Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Bend Oregon Foreclosure & Short Sale Report ~ Dec. '09

Active Residential Listing Report ~ December 2, 2009

City:

Bend

Redmond

Sisters

Prineville

Active Res. Listings:

1433

611

189

287

Active Short Sales:

498 (35%)

228 (37%)

18 (10%)

65 (23%)

Bank Owned Listings:

148 (10%)

89 (15%)

11 (6%)

35 (12%)

I will be compiling this list of foreclosures and short sales in hopes of determining the bottom of our Central Oregon real estate market. With Bend and Redmond hitting 45% and 52% combined distressed listings I would say we have a ways to go. Even though these numbers have been rising over the past 11 months, the number of homes being sold has risen as well. Distressed listings are making up 50% of all home sales in the past several months.

For a list of Bend Oregon Foreclosures or Bend Oregon Short Sales follow the links. You can also request other Central Oregon cities by following the above links as well.

Troy Batson is a licensed broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ 1033 NW Newport Ave. Bend, OR 97701 ~ (541)382-8262

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Bend Oregon Foreclosure & Short Sale Report ~ Nov. '09

Active Residential Listing Report ~ November 3, 2009

City:

Bend

Redmond

Sisters

Prineville

Active Res. Listings:

1580

650

206

302

Active Short Sales:

535 (34%)

247 (38%)

17 (8%)

70 (23%)

Bank Owned Listings:

184 (12%)

108 (17%)

11 (5%)

36 (12%)

I will be compiling this list of foreclosures and short sales in hopes of determining the bottom of our Central Oregon real estate market. With Bend and Redmond hitting 46% and 56% combined distressed listings I would say we have a ways to go. Even though these numbers have been rising over the past 11 months, the number of homes being sold has risen as well. Distressed listings are making up 50% of all home sales in the past several months.

For a list of Bend Oregon Foreclosures or Bend Oregon Short Sales follow the links. You can also request other Central Oregon cities by following the above links as well.

Troy Batson is a licensed broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ 1033 NW Newport Ave. Bend, OR 97701 ~ (541)382-8262

Friday, October 2, 2009

$8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Expiring Soon

The $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit will be expiring November 30, 2009. Your chance to capture this one time credit is quickly running out. In order to take advantage of the tax credit your transaction must be recorded by November 30, 2009. That gives you roughly two weeks to identify and place an offer on your first home. Why so soon?

Real estate transactions are taking, on average, two weeks longer to close because of the new lending laws enacted earlier this year. What used to take 30 days to close is now approaching 45 days to close and record your purchase.

So, don't delay on utilizing this gift from our government. All though there is talk of extending this credit, there is no guarantee it will be extended.

Central Oregon home prices are at bargain levels right now. Combine that with the attractive mortgage rates and chances are your mortgage payment may be the same as your monthly rent.

Give me a call and start the process of home ownership!

Bend, Oregon Foreclosure & Short Sale Report ~ Oct. '09

Active Residential Listing Report ~ October 2, 2009

City:

Bend

Redmond

Sisters

Prineville

Active Res. Listings:

1736

687

229

319

Active Short Sales:

567 (33%)

241 (35%)

15 (7%)

62 (19%)

Bank Owned Listings:

177 (10%)

104 (15%)

10 (4%)

36 (11%)

I will be compiling this list of foreclosures and short sales in hopes of determining the bottom of our Central Oregon real estate market. With Bend and Redmond hitting 43% and 50% combined distressed listings I would say we have a ways to go. Even though these numbers have been rising over the past 10 months, the number of homes being sold has risen as well. Distressed listings are making up 50% of all home sales in the past several months.

For a list of Bend Oregon Foreclosures or Bend Oregon Short Sales follow the links. You can also request other Central Oregon cities by following the above links as well.

