Central Oregon Real Estate Info

In Oregon when a home sells it is the Seller's responsibility to be sure all smoke alarms have been replaced with alarms that have a hush feature. Hard wired alarms must be replaced with hard wired alarms and battery operated ones must have a 10 year battery in them.

Most reputable home inspectors check the smoke alarms. Since the above is law, it is something the buyer should always be made aware of. Many of the REALTORS® and or their offices have created an addendum or form for a file asking the Seller's agent to confirm the alarms are up to current code.

Personally, I refuse to sign these. I am not a home inspector, nor am I a code expert. I encourage my buyers to have a home inspection with a home inspector that checks for code violations including but not limited to smoke alarms.

This week I received one of these wonderful little forms from an agent that represents the buyer on one of my listings. They were shocked I would not sign the document. I explained that the home was built after the law took effect and that the only smoke alarms you can buy in Oregon have hush features. Her buyer had an inspection, and her buyer's inspector did not check the alarms. If she wants to sign the document more power to her.... but me for one, am not comfortable signing a document stating something is there, that can be easily changed. If once her buyer took possession of the home she added or changed to older alarms that do not have hush features, I have signed a document stating they do.

Maybe, I am being ridiculous but.... why would I a REALTOR® sign a document that puts a liability on me that does not need to be there. I encouraged her to have her inspector go back and complete his job correctly.

My point is......WOULD YOU SIGN A DOCUMENT REGARDING A LAW - THAT IS NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY? AM I BEING DIFFICULT?

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Thesa Chambers • Broker • RE/MAX Sunset Realty

541-771-7064 Cell • 541-536-0117 Office • 888-868-2050 Toll Free

Mailing Address • PO Box 3510, La Pine, OR 97739

Most Saturday nights you will find me about 60 miles north of La Pine is the great city of Madras. I love cars, and Madras has a Quarter Mile Dirt Track... known as the Fastest Dirt Track in the West. The key word here is Dirt... you do get a little dust (ok a lot, but who cares).

This weekend was a special event for the Chambers' family - our nephew Cliff raced for the very first time. He and his dad have worked hard to put together car #18 and last night was our debut event.

Yep he is racing a 70 Mustang. This if you can believe it or not was a yard sale find... $1500 and a lot of hard work and you are on the track.

We have a family friend that races in Madras also, he drives the orange car in the back ground... #88.

Cliff did great, this first time racer is only 19 years and us up against some pretty experienced drivers.

Cliff completed his heat race and made it to the main even for the sportsman class. Then his first disaster hit, he was shoved in to the wall and bent a tie rod. It was a bummer, but today, the car is off the trailer, taken apart and ready for the new parts.

There will be no racing next weekend, but you can bet the following the entire Chambers' family will be out in force cheering on this hardworking motivated young man.

If you are in Central Oregon and looking for a great time on a Saturday night check and see if they are running at the Madras Speed Way.... it is well worth the $8.00 admission.

Mud ins (where the cars work the water into the track) start around 4:00 and racing starts at about 6:00 you can count on being there until well after 10:00 p.m.

The view out there is pretty cool too.... If you are interested in sponsoring Cliff and Backwoods Racing let me know I will get you in touch with the right people.

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Thesa Chambers • Broker • RE/MAX Sunset Realty

541-771-7064 Cell • 541-536-0117 Office • 888-868-2050 Toll Free

Mailing Address • PO Box 3510, La Pine, OR 97739

Sunriver is paradise to many of us that live here and vacation here. You never know what the weather or the day will bring. Today, I had the daunting task of inventorying a home I have for sale that is being sold furnished. This is normal in Surniver, a lot of homes are sold fully furnished and ready for you to bring your tooth brush and clothes, just one of the things that sets Sunriver Real Estate apart from other areas in Central Oregon.

Today was TYPICAL day in Sunriver- just me and the old boys doing an inventory. The old boys did not help much, they just layed around and ate and slept, they were a complete distraction to me and getting the task at hand done.

