Brokers Receive New Certifications

Three of our fantastic brokers have earned new certifications to help serve you even better! 

Sandy Garner, owner of the Bend, Oregon real estate firm, said, “Continuing education has always been a big part of our culture as a company. We believe that staying abreast of all the latest trends and information in the real estate industry is vital in providing the very best service to our clients.”

Alison Mata and Melody Lessar, who are both National Association of Realtors (NAR) certified GREEN brokers, have recently earned NAR’s Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) certification. This designation is awarded upon completion of an advanced course of study that focuses on the objectives of home buyers. Specifically, the program:

- Elevates the overall understanding and knowledge of the home buyer;

- Provides ongoing specialized information, programs, trends and updates regarding home buyers and their needs;

- Allows certified agents to access members-only online marketing tools and resources.

In addition, broker Carol Donohoe, who is also GREEN certified, has earned membership in the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. To earn this status, she completed special training designed to build skills in the marketing of luxury homes and estate properties. The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing is the premier independent authority in training and certification for real estate agents working in the luxury residential market. 

Congratulations! 

Low Inventories & Strong Prices for Bend, Oregon Real Estate

Continuing on it's upward swing - along with the rest of the nation - the Bend, Oregon housing
market report is still positive. The only "negative"? Low inventories are making it hard for some buyers to find what they're looking for, thus affecting total number of transactions recorded. Yet, with the laws of supply and demand, this phenomenon is keeping prices strong.

Low inventories might not last, as builders are taking up the slack: new construction represented 27% of homes sold so far this year, nearly double last year at this time. According to a recent article in realtormag.com, construction job growth is marking recovery. "While commercial construction job growth is most impressive—a 3.1 percent seasonally-adjusted gain over year-ago figures and an addition of 15,500 jobs in the past 3 months—residential construction employment isn't lagging too far behind. The sector was up 0.6 percent over the last 3 months, reflecting the 3,300 jobs added over that time."


In the Bend, Oregon real estate market, sale prices remain strong. The average sale price in Bend year-to-date in 2013 was 18.7% above the same period in 2012. The average sale price in NorthWest Crossing was 5.7% above YTD 2012 and 39.5% higher than the Bend area. Active residential listings in a March 5 snapshot were 17.3% behind last year and represent 2.5 months of inventory. The national absorption rate is tracking downward at 4.2 months.

Calculations above and figures in the accompanying table are based on Central Oregon Multiple Listing Service data. They represent single-family detached homes on less than one acre in the greater Bend area extending from Tumalo to Alfalfa.

Want to learn more? Visit our website at thegarnergroup.com or follow all the latest news on our Facebook page.

Housing Economics Improve on a National Level...

And Bend, Oregon real estate is on the same curve!

We've been reviewing news from around the country, and are happy to report that the sentiment for housing and real estate is trending optimistic and positive. In fact, the top headlines today on realtor.com are putting smiles on our faces - check it out:

If you don't follow us on Facebook, you should. We often post news that catches our eye and can help you make educated decisions when it comes to your real estate future. Recently, in the Los Angeles Times, an article reported that median prices are showing biggest gains since 2005 and USA Today said that housing is the key to future job growth.

Want to know more? Contact us today at info@thegarnergroup.com or call 541-383-4360.

Bend, Oregon Real Estate Continues to Strengthen

We never get tired of reporting good news! And the Bend, Oregon housing market has definitely had a lot of good news lately. Firmer prices and more home sales are just a couple of the trends we're seeing here locally: home sales and prices continue to outpace the previous year while the inventory of homes listed for sale grows smaller. This a pattern we all like to see!

The chart below outlines specific comparisons from 2011 to 2012. Active Bend, Oregon residential listings are showing a downward trend for inventory, which means good things for sellers - there are fewer homes on the market to choose from. For buyers, this begins to present limited choices and reminds us that the market is capable of extreme cycling in a relatively short amount of time. 