Troy Batson is a licensed broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ 1033 NW Newport Ave. Bend, OR 97701 ~ (541)382-8262

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Bend, Oregon Foreclosure and Short Sale Report ~ September '09

Active Residential Listing Report ~ September 2, 2009

City:

Bend

Redmond

Sisters

Prineville

Active Res. Listings:

1836

720

247

338

Active Short Sales:

572 (31%)

245 (34%)

12 (5%)

58 (17%)

Bank Owned Listings:

186 (10%)

106 (15%)

10 (4%)

31 (9%)

I will be compliling this list of foreclosures and short sales in hopes of determining the bottom of our Central Oregon real estate market. With Bend and Redmond hitting 41% and 49% combined distressed listings I would say we have a ways to go. Even though these numbers have been rising over the past 9 months, the number of homes being sold has risen as well. Distressed listings are making up 50% of all home sales in the past several months.

For a list of Bend Oregon Foreclosures or Bend Oregon Short Sales follow the links. You can also request other Central Oregon cities by following the above links as well.

Troy Batson is a licensed broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ 1033 NW Newport Ave. Bend, OR 97701 ~ (541)382-8262

Monday, August 3, 2009

Bend, Oregon Foreclosure and Short Sale Report ~ August '09

Active Residential Listing Report ~ August 3, 2009

City:

Bend

Redmond

Sisters

Prineville

Active Res. Listings:

1838

750

247

342

Active Short Sales:

531 (29%)

248 (33%)

15 (6%)

57 (17%)

Bank Owned Listings:

180 (10%)

119 (16%)

9 (4%)

35 (10%)

I will be compliling this list of foreclosures and short sales in hopes of determining the bottom of our Central Oregon real estate market. With Bend and Redmond hitting 39% and 49% combined distressed listings I would say we have a ways to go. Even though these numbers have been rising over the past 8 months, the number of homes being sold has risen as well. Distressed listings are making up 50% of all home sales in the past several months.

For a list of Bend Oregon Foreclosures or Bend Oregon Short Sales follow the links. You can also request other Central Oregon cities by following the above links as well.

Troy Batson is a licensed broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ 1033 NW Newport Ave. Bend, OR 97701 ~ (541)382-8262

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Bend, Oregon Foreclosures and Short Sales Report ~ July '09

Active Residential Listing Report ~ July 7, 2009

City:

Bend

Redmond

Sisters

Prineville

Active Res. Listings:

1832

766

233

344

Active Short Sales:

516 (28%)

252 (33%)

15 (6%)

56 (16%)

Bank Owned Listings:

172 (9%)

105 (14%)

8 (3%)

31 (9%)

I will be compliling this list of foreclosures and short sales in hopes of determining the bottom of our Central Oregon real estate market. With Bend and Redmond hitting 37% and 47% combined distressed listings I would say we have a ways to go. Even though these numbers have been rising over the past 7 months, the number of homes being sold has risen as well. Distressed listings are making up 50% of all home sales in the past several months.

For a list of Bend Oregon Foreclosures or Bend Oregon Short Sales follow the links. You can also request other Central Oregon cities by following the above links as well.

Troy Batson is a licensed broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ 1033 NW Newport Ave. Bend, OR 97701 ~ (541)382-8262

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Active Residential Listing Report ~ June 3, 2009

City:

Bend

Redmond

Sisters

Prineville

Active Res. Listings:

1811

769

222

350

Active Short Sales:

505 (28%)

214 (28%)

15 (7%)

52 (15%)

Bank Owned Listings:

152 (8%)

109 (14%)

9 (4%)

37 (11%)

I will be compliling this list of foreclosures and short sales in hopes of determining the bottom of our Central Oregon real estate market. With Bend and Redmond hitting 36% and 42% combined distressed listings I would say we have a ways to go. Even though these numbers have been rising over the past 5 months, the number of homes being sold has risen as well. Distressed listings are making up 50% of all home sales in the past several months.

For a list of Bend Oregon Foreclosures or Bend Oregon Short Sales follow the links. You can also request other Central Oregon cities by following the above links as well.