Old boys are common in Sunriver, they hang out everywhere, but to see a group of old fellas like this is a real treat. I just had to share them with you. Enjoy, they did pose well for the camera,I am not sure how a girl is expected to get anything done with boys like this hanging around.

Sally; this is what I had to hang up to take photos of.... pretty cool uh?

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Thesa Chambers • Broker • RE/MAX Sunset Realty

541-771-7064 Cell • 541-536-0117 Office • 888-868-2050 Toll Free

Mailing Address • PO Box 3510, La Pine, OR 97739

Central Oregon is the destination for a lot of visitors ever year and many of these visitors become Real Estate buyers. Central Oregon offers many different landscapes, something not every area can provide. Central Oregon Real Estate is as diverse as the choices in scenery.

If you like trees, you will love the Sunriver, Three Rivers South, Caldera Springs, Vandevert Ranch and La Pine areas. Basically everything south of Sunriver is treed with meadow like openings here and there with spectacular views of the mountains.

If you want to live in the city and be close to shopping then Bend and Redmond may be more suitable to you. Bend is the larger of the two cities with Redmond just 15 miles to the south. As Bend and Redmond have grown so has the retail side of the community.

The majority of the employment in Central Oregon will be found in Bend and Redmond. Although Bend does have areas of trees it is more known for being a "typical" city. There are some nice views in Bend, and Redmond has views from what some call the other side of the mountains. The vantage point of Redmond offers spectacular views of most of the Cascade Mountains.

Wide open spaces can be found in Terrebonne, Tumalo and Prineville. These areas are what most think of as the high desert although all of these areas are high desert these communities has more of a desert feel to them. They provide what I refer to as "reach out and touch me views."

Each area has real estate opportunities that will accommodate almost any budget. Keep in Touch for more information about each of these areas and the real estate opportunities, over the next several weeks I will be writing about each area, the employment, the choices in housing and the communities. When you are considering Central Oregon for a vacation or a place to buy your next piece of real estate I am always available to share with you the beauty and diversity Central Oregon has to offer.

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Thesa Chambers • Broker • RE/MAX Sunset Realty

541-771-7064 Cell • 541-536-0117 Office • 888-868-2050 Toll Free

Mailing Address • PO Box 3510, La Pine, OR 97739

Sunriver Oregon Home Report

Sunriver Homes

View a current list of Sunriver Homes for sale.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Sunriver, please contact me today.

For a complimentary Sunriver Home Evaluation contact me today.

June 2007	# of Homes	Median Price	Lowest Price	Highest Price
New Listing	31	$679,000	$354,900	$3,300,000
Pending	6	$564,000	$495,500	$1,197,000
Contingent	0
Sold	1	$532,484	$532,484	$532,484

Last 12 months Sales	Square Feet	Bedrooms	Bathrooms
Minimum	1004	2	1.5
Maximum	5173	5	6

Last 12 Months Sales	Days on Market
Minimum	12
Average	144
Maximum	634

Sunriver Resources

• Bend / La Pine Schools
• Sunriver Chamber of Commerce
• Sunriver Owners Association

For all your Central Oregon Real Estate needs, contact me today!
Thesa Chambers
Sunriver Realty
Cell: 541-771-7064

These statistics were compiled from the Central Oregon Association of REALTORS® data on 7/16/07 at 9:00 a.m. This data is reflective of homes which were listed on the MLS; private sales are not included. Information was obtained from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This information should not be used to determine the value of any property. Photos are for illustration purposes only and do not necessarily represent current or past listings.

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Thesa Chambers • Broker • RE/MAX Sunset Realty

541-771-7064 Cell • 541-536-0117 Office • 888-868-2050 Toll Free

Mailing Address • PO Box 3510, La Pine, OR 97739

Changes in the Market Conditions in Central Oregon Have Created Challenges and Competition for Sellers.

Currently most of Central Oregon has an abundance of inventory (homes for sale), thus creating the need for sellers to consider more than how much money you may want for your home or how much your neighbors may have sold their home for, even a short time ago.

