Seller's do you feel out of focus, do not know which end is up?  Central Oregon Real Estate has been a mystery for a while now.

I do not profess to give you all the answers.  I do not know them - I do know that the real estate market in Central Oregon is tough.

August saw a few sales - La Pine had 10 residential sales - 4 of which were bank owned properties. 

Three Rivers South - they too had 10 residential sales in August - 2 bank owned and 3 in resorts.

Sunriver August Residential sales were the same magic number 10. 

In past markets you could take a look at the homes that sold and explain to your seller why their home did not sell.  In today's market that is impossible. 

What Did These Properties Have That You Did Not;

• Pricing - maybe, a few of these homes were bank owned 6 to be exact and yes they sold for a lower price than an owner occupant or investment property might be listed.  The bank needs to liquidate their properties so they can list for a price much lower than the average seller.  The homes that sold that were not bank owned were not short sales, they were not priced any better than some of the other listings.  One of the sales seriously sold for $100,000 less than it was listed for. There were manufactured homes that sold for the same price as frame built homes.  There were sales in areas where there were bigger and maybe better properties right down the street that did not even get seen.  It makes no sense.
• Location - nope that has nothing to do with it either - homes that sold were scattered in area.  Some of them in great locations but not all of them.  Location did not seem to have much difference in why an offer was or was not written or why a home was shown or not shown.

From looking at these sales it is my personal opinion that these sellers got lucky and with so much inventory on the market the buyer stopped when they found the home that would work - the price was right for them, the location was right and the home was right.  Does that mean yours was not? NO it simply means that there is too much to choose from and not enough buyers choosing.

This is not to say that some homes are not over priced or that the clutter of 40 years is not stopping the buyer.  These items do have an impact on home sales in Central Oregon.  If you are priced right, and have made your home the cream of the crop - easy to show and have not seen the offer - be patient 30 homes are no longer competing with you.

Be sure to check with YOUR lender about rates and locks - Jeff is a great guy - he will tell you like it is

Tonight the call came - the call I knew would come and hoped it would not come until after I had a chance for one more visit.  One more hug, one more time of hearing how proud he was of me... the chance for my husband to meet him - oh for just a little more time.... time was not on my side.

My dad was absent from my life for 40 years - yep - 40 years without hearing how great I was, 40 years without knowing why - 40 years of wonder, dreams and let downs.  On April 7, 2004 I found him, and we were like peas and carrots - the 40 years did not matter - we had each other and would never loose each other again.

Tonight my dad joined my nephew - to what some call a better place - they are memories now - they will always be with me these memories will be with us all - they will continue to be the glue that bonds us together.  In the 4 years I knew my dad he was a DAD - he did everything he could to be sure I knew he loved me, he always had.  We had 4 great years of life - he was not perfect, he had his flaws but he was a GREAT DAD.

I am so thankful that I had that time with him - that time to tell him I was mad that I had been robbed  of 40 years - I am thankful that we had time to forgive each other - love each other and know that no matter what I had a great dad.  We had some great times, blue bonnets, cat fishing, coconut cream pie, and lighting bugs and oh how he hated onions - oh I will miss you -

My heart breaks tonight as I sit here in Oregon grieving alone, while my family in Texas is together and grieving.  The miles that separate us seems to also bring us together.  I may be alone - but we are together.  God Bless you dad you were a great dad - I am so fortunate to have had the time I did with you - I love you - you made me proud - you made me realize I did have a family.  I will always be grateful for you, what you have given me including a great step-mother - 3 sisters and all that brings to my life.  The family that makes my life complete - the sisters that get me even when I am not my best - the mother that knew me and loved me before I knew her.  The family that I was always a part of and never knew it.  Dad you were the center of all of our lives, you made us smile - you made us laugh - you made us mad - but the love you taught us was a lesson so few have the opportunity to know.  UNCONDITIONAL LOVE - you are the definition of it.

I will see you someday - God Bless you dad - I love you!

Many buyers seem to be searching the Internet for short sales and bank owned properties.  The proof is in the sales and the stats of my website.  This week I have seen 28 visitors land on my website from google using the search term "short sales la pine oregon". 