Troy Batson is a licensed broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ 1033 NW Newport Ave. Bend, OR 97701 ~ (541)382-8262

Monday, May 4, 2009

Bend Oregon Foreclosures and Short Sales Report ~ May 2009

Active Residential Listing Report ~ May 4, 2009

City:

Bend

Redmond

Sisters

Prineville

Active Res. Listings:

1779

770

193

306

Active Short Sales:

437 (25%)

184 (24%)

12 (6%)

38 (12%)

Bank Owned Listings:

180 (10%)

113 (15%)

7 (4%)

32 (10%)

I will be compliling this list of foreclosures and short sales in hopes of determining the bottom of our Central Oregon real estate market. With Bend and Redmond hitting 35% and 39% combined distressed listings I would say we have a ways to go. Even though these numbers have been rising over the past 3 months, the number of homes being sold has risen as well. Distressed listings are making up 50% of all home sales in the past several months.

For a list of Bend Oregon Foreclosures or Bend Oregon Short Sales follow the links. You can also request other Central Oregon cities by following the above links as well.

Troy Batson is a licensed broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ 1033 NW Newport Ave. Bend, OR 97701 ~ (541)382-8262

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Bend, Oregon Homes are Selling!

With the end of March approaching I wanted to see where we were headed as far as total number of residential home sales. The numbers are encouraging with 55 homes sold thus far in Bend and 152 pending sales as of today. The majority of the homes sold are on the lower end of the market, as the $225,000 median home sales price suggests. The activity in the upper end of the market is slow at best.

Scanning the pending sales shows a continuation of this trend. Foreclosures are making up a healthy percentage of these transactions. The good news is the foreclosures are moving and the quicker we get rid of them the quicker we will find market stabilization.

Although it is doubtful we will get to March 2008's 93 residential homes sold, we can take solace in the fact that homes are selling and that interest rates remain extremely attractive.

With Spring comes hope and with hope comes change. I look forward to sunny days ahead!

Troy Batson is a Licensed Broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ Bend, Oregon

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Bend, Oregon Foreclosures and Short Sales Report

Active Residential Listing Report ~ March 1, 2009

                                BEND    REDMOND    SISTERS      PRINEVILLE

Active Res. Listings -     1,664         701          155               327

Res. Short Sales -           313 (19%)  137 (20%)  11 (7%)          35 (11%)

Res. Bank Owned -         164 (10%)   61 (9%)      5 (3%)          24 (7%)



I will be compiling this report monthly in hopes of identifying the bottom of our Central Oregon market. With almost 30% of the Bend, Oregon active residential listings being short sales and foreclosures it looks like we have a ways to go. Until these numbers decrease significantly I predict Central Oregon home prices to remain soft.

For a list of Bend, Oregon Foreclosures or other Central Oregon Foreclosures click here.

Troy Batson is a Licensed Broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ Bend, Oregon

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Bend, Oregon First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit ~ The Facts!

$8,000 FIRST TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT

As modified in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Enacted February 17, 2009 by President Obama


Amount of credit ~ Maximum credit amount is $8,000.
Eligible Property ~ Any single family residence(including condos, co-ops, townhouses) that will be used as a primary residence.
Refundable ~ Yes. Reduces, or can eliminate, income tax liability for the year of the purchase. Any unused amount of the tax credit refunded to purchaser.
Income Limit ~ Yes. Full amount of credit available for individuals with adjusted gross income of no more than $75,000/year or $150,000 on a joint return. Phases out above these caps($95,000 and $170,000).
First time Home Buyer Only ~ Yes. Purchaser (and purchaser's spouse) may not have owned a principal residence in 3 years previous to the purchase.
Revenue Bond Financing ~ Purchasers who utilize revenue bond fianancing can use credit.
Repayment ~ No repayment for purchases on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
Recapture ~ If home is sold within 3 years of purchase, entire amount of credit is recaptured on sale. Applies only to homes purchased in 2009.
Termination ~ Tax credit expires on December 1, 2009.
Effective Date ~ January 1, 2009


If you are a first time home buyer and would like to know more about taking advantage of this credit and other exciting opportunities in the Bend, Oregon real estate market please contact me. If you would like to search Bend, Oregon homes for sale or our surrounding communities click here. I look forward to exceeding your expectations of what a real estate agent can do for you.


