Morning on the River, Afternoon on the Mountain
This is one of those days that reminds you why Central Oregon is hard to beat.
Start your morning on the Deschutes River Trail, easily accessed on Bend's West Side at
Do you remember being a kid, when everything about the holidays felt huge?
Christmas didn't just arrive—it loomed. Presents showed up under the tree weeks in advance. There were cookies you only ate once a year. Fancy fruit boxes no one bought any other time. Pears. Grapefruits. Pralines. The whole thing felt cinematic.
In my family, there was one Christmas that has since become a piece of permanent family lore.
I was about six years old, and my aunt and uncle had placed a present for me under the tree that was—without question—the largest gift in the room. My six-year-old brain went into overdrive. This thing was massive. It had to be incredible. I spent weeks mentally opening it.
Christmas morn...
Downtown Bend Condo Living: Where Great Homes Meet Great Food
Downtown Bend condo living is about more than square footage—it's about convenience, character, and enjoying the good stuff. From private garages to stylish interiors and some seriously good food right downstairs, these condo projects offer a downtown experience that's hard to replicate.
Perched above The Loft Wine Bar and Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails (and yes—Zydeco's food is amazing), the Bond Street Condos bring together energy, privacy, and comfort in one of downtown Bend's most recognizable buildings. These residences feature open floor plans, large patios, and secure garage parking.
There is currently one Bond Street condo available:
The phone calls started coming in last week. Buyers who'd been sitting on the sidelines since rates climbed above 7% suddenly wanted to talk numbers again. The reason? Mortgage rates have fallen to their lowest point in over a year, hovering just above 6% for qualified borrowers.
For Bend's real estate market, this shift changes the equation in ways that go beyond simple monthly payment calculations. The question isn't whether lower rates matter—they do. The question is what smart buyers should do about it right now.
A half-point drop in interest rates might not sound dramatic until you run the numbers on Bend's median home price. On a $650,000 purchase with 20% down, the difference between a 6.5% rate and a...