coming Early
The spring real estate season is already upon us with lots of people wanting to buy homes earlier due to the relatively low housing inventory in many cities, including Bend. Analysis of the nationwide data gathered by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) for the first three weeks in February indicates time on the market […]