Selecting an experienced, motivated, honest and trustworthy REALTOR® should be your first step in the process of selling your property. He or she should be familiar with your neighborhood and surrounding area and be able to easily identify the differences that separate your property from the competition (like properties for sale in your area).

Conversation With Your Real Estate Professional

Prior to listing your home, your REALTOR® should complete a walk through inspection of your home and acquaint him or herself with the features and amenities of your property.

The conversation that occurs following this inspection will be the one that separates the amateurs from the pros and help you better define the intentions of the Realtor®. Now, some REALTORS® will make no suggestions, while others may reserve themselves to the obvious "keep the house clean and the yard mowed" suggestions.

What you're really looking for is someone, who although concerned about the possibility of insulting you, will provide an honest and accurate evaluation of every item of concern regarding the showing of your property. Occasionally it may require addressing items of a personal nature and can feel uncomfortable and awkward for everyone involved. Although most REALTORS® will be happy to list and sell your property few are anxious to provide the criticism and suggestions that will not only improve the number of showings you receive but expedite the actual time that your property is on the market.

Many buyers will, even before seeing the inside of your home, make their buying decision based upon the curb appeal of your property. Since most sellers are reluctant or unwilling to make substantial investments into improving the property for sale, I have reserved my suggestions to inexpensive, cost effective things that every seller can easily do.

Curb Appeal Tips

To improve the curb appeal of any property, power-washing and touching up the exterior paint and trim is an easy way to freshen up the overall appearance of the house. Don't forget to include any fencing in this process. Flowers or other plants along the walk way and around the front door draws the buyers attention to the entrance and provides a welcoming feeling. A fresh coat of high gloss paint, in a contrasting yet complimentary color, and new hardware on the front door is a good recommendation that always leaves a good first impression.

Oh That Smell

Once inside the house, buyers derive their first impressions from the smell and odors coming from the house itself. Tobacco, pets, cooking, the cleaning products we use, normal dust and dirt etc... All create odors that permeate the inner surfaces in our homes. If it's not already a policy in your home, smoking needs to become an out door event or confined to a garage at the very least. To maintain pet odors to a minimum, pets should be bathed and groomed regularly; their beds and areas of the home they occupy should likewise receive extra attention.

Paint is one of the most cost effective improvements that yield the highest returns on the actual investment. Now while I wouldn't encourage every seller to paint the interior of their home, there certainly are a few that would greatly benefit. Homes suffering from obnoxious odors will effectively eliminate many of the odors with the application of a fresh coat of paint. Adding vanilla to the paint won't affect the color and will enhance the odor removing effect and will provide "scent" for several months. Painting high traffic areas, doors, moldings and trims in a semi-gloss or gloss paint will make the entire house feel and look clean. At the very least most sellers would benefit from washing the walls and trim, I have personally found that a Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser does a great job of removing stubborn marks and stains from paint, moldings and other household surfaces. Paint color selection should be reserved to neutral colors. Dark colors tend to be distracting, can make a room appear smaller then it is and may not compliment the furnishings of potential buyers.

The Wall Paper Has To Go

Wall paper and other items that date the property should be removed or replaced. Although a little tedious and time consuming to do, removing wall paper is not difficult. Utilizing a warm solution of water and liquid fabric softener will loosen the paste and ease the process, and for difficult or stubborn areas that don't easily come loose, steam from a clothes iron will often do the job.

Size Does Matter

Regardless of the type or size of the home to be sold, buyers always consider the floor space, functionality and livability of the home. As such every possible effort should be made to giving the perception of space, space and more space. Oversized and excessive furniture should be removed. The furniture in every room needs to be organized in a manner that allows for functionality without obstructing the flow of traffic. If at all avoidable, don't place furniture in front of windows or otherwise obstruct the buyer's ability to look out. Clean the windows, window tracks and surrounding area. Remove or replace dark or heavy curtains and remove any sheer coverings or blinds that may obstruct the buyers view. And don't forget to clean the tracks of any sliding glass or french doors. Natural light is always the best light source and you want to include as much of it as possible and when it's not available (after the sun sets) you'll want to turn on all indoor and outdoor lights while showing the property.