Troy Batson is a Licensed Broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ Bend, Oregon

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Bend, Oregon Foreclosures and Short Sales Report

Active Residential Listing Report ~ February 11, 2009

                            BEND    REDMOND   SISTERS    PRINEVILLE

Active Res. Listings -   1,823          750          187              365

Res. Short Sales -        275 (15%)     143 (19%)  20 (11%)      36 (10%)

Res. Bank Owned -       120 (7%)       41 (5%)     4 (2%)        22 (6%)



I will be compiling this report monthly in hopes of identifying the bottom of our Central Oregon market. With almost 25% of the Bend, Oregon active residential listings being short sales and foreclosures it looks like we have a ways to go. Until these numbers decrease significantly I predict Central Oregon home prices to remain soft.

For a list of Bend, Oregon Foreclosures or other Central Oregon Foreclosures click here.

Troy Batson is a Licensed Broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ Bend, Oregon


Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Northwest Bend, Oregon Home Prices.............

I had a client today ask me how bad the home prices in Bend, Oregon have fallen. I told him it depends on the location of the home in Bend, knowing that to be the case, but not really having the numbers to back it up. I knew, without checking, that Northwest homes had faired far better than the Northeast homes, but I wasn't exactly sure about the home prices in the Southeast and Southwest Bend area. So off to the MLS I went to run some reports.

Turns out Bend, Oregon median home sale prices have dropped 30% from January '08 to January '09. I was surprised to find out the Southeast median home sale price dipped only 14%, and that the coveted Northwest area came in at an 18% decline over last year. I was not surprised to discover that the Southwest and Northeast median home sales prices both fell 32% from last year.

While none of this is good news for home owners, it shows the importance of location when home buyers are choosing a new home. These numbers prove the importance of location when shopping for a new home, and prove the importance of using a good Realtor® to help you in your decision making process. You can't completely mitigate your risk when purchasing a home, but you can definitely reduce it with a good agent.

Troy Batson is a Licensed Broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ Bend, Oregon

The Financial Stability Plan aka TARP 2

Timothy Geithner's press conference just ended, with a thud. The stock market is dropping like a rock, currently down $306. Bank stocks are down 10% on average. The financial news reporters are picking apart the plan.

Not the WOW factor we were hoping for yesterday. President Obama teased the plan last night during his first press conference, now I know why he didn't deliver it. The Financial Stability Plan is going to be very costly and come with strings attached.

Geithner started by explaining the causes of our current crisis situation, basically greed and no oversight. From there he formulated the reasoning for the following changes in U.S. policy:

- The new policy must be comprehensive in scope.
- It must be sustained until economic recovery is well established.
- Government support will be transparent. New website to monitor this is www.financialstability.gov
- Private capital will be mobilized and backed by the government.


With these changes in the Treasury policy Geithner rolled out a three point plan to get credit flowing and raise consumer confidence.

1. It will require lenders to go through a "stress test" to analyze the assets and liabilities on their books. After a passing grade government capital will come with conditions and terms to encourage lenders to convert government funds to private investor funds.

2. A public/private investment fund will be created(aka bad bank) to finance the toxic assets. The starting price tag is $500 billion. The structure of this fund has not been created and they are still looking for input. It will be managed by private asset managers.

3. Finally, the plan calls for committing up to $1 trillion, in addition to the previous $500 billion, in funds to ease the credit for consumers and businesses.


The Treasury Secretary finished by mentioning the Housing Program Plan which will be rolled out in the coming weeks. This plan will target our slumping housing market and ways to keep foreclosures to a minimum and reviving the demand for housing.

Like a wrote yesterday we needed this plan to be well accepted by investors, consumers and have bipartisan support. I'm not sure President Obama and Treasury Secretary Geithner pulled it off. I didn't see the knockout plan we needed to revive our slumping Bend, Oregon housing market.

Troy Batson is a licensed Broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ Bend, Oregon

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Obama's Bank Rescue Plan

President Obama's bank rescue plan will be unveiled Tuesday by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. The plan, scheduled to be released on Monday, was delayed due to the expected vote in the Senate on the latest Stimulus Package. The bank rescue plan is rumored to rely heavily on private sector funding backed by government guarantees and financing incentives. It may also include some of the $350 billion in unused T.A.R.P. money.