Since this seems to be info that is difficult at best to obtain on your own I have compiled a list of properties for you.  The MLS of Central Oregonis taking steps to make it easier to differentiate these listings but not all of the listings have been categorized.  This list is as complete as I could make it with the info that is available to a Broker.

There are 39 homes currently on the market that are listed as short sales or bank owned properties (bank owned properties are often called REO properties).  This list is broken down in price ranges.

27 La Pine Oregon homes in short sale and bank owned properties are between $100,000 and $200,000

5 Lapine Oregon homes in short sale and bank owned properties are between $200,000 and $300,000

2 La Pine OR properties are in short sale and bank owned betwen $300,000 and $400,000

If you are looking for a short sale or bank owned property please visit Central Oregon Real Estate Info for more information on La Pine and the short sale process - knowledge is key in these transactions.

Life is too short - hot air should be used for fun and adventure - whether you are purchasing your new home, a vacation home or maybe a lot to park the RV - there is no need for any hot air from the transaction.  I believe that hot air should be used for the fun things in life.

If you want a smooth - transaction for your Central Oregon property sale - where the Real Estate Broker takes the heat - and gives you nothing but the fun and adventure you should have you have found the right place.

I promise to make the sale of your property or purchase of your property as much fun and painless as possible.

One of the most requested properties in Central Oregon is water front property.  Today I bring to your attention a cute log home located on the canal just a short distance from The Big Deschutes River. 

This home is located in Three Rivers South and is just a few minutes from Sunriver, close to Bend and ready for you to call home.

3 Bedroom | 1.5 Bath | with 2 Sleeping areas in the loft | 1344 Square Feet | $289,000

Call and make your appointment today - come see this great home located just minutes from Sunriver an easy commute to Bend.  This home has been a successful vacation rental, could be your rental, second home or full time residence.

One of the most common questions an out of state buyer has when purchasing a home in Oregon is; will the taxes go up with this purchase price?  Oregon property taxes have little to do with the sales price (unless it is new construction until assessment). 

In Oregon you will have an assessed value which is much different from your RMV (Real Market Value) - the assessed value can only increase 3% per year.  This does not mean your taxes will increase 3% per year - there are other factors in our property tax amount. 

The better question for a buyer to ask is - what have the voters approved for increases - bonds, budgets and the likes will raise your taxes faster than the assessed value.  For more information see - Central Oregon Real Estate. 

This year Pringle Falls has claimed 2 lives in 2 separate incidents.  Both apparent accidents where the boater did not know or understand the dangers ahead.  Pringle Falls to many seem like a great white water trip.  However, it is a fall  - although not high it is a water fall.  I am not sure of the distance but it is spread out for a long stretch of the Big Deschutes River.

I can remember one of my first boating excursions on the Big Deschutes River coming up to the warning signs and knowing that we had to turn around and go back upstream. 

The latest casualty brought not only the loss of the canoeist but a dangerous recovery of the boat and body.  This fall when Wickiup Dam quits letting so much water out of the reservoir the log jam will be removed.  The logs will remain in the river along the sides to create the natural habitat for the fish and other wildlife but it will not go from side to side.

This will not make traveling this section of the river any safer, it is hoped that it will make recovery and rescue safer.  For more information read Two Drowning Deaths Prompt Log Jam Removal.

Oregon is known to be a pretty green state both in scenery and environmental attitudes.  Starting in February many televisions will require a converter box to work.  The newest trend of HD television is already causing an uproar. 

If you purchase a new television because of the new regulations coming in February I encourage you to recycle your old set.  Instead of throwing it away and having it end up in the landfill and letting it get crushed, give it to someone - use it in a media room for movies or games.  When we throw them away and they are crushed they release harmful toxins into the ground that over time can get into the ground water.

Oregon is trying to be one step ahead - because much of our state depends on ground water for domestic water supplies we have to be careful of what we put in the ground.  Everything we put in the ground can end up in our water.

Starting in January every county in Oregon will have a drop site for electronics such as televisions, computers, computer monitors and all those other things that we upgrade all too often now days.  Watch for info in your area about where you can drop off your old electronic devices free of charge.

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