Tips To Bring The Sale Home

While preparing your home for sale remember that less is more, less of you and more of whomever. You will know that you have successfully completed your task when your house no longer feels like your home. It is your job as the seller to make an environment that will enable the majority of people viewing your house the ability to envision themselves living there. To accommodate that you will need to remove your pictures, trinkets, nick-knacks, memorabilia and any items that might embarrass you if your Grandmother were to walk through the door.

You can maximize any space by minimizing the number of items which are utilizing the space to be shown. Organize shelves, closets and built-ins and remove any unused or excessive items. Although buyers don't intend to be nosey they will look in and through anything that is attached to the house. Medicine cabinets should be void of prescribed medications and other personal items, jewelry boxes and any other items of significant or sentimental value should be removed.

Nothing instills the sense of "home" upon potential buyers like the smell of fresh baked cookies and few things could be easier to make. The smell of baking bread or dinner in a crock pot will likewise lure guest and see your house not just as another house but a home. In the absence of the real thing scented candles mimicking the smell of home cooking are a good second alternative.

While showing the property pets should be confined or removed from the property. Although to us they are adopted sons or daughters who have short hair, walk on four legs and don't speak clearly, to some buyers they are the very things that nightmares are made of and the last thing that you want to do is scare potential buyers away.

So at the risk of insulting and possibly offending some of my readers I offer the following advice. The REALTOR® you hire is not your mother, although their input may occasionally sound as such, So prevent that from happening you need to put your own dishes in the dish washer, pick your dirty clothes up off of the floor and put the damn toilet seat and lid down when your done using the toilet.

Central Oregon Real Estate Information

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Thesa Chambers • Broker • RE/MAX Sunset Realty

541-771-7064 Cell • 541-536-0117 Office • 888-868-2050 Toll Free

Mailing Address • PO Box 3510, La Pine, OR 97739

I love talking Real Estate and try to always keep an open mind to what attracts people to my area. I subscribe to a couple Google Alerts one of which is my home town. A week or so ago late in the evening I received a Google alert telling me of a new writing with the word La Pine in it.

I clicked on the link Google provides so that I could see what was being posted about my little ole community. To my surprise it was a blog, a mom who keeps a blog of the activities and happenings in her family's life. Peggy Lou is the proud mother of Billy Ray, Billy is autistic.

I read her recent post and she had my attention like nothing had done in a long time. I read about the Cookie Lady and other happenings about her church and so on. Then the REALTOR part of me kicked in. What kind of services do we have for Billy Ray?

Are the medical facilities up to date with his needs? Is there something I can do to let people know what is available for families like this? So I fired off an email, and asked if I could do an article about Central Oregon and Billy Ray.

To my surprise I received an email back right away, although the services for Central Oregon are not what a family with the needs of this special family needs, this wonderful woman invited me to dinner on Sunday. I could meet Billy, and some of her church family. How exciting, I accepted and as the day wore on today I actually got nervous, it was almost like a blind date. Here I was going to have dinner with a lady I had never met, into a situation I had never been all because I subscribe to Google alerts.

I pulled into her driveway and looked around, there were a lot of cars but none that I knew. Remember we live in a very small town. I got out of the truck and started walking up the driveway, the gravel was small and loose and my shoes were making it impossible, so I took off my shoes and continued barefoot.

I knocked on the door and to my surprise Billy Ray answered the door. He looked down and saw my bare feet and laughed a big beautiful laugh. As I entered the house, the crowd that had gathered was amazing. There were at least 20 people in this beautiful home, and I knew more than 50% of them. We had all attended the same church prior to my divorce almost 9 years ago.

It was so good to see all these old friends, reconnect and get to know Billy Ray and his beautiful mom.

You never know where your heart, may lead you. I have a breakfast appointment with one of my wonderful old friends tomorrow. I am so glad I went.

This family is amazing, they are generous, welcoming and offer more to other's lives then they could every know.

I am so glad I accepted this dinner invite and stepped out to meet them. I hope to spend more time with them in the near future.