The Obama administration has not ruled out the creation of a "Bad Bank", much like the one created during the Savings and Loan Crisis, to buy up illiquid assets on lenders books. This option proved to be profitable in the long run last time.

Geithner is also expected to expand $200 billion in Federal Reserve funds in hopes of loosening up credit for U.S. consumers.

With all this being said, Tuesday is going to be a very important day for all of us. The unveiling of the bank rescue plan strikes at the core of our slumping industries problem; access to credit. How the stock markets, investors and consumers react to this plan will determine how long the housing market will struggle. Without credit, the blood of our industry, the housing market will remain lifeless.

If this plan is widely accepted by investors and supported in a bipartisan fashion, coupled with the $15,000 home buyer tax credit, then I will be optimistic about our near future in the housing market. If the bank rescue plan fails to impress and President Obama and Treasury Secretary Geithner can not garner support for their plan, I do not foresee an end to our housing crisis.

We need credit to flow freely in the market. I hope President Obama understands the importance of this crucial issue and does what's right for the U.S. economy. The U.S. economy runs on credit and without it, well just look where we are. I will be tuned in on Tuesday, hoping for a knockout.



Troy Batson is a Licensed Broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ Bend, Oregon

Friday, February 6, 2009

Mortgage Rate Proposal Shot Down by Senate

Senator John Ensign's(R-Nev.) housing recovery plan was defeated Thursday in the Senate by a vote of 62-35, largely along party lines. The proposal was designed to reduce mortgage interest rates to as low as 4% for home buyers and existing homeowners looking to refinance.

The bill also included incentives to lenders to increase loan modifications for those facing foreclosure and various tax breaks for small businesses as well as low and middle-class families.

The Democrats believed it would be a windfall for the lending institutions and included tax breaks they did not support.

I was personally hoping this would be passed and coupled with the recent $15,000 tax credit to all home buyers give the Bend, Oregon housing market a much needed boost. I am still trying to wrap my mind around why the Democrats would not support this bill.

The Bend,Oregon housing market needs buyers and sellers confidence to rise. I believe this would have been a boon for our market. Just look at the great deals out there today.


Troy Batson is a Licensed Broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ Bend, Oregon Real Estate

Thursday, February 5, 2009

$15,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit

The U.S. Senate voted yesterday to amend the 2008 American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Act to include ALL homebuyers and increase the $7,500 tax credit up to $15,000 or 10% of the purchase price. The Senate acted unanimously to pass the amendment sponsored by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.

The amendment will make this $15,000 tax credit on any primary residence available for one year after the bill is enacted. It also changes the $7,500 tax credit from the initial act to a true tax credit, not a zero interest loan that had to be repaid over 15 years.

The amendment is part of the Stimulus Package that includes more wasteful spending than useful economic stimulus needed to get our slumping housing market jump started. The Republicans are currently proposing holding mortgage interest rates at 4% for home buyers or those wishing to refinance their current mortgage. The U.S. Treasury would subsidize the difference between current mortgage rate levels and the 4% target rate.

The mortgage proposal, if enacted, and the $15,000 home buyer tax credit will definitely be the helping hand we need here in Central Oregon. For those buying or trying to sell their home in Bend, Oregon it couldn't come at a better time. The Bend housing market has been hit hard in this economic slowdown with foreclosures and short sales dragging down our home prices.

The good news in all of this is the opportunity it provides for home buyers in Bend and those struggling to sell their homes. The increased demand the $15,000 tax credit will create will help us thin out our bloated supply of homes and hopefully stabilize home prices.

If you have been thinking about buying a home in Bend, the time to act is now. Remember this tax credit will only last for one year and the great deals out there will go sooner than that.

Troy Batson is a Licensed Broker in the State of Oregon ~ troybatson.com ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ Bend, Oregon

Saturday, January 31, 2009


Bend, Oregon for sale!

I'm sure you have read about us or have seen us featured in national news stories in the past. Donald Trump even mentioned us! You know, one of the best small towns to live in, the next Aspen, Vail, Sun Valley..... Somebody must have because they came in droves, Bend's population went from 52,000 in 2000 to 78,000 in 2008. Impressive, I know. As you all know when demand outweighs the supply prices rise, and they did. Along with the buyers came the builders, and they built. It's a story not uncommon to most destination locations with so much to offer the boomers.

