The Garner Group: Serving Seniors in Bend, Oregon Real Estate

Two members of our team, Angela Tweedie and Victoria Davis, recently earned the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation from the National Assn. of Realtors. To qualify for the SRES designation, the they completed an advanced study course that provides Realtors with specialized knowledge about the real estate needs of the fast-growing age 50-plus market.

 

“We’ve seen the mature homebuyer increasing activity in our region over the last several years,” said Sandy Garner, owner of the Bend, Oregon real estate company. “This is likely a result of the baby boomer generation beginning to look at retirement in a community like Bend. Having agents that specialize in this segment of the market will help us serve our clients even better.”

Tweedie, a Texas native, lived in Alaska for many years and obtained her Alaska real estate license in 2005 after a 20-year career with Nordstrom in Anchorage, following which she earned several performance awards at an Anchorage brokerage. She joined The Garner Group in 2010.

Victoria Davis has also been with The Garner Group since 2010. With an education in geology, Davis spent much of her career conducting hydrogeologic site studies and environmental site assessments triggered by real estate acquisitions, permitting or divestiture. She practiced real estate in the state of Washington before moving to Bend.

Congratulations ladies! 

Inventory is down for Bend, Oregon Real Estate

If you aren't a subscriber to our monthly eNewsletter, it is packed with great information and current affairs. You can sign up here. Here's an excerpt from an article from our recent issue that we thought you might be interested in! Looks like right NOW might be a great time for buyers and sellers in the Bend, Oregon real estate market based on inventory levels, building permits pulled and sales price trends.

Statistical update: At the beginning of April, homes in the Bend area residential sector were running ahead of last year in numbers sold and average price while inventories continued to decline, all suggesting that while the complexion of the housing market may not yet be exhibiting the ruddy glow of a distance runner, at least it has lost its cadaverous pallor.

• New construction sales dominate the market percentage wise, up significantly in Bend as a whole and NorthWest Crossing in particular. 
• Absorption rates show the Bend area had 3.1 months of inventory on April 3, 2012 compared with 3.6 months the same time a year ago. NorthWest Crossing has 5.4 months, down significantly from 8.9 months at the same time in 2011. 
• Central Oregon MLS quarterly and monthly statistics: Q1 2012
• 424 homes were sold in the Bend area, a gain of 7.6% over the same quarter a year ago. 
• The median sale price was $194,750, a 10.9% increase compared with the first quarter of 2011. 
• In all property and location categories - 1,202 sales, up 3.1% from the first quarter of 2011. The median sale price of $145,000 overall reflected a gain of 6.0%.

The number of homes sold in Bend last month (March 2012) increased for the second month in a row following a dip in January. Average and median sale prices inched downward but have generally followed a level course over the past year.

In addition, the number of building permits for single-family homes issued in Bend during the first quarter of 2012 drew a huge round of applause from watchers of the local economy: 89 permits were issued, coincidentally up 89% over the same period last year. This was the highest first-quarter figure since 2007, when a record 227 permits were issued. The average from 2008 to 2010 was 42 permits.

Contact one of our experts today to find out what this all means for you!