Thanks again, by the way Peggy Lou is a great writer and has a book out along with a couple blogs. If you know a parent that is as she calls it Parenting an Adult with Complex Special Needs you should check her out. She is an amazing woman.

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Thesa Chambers • Broker • RE/MAX Sunset Realty

541-771-7064 Cell • 541-536-0117 Office • 888-868-2050 Toll Free

Mailing Address • PO Box 3510, La Pine, OR 97739

Taking the high road is always the route I try to take in both life and business.  It is a phrase I read often on ActiveRain.  Today I played hooky from work, I was suppose to work at the resort kiosk today, then our oldest daughter called to say she was coming to town.  I made a few calls and found two co-workers to cover my shift to clear my calendar to spend the day with our daughter.

Lisa arrived with 2 of our grandsons in tow, she is a great mom and her children are so well behaved it is always a joy to have some time with them.  We hung around the house played with the boys (5 months and 3 years).  Gabe has a smile and laugh that is contagious and Tyler, he is exploring all the toys grandma has in the kid's room.  It was a wonderful way to spend the day.

While the boys were occupied Lisa was telling me how Extreme Home Makeover is in Corvallis, Oregon.  Lisa is a receptionist for the hospital in Corvallis.  The well deserved family is centered around their little girl, who is 8, and is undergoing cancer treatment.

Lisa had a few hours between shifts one day, she was taking a double shift to cover for someone else, and so she ran a couple errands.  Her errands took her by the location of this beautiful home.  She said she just had to stop, so she did, she parked and walked down the street to be out of the way.  She stood there in utter amazement, of the pace the workers were working, and the number of them.  They really do build or rebuild the home in 7 days.

As Lisa stood there, another lady came and stood along side her.  They both stood in awe of the home and all the happenings.  This stranger then turned to my beautiful Lisa and said, "I wish some one would nominate me for that home."  I would love to have something like that."

I am sure a lot of us that watch this show have at one time or another thought something like this.  I was so surprised by my Lisa's reply to this woman.  Lisa said "would you be willing to go through the sacrifices this family has gone through?  Would you be willing to have the possibility of loosing everything you cherish just to have that home?"  The lady looked at her and said "well no." 

Lisa, simply smiled and said "me either, I will keep my old, small home and the health of my children."  "It is about time something good happens to this family, be happy for them, and do not be envious or jealous."

Lisa then walked back to her car, and drove back to the same hospital this family has come to know as their second home while they try and save their daughter.

Today I realized, my daughter is a beautiful woman, a smart woman and most importantly, she always takes the high road too.

Sunriver Nature Center is under invasion. Invasion of the Western Toad, every spring Aspen Lake in Sunriver is the site of young toads making their way into the world. They generally are not an issue, but this year the numbers are expected to be the highest in 14 years.

The Nature Center is trying all kinds of ways to keep the toads safe. They are setting up leaf blowers to create an air stream across the parking lot, so that nighttime visitors to the observatory will not smash the toads attempting to cross the parking lot.

They are looking for volunteers to help with toad patrol; responsibilities will include helping the little toads across the bike paths and parking lot. Call the Nature Center reception desk to volunteer at 541-593-4394. The Nature Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. followed by the observatory program Tuesday through Sunday 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

I wonder what will happen in 4 years when these toads migrate back to Aspen Lake.

Even if you do not volunteer for Toad Patrol you will find a lot of fascinating things at the Nature Center, my favorite is the Observatory - they offer high powered telescopes and a knowledgeable staff.

We are expecting showers on Sunday; this will stimulate the migration of the Toads, so for what I am sure will be hysterical and good for the wildlife and nature of Sunriver give them a call. To read the article on KTVZ's website read the Article "We Toad You So."

For all you Sunriver Real Estate needs I am always ready to assist you.

Photo by Gerald and Buff Corsi

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Thesa Chambers • Broker • RE/MAX Sunset Realty

541-771-7064 Cell • 541-536-0117 Office • 888-868-2050 Toll Free

Mailing Address • PO Box 3510, La Pine, OR 97739