Posts in category 'Bend Real Estate General Information'

Depending on where you live, the housing market could feel red-hot or strangely quiet right now. The truth is, local markets are starting to move in different directions. In some places, buyers are calling the shots. In others, sellers still hold the power. It's a tale of two markets.

What's a Buyer's Market vs. a Seller's Market?

In a buyer's market, there are more homes for sale and not as many buyers. That means homes sit longer, buyers have more negotiating power, and prices tend to soften as a result. It's simple supply and demand.

On the flip side, a seller's market happens when there aren't enough homes available for the number of people looking to buy them. Because buyers have to compete with each other to get the house they want, that leads to faster sales, multiple offers, and rising prices.

Right now, both of these scenarios are playing out, depending on where you are. So, how do...

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Over the past few years, affordability has been the biggest challenge for homebuyers. Between rapidly rising home prices and higher mortgage rates, many have felt stuck between a rock and a hard place.

But, something pretty encouraging is happening. While affordability is still tight, mortgage rates have shown signs of stabilizing in recent months. And that may finally make it a bit easier to plan your move.

Mortgage Rates Have Stabilized – For Now

Over the past year, mortgage rates have had their share of ups and downs, making it tough for buyers to know what to expect. But recently, rates have started to level out and have settled...

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There are plenty of headlines these days calling for a housing market crash. But the truth is, they're not telling the full story. Here's what's actually happening, and what the experts project for home prices over the next 5 years. And spoiler alert – it's not a crash.

Yes, in some local markets, prices are flattening or even dipping slightly this year as more homes hit the market. That's normal with rising inventory. But the bigger picture is what really matters, and it's far less dramatic than what the doom-and-gloom headlines suggest. Here's why.

Over 100 leading housing market experts were surveyed in the latest Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES) from Fannie Mae. Their collective forecast shows prices are projected to keep rising over the next 5 years, just at a slower, hea...

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Life can feel a bit unpredictable these days. What's happening with inflation? The economy? The housing market? But in the middle of all that uncertainty, there's one thing a lot of people still crave – a place to call their own.

Because when everything else feels up in the air, home can be the thing that grounds you. As the experts at 1000WATT put it:

"Homeownership isn't primarily financial anymore. . . Across all demographics, emotional and lifestyle factors consistently outrank wealth-building as motivators."

Here's what owning a home can mean for you, especially right now.

Freedom To Make It Yours

When you're a homeowner, you don't need to ask permission to paint a wall, hang a gallery of your favorite art, or redo the floors. You have the freedom to crea...

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Are you thinking about buying a home, but not sure if now's the right time? A lot of people are waiting and wondering what the market's going to do next. But here's something only the savviest buyers realize:

This summer might actually be the best time to buy in years. Here are three big reasons why.

1. You Have More Negotiating Power

After several years of sellers having all the leverage, things are starting to shift. Check out the graph below. It uses data from Redfin to show that right now, there are more sellers active in the market than buyers:

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