The trend represented in the table above began to take shape last spring, after which the percentage gap between year-to-date home sales (up) and inventory levels (down) compared with the previous year increased month by month before plateauing late in the year. This contrasts with a basically flat market in 2011 versus 2010. We break out NorthWest Crossing is a separate sub-market that can be considered an object lesson on the positive relationship between neighborhood planning and home values.

Help Out Those in Need This Season in Bend, Oregon

Not only is it the season for celebration, but it's also the season for giving. If you are looking for some ways to give back this holiday time, we have two easy things that you can do! 

1. "Like" Our Facebook page: Until the end of the year, we will be making a cash donation of $1 for every new like to The Garner Group Real Estate Facebook page to Relay for Life. As some of you might know, our team was very involved with the 2012 Relay for Life annual fundraiser in Central Oregon. We were able to raise more money to fight cancer through this event that ever before! So it is a cause that is near and dear to our hearts. Please share our page far and wide to help raise money for this worthy cause.
   
2. Come by our office with your non-perishable food item! We are a donation station for NeighborImpact which will be helping to provide food for Central Oregon families in need this season. NeighborImpact is a private nonprofit organization established to serve and speak out for economically disadvantaged people in Central Oregon. Our mission is to break the cycle of poverty by helping remove the barriers that prevent people from achieving economic self-sufficiency. 

So we hope to see you soon - either on our Facebook page or in our office. Happy Holidays! 

Growth Continues for Bend, Oregon Real Estate

We just don't get tired of reporting on these numbers! Things are continuing to strengthen in the Bend, Oregon real estate market, and we like to keep you updated on all the latest happenings. We are seeing prices and sales numbers outpacing last year significantly, with the total number of residential sales in Bend at 19.2% above 2011. 

Interesting points to note include that new construction sales have nearly doubled year-to-date when compared with 2011, and the inventory of homes for sale continues to drop. Below shows a snapshot taken on November 6, 2012, which illustrates some of the numbers we are seeing in the Bend, Oregon real estate market. 

The figures above represent single-family detached homes on less than one acre in the Bend area extending from Tumalo to Alfalfa, but can give you a great idea of what's happening across the board in our region. 


As always, NorthWest Crossing continues to post strong figures. Year-to-date sale numbers outpace the same period last year by healthy margins. The average sale price increased about 5% and is 53.5% higher than the average for Bend as a whole.

Questions? Comments? We'd love to talk to you more, just email our office at info@thegarnergroup.com or call us at (541) 383-4360.

Giving Thanks for...Bend, Oregon Real Estate

Now is the time of year we all pause to give thanks - Thanksgiving is only a little more than a week away! We have a lot to be thankful for here in Bend, Oregon - sunny skies, early snowfall, Mt Bachelor, beautiful landscapes and beautiful streetscapes. Many of us at The Garner Group have worked in the region's real estate industry for many years, and we're all seeing strong signs of a comeback in 2012.

We gave some statistics here that outlined all the numbers year-to-date, and we hope they made you smile. For regularly updated information, visit our Market Watch page on our website. Whether you are buying your perfect home for the holidays, or selling your home, now's the time to get involved in Bend, Oregon real estate.

Here are a couple listings that might catch your eye, and to show you the great range of properties available in our area right now.

Affordable Brand-New Construction in Bend, Oregon
Priced at $199,900 this brand-new home is designed for livability by Choice 1 Builders. It features a master suite on the main level and two bedrooms, a full bath and bonus room upstairs. Vaulted ceilings in the great room and a dormer vault in the master bedroom make for bright living spaces. 

Rare Acreage in Skyliner's Wilderness
Priced at $1.2 Million, this is an extremely rare find: 40.59 acres of pristine forest land above Tumalo Creek. This property is surrounded by Forest Zone, BLM land and adjacent to Shevlin park. CUP was previously approved for dwelling. The best of all worlds - close to town and yet completely pristine property with pine trees, manzanita and mountain views.

Contact us at The Garner Group today! We can help you find or sell your home.