Mortgage rate buydowns, adjustable-rate loans, upgrades and independent representation: what Central Oregon buyers should know before signing a builder's contract.
Buying a newly constructed home in Bend or elsewhere in Central Oregon can be appealing. Modern floor plans, energy-efficient features, attractive finishes and the opportunity to move into a home that has never been occupied are compelling advantages. And in today's housing market, builders may offer another incentive: financing packages designed to make the monthly payment more attractive.
But a lower advertised mortgage rate does not necessarily mean you're getting the best overall deal.
Before purchasing a new-construction home, buyers should understand how builder incentives work, what can be...
The Bend housing market continued to cool in August 2026 as affordability concerns, elevated mortgage rates and increasingly selective buyers affected sales activity. The median sales price declined from a year ago, fewer homes closed, and nearly 45% of completed transactions included seller concessions.
This is not evidence of a housing crash. However, it does show that Bend is experiencing a meaningful correction in pricing expectations. Buyers remain interested in Central Oregon, but they are taking their time, comparing their options and avoiding homes that appear overpriced.
The statistics in this report compare August 2026 with August 2025 a...
The Bend real estate market has become increasingly selective in 2026. Homes are still selling, buyers are still moving to Central Oregon, and desirable properties continue to attract attention. But there is a noticeable difference between the homes buyers are responding to and those that remain on the market.
As we move through August, we are seeing inventory grow and buyer activity slow. We won't have fina...
April 2026 shows a Bend real estate market that is adjusting—not collapsing. Pricing has come off noticeably from a year ago, but buyer activity remains stable and, in some areas, quietly improving. The result is a more balanced market where properly priced homes are still moving, while aspirational pricing is getting corrected.
When a home hits the market in Bend, most sellers assume the process unfolds over weeks or even months. Showings build, interest develops, and eventually the right buyer appears.
That's not how it works anymore. In today's market, the first seven days carry disproportionate weight. This is when buyers are paying the closest attention, when new inventory is evaluated, and when a home either gains momentum—or misses it.