Then it happened, the economy tanked, consumer confidence disappeared overnight and the boom was over. The people have slowed to a trickle, the builders have gone bankrupt and the housing market is beginning to drown in short sales and foreclosures.

Like all business that face tough economic times and slumping sales, they have a sale. We are not "going out of business", just slashing prices!

So come check Bend, Oregon out, kick the tires, take us for a test drive or better yet load up the family we've got room!



Troy Batson ~ A licensed Central Oregon Real Estate Broker ~ Duke Warner Realty ~ Bend ~ troybatson.com

Friday, January 30, 2009

Bend, Oregon Home Pricing

What makes one home sale go quickly while other homes linger on the market for months? The answer is usually price. Determining a home's worth in Central Oregon is a tough question these days. For many, it is difficult to reconcile what their home is worth today versus what it was valued at one year ago.  Deciding on the right price from the beginning is one of the most crucial aspects for an expedient home sale.

Popular wisdom says that the first 21 days of a listing are the most important, and interest begins to fall off after that time period. This is why it is important for homeowners to do their homework and enlist the help of a qualified real estate agent. Pricing a home right from the start is better than having to reduce the price later. Not to mention, there is cost and frustration incurred when a home remains on the market month after month.

Begin by looking at comparable sales in the neighborhood, keeping in mind physical barriers that may affect price. For instance, proximity to busy streets or parkways, school district lines and local amenities can all impact the price of houses in the same neighborhood or even on the same street. Pay attention to how long houses in the neighborhood stayed on the market. Determine why some houses sold faster than others. Was it location? Was it the condition of the home? Most likely it was the price.

As a homeowner begins to prepare for selling, they should ask a qualified real estate agent to prepare a Comparative Market Analysis, known as a CMA. This will give the seller detailed information about the local real estate market, as well as outline marketing strategies and selling price recommendations.

Home prices in Central Oregon have been tumbling because of foreclosures and short sales. These properties have affected certain areas more than others.  If you have these types of properties in your neighborhood you will have to adjust your price accordingly.

With the historically low mortgage interest rates, it is a good time to buy a home. However, the poor economy is causing most Oregonians to be cautious with their money. This means there are fewer buyers out there for more homes. Sellers have to be aggressive and willing to be realistic about what their home is worth in the current market.

In these tough economic times, everybody is looking for a deal. That is why price is the most important component in a quick home sale.  The good news is homes are selling, if you are realistic yours will too.

Troy Batson is a licensed real estate agent in the State of Oregon.  Duke Warner Realty ~ Bend troybatson.com

Monday, January 26, 2009

Welcome to my Central Oregon Real Estate Blog

I hope everyone is having a great start to the new year.  My year has started with an engagement to my beautiful fiance, Nichole and a transfer to Duke Warner Realty in Bend, Oregon.  Both are significant changes and I look forward to the exciting times ahead! The move to Duke Warner Realty has better positioned myself in the Central Oregon Real Estate Market.

The Central Oregon Real Estate Market is starting to show signs of improvement.  While our market is saturated with short sales and bank owned properties there has been a nice bump in home sales and pending home sales this month. If this continues along with the slow down in building we can cut into our bloated inventory and hopefully see home price stabilization.

Another factor that is effecting the market in a positive fashion is the historically low mortgage rates that are now available to those with good credit.  If these rates remain low, with all indication pointing in that direction, and credit markets are restored financing a new home could not be better.

There are some great deals out there.  The time to jump in is now. If you are looking for a new home or an investment property I know there is a deal to be made.  Don't wait for the prices to plateau then rise, by then competition will be increased and the bargains will be gone.

My outlook for 2009 is optimistically hopeful.  I will continue to remain positive and hope that you do as well.

Troy

P.S.  If you or someone you know is interested in the Central Oregon Real Estate Market please contact me at:
Troy Batson - Broker
Duke Warner Realty
1033 NW  Newport Ave.
Bend, OR 97701
541.382.8262 - Office
541.678.3725 - Cell
troybatson@dukewarner.com