Featured Real Estate Investment Property Listings for Bend Oregon: Coming Soon!

Bend

The city of Bend graces the Banks of the Deschutes River, which is draped like a silver ribbon between the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountain Range and the high desert plateaus of Oregon’s central interior.  Originally a small mill town, Bend has emerged into a full service city and Oregon’s fastest growing high technology area. 

Around the turn of the 20th century, trappers, ranchers, and loggers carved out a living near the town that eventually became the Deschutes County Seat.  Then, as now, Bend is the commercial, retail, and service center for a region that nearly stretches from the Washington State line to the California border.  With the arrival of a rail line to Bend in 1911, lumber and agricultural products could be economically shipped to outside markets. 

By the 1920’s three mills operated by Shevlin-Hixon and two operated by Brooks-Scanlon dominated the local economy and brought significant population and employment growth.  By the 1950’s, timber resources began to show signs of strain, when Shevlin-Hixon closed all three mills and sold its Central Oregon holdings to Brooks-Scanlon.  In an effort to better utilize the declining supply of wood fiber, timber companies diversified into moldings, particleboard and plywood manufacturing during the 1960's and 70's. 

In the early 1980’s the community hit an economic low point with nearly a quarter of the workforce unemployed. About this time community leaders pursued tourism development as an additional leg to its economic foundation and as a tool for broader diversification efforts. Success of this strategy has been felt through the 1990's as the community attracted new investment in nearly all sectors.  A “critical mass” of quality amenities for both residents and visitors has also built an industry presence in computer software and hardware, medical equipment, aerospace, and recreation equipment manufacturing. 

Stats at a Glance

Assessed Value

Top Private Largest Employers

Property Tax Rate 2003/2004

$15.1639 per thousand

Elevation

3623’

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Population

In recent years, Bend has experienced phenomenal growth in population and employment – expanding from a town of 18,450 residents in 1985 to a metropolitan area of over 55,000 people today.  Some of this expansion has come through annexation, but much of the growth is due to new residents moving to the area – a majority of which bring with them higher than average education and experience in a variety of professional fields.

Development

Unlike many cities experiencing rapid population and economic growth, leaders in Bend are taking careful measures to do so under the principles of quality and sustainability.  For instance, Bend’s historic center of commerce, the downtown, remains a vital and sought-after location for retail, commercial and business offices.  An aggressive $22 million Urban Renewal District has been established to expand the downtown core, provide additional parking, new building construction and renovation of existing historic structures. 

Near the downtown, The Old Mill District, a 240 acre mixed-use development along the banks of the Deschutes River is near completion.  Planned as an extension to the downtown, the project is within close proximity of the region’s premier business parks, Shevlin and Mill Point, that are home to many of the region’s growing technology-based companies.  The area is also just north of Bend's newest bridge, the Southern River Crossing, which crosses the Deschutes River between southeast and southwest Bend.

Much of Bend’s newest residential developments and most affordable housing is on the eastside (east of Hwy 97 and the new Bend Parkway) along with the largest concentration of commercial and retail shopping centers, as well the regional health care complex that includes St. Charles Hospital, Bend Memorial Clinic, and numerous private practices.  In the northern part of the city, commercial and retail development is also expanding rapidly. 

Livability

With the rapid growth that Bend has experienced and expects to continue, an obvious question arises as to the area’s livability.  State and federal land ownership, which comprises 82% of Deschutes County’s landmass, has and will continue to play a significant balancing role as Bend and the region continues to grow. Generally speaking, these publicly owned and managed lands have been “off limits” for development.  

Crime rates, another measure of livability, have been falling in Bend for the past two years.  A strong economy and engaged and active citizenry committed to keeping the area safe are primary factors for this trend. 

The greatest change to the quality of life in Bend has been the transportation system.  In fall of 2001, the Oregon Department of Transportation’s largest new construction project in two decades, the $100 million Bend Parkway was completed.  This new “freeway” section through Bend will ease demand on the local system by keeping through traffic flowing north and south. As part of its mission to deliver the best municipal services possible, the City has seen significant private and public investment in the Bend Airport - its general aviation facility – including new hangars, aviation related manufacturing, and a new, state-of-the-art terminal and FBO office. 

Climate

One of the leading reasons people are flocking to the region is our climate.  With summer temperatures in Bend ranging from an average high of 86 degrees Fahrenheit with low humidity to a low of 44 degrees Fahrenheit.  Winters average highs are in the 40's to lows in the 20's. 

Fun Facts

• Bend has the highest per capita ratio of restaurants per resident in Oregon
• The state’s highest ratio of dogs per residents can also be found in Bend
• With 24 premier golf courses within a 15-mile radius, Bend is known as the “Palm Springs” of the Pacific Northwest.  Five of these courses rank in the “Top 100” in the nation!
• Water supplied by the City of Bend through deep wells and its extensive watershed has been ranked as some of the highest quality municipal water in the country
• In the Money Magazine July 2000 issue, within its annual “Retirement Guide”, it ranked Bend as one of the Top Five Places to Retire in the nation.

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