Bend, Oregon Homes & Real Estate

Life in Bend often means your days revolve around the Deschutes River, Mt. Bachelor, and the Bend Parkway rather than long freeway traffic. Buyers looking at homes for sale here are usually weighing school access, trailheads, and brewery stops right alongside price points and HOA dues, because daily routines really do stretch from Boyd Acres down to the Old Mill District and beyond.

The city’s mix of established in-town streets and newer master-planned communities gives you options, whether you want a place close to St. Charles Health System or a house that makes weekend trips up to Mt. Bachelor's feel easy.

Your Bend, Oregon Real Estate Expert

Haley Overton is a top real estate professional in Bend, Oregon with over a decade of experience and a background in nonprofit fundraising. She leads one of Central Oregon’s premier luxury teams and has closed 175 sales totaling $138.2M, with an average price of $789.6K, so she’s comfortable working across everything from in-town bungalows to higher-end view homes.

Because Bend buyers often juggle questions about ADU regulations, wildfire exposure near the Wildland-Urban Interface, and which side of town best fits their routine, Haley’s day-to-day work goes well beyond opening doors. She helps you read between the lines of MLS listings in areas like Northwest Crossing, Awbrey Butte, and the Old Mill District, line up insurance conversations early when needed, and schedule a showing cadence that matches the pace of this market rather than rushing or dragging your search.

Bend, Oregon Real Estate Market Insights

• Median Sale Price: $735,000

• Average Days on Market (DOM): ~75 days

• Inventory: 3.3 months

• Price Appreciation (YoY): +5%

With inventory holding around a more balanced three-month range and DOM stretching into the two-plus-month window, you gain room to tour several on-market properties, compare inspection findings, and negotiate repairs or closing costs without chasing every listing on day one. 

Living in Bend, Oregon

Daily life here leans hard on the outdoors and short drives rather than long commutes. The Bend Parkway (Highway 97) links the northern commercial areas near Boyd Acres to southern residential pockets and the Old Mill District, so getting from work to an evening walk on the Deschutes River Trail or a show at Hayden Homes Amphitheater usually stays simple. For many buyers, choosing between different homes for sale comes down to how often they want quick access to Mt. Bachelor versus being closer to in-town services.

The local job base is anchored by St. Charles Health System, Les Schwab, and the Bend-La Pine School District, with OSU-Cascades and Central Oregon Community College (COCC) adding another layer of opportunity. Between the “Ale Trail” breweries, concerts along the river, and year-round trail access, you’re rarely far from something to do, which is why many shoppers focus on on-market properties that keep weekend routines and weekday commutes equally manageable.

Bend, Oregon Local Highlights & Attractions

• Mt. Bachelor: Mt. Bachelor is a mountain resort about 22 miles from town. Locals ski its slopes in winter and shift to mountain biking and hiking once the snow melts, often picking homes for sale that make the drive up Cascade Lakes Highway straightforward. On a clear day, the views from the lifts stretch across the High Desert and remind you why people trade bigger cities for this kind of backyard.
  
  

• Old Mill District: Old Mill District is a former timber mill site turned riverfront shopping, dining, and cinema area. Many buyers like being close enough to walk or bike here from their neighborhood, then head home along the Deschutes River after a show or dinner. The mix of smoke from restaurant patios and the sound of music drifting from Hayden Homes Amphitheater gives the whole area a lived-in feel on summer evenings.
  
  

• Hayden Homes Amphitheater: Hayden Homes Amphitheater is Oregon’s largest outdoor music venue, set right on the banks of the Deschutes River. Residents plan their home search knowing that concert nights bring a bit of extra energy and traffic nearby, but also the chance to hear touring acts from a blanket on the grass. Warm nights, river breezes, and the glow from the stage make it one of the city’s signature experiences.
  
  

• Deschutes River Trail: The Deschutes River Trail is a network of paths that follows the river through town. People run, walk dogs, and bike here before or after work, which is why many buyers zero in on active listings that back up to trail segments or sit a short ride away. You’ll hear everything from rushing water near small rapids to quieter stretches where only footfalls and conversation carry.
  
  

• High Desert Museum: High Desert Museum is a regional museum and Smithsonian Affiliate that blends wildlife encounters with living-history exhibits. It’s a regular stop for locals who want to understand the landscape and cultures that shaped Central Oregon, and its location just outside town keeps it easy to reach from most neighborhoods. Kids remember the animal exhibits; adults tend to linger at the history displays before heading back toward town and their part of the city.
  
  

• Bend Ale Trail: Bend Ale Trail is a self-guided route connecting over 30 breweries across the area. Many residents treat it as an excuse to explore new corners of town and get a feel for different streets, making it surprisingly useful for buyers who want to pair house hunting with seeing how various neighborhoods feel at night. From patios near the Old Mill District to tucked-away spots on side streets, you get a sense of where you’d like your next home base to be.
  
  

Bend, Oregon School Scene

Bend is served by the Bend-La Pine School District, which is often a deciding factor for buyers comparing different homes for sale across town. Residents frequently look at district maps alongside active listings, especially when they care about access to specific magnet programs or high-scoring campuses.

Notable schools include:

• Elementary: High Lakes Elementary (Rated 5/5, GreatSchools), Highland Magnet at Kenwood (Rated 5/5, GreatSchools).
  
  

• Middle: Pacific Crest Middle School, High Desert Middle School.
  
  

• High: Summit High School (Rated 9/10, GreatSchools), Bend Senior High.
  
  

For higher education, OSU-Cascades and Central Oregon Community College (COCC) offer local degree programs that keep students and staff in the housing mix.

Crime & Peace-of-Mind in Bend, Oregon

Bend is widely viewed as a safe community for its size, and that perception is backed by the numbers. 

• Violent crime rate: 1.5 incidents per 1,000 residents

• Property crime rate: 15 incidents per 1,000 residents

Neighborhoods such as Northwest Crossing and Awbrey Butte typically see very low incident levels, and the Bend Police Department maintains community policing and vacation-watch programs that many residents factor into their sense of security when they compare on-market properties.

Bend, Oregon Real Estate: Buyer FAQs

How competitive is the market for homes in Bend?

With average DOM at ~75 days, most homes don’t sit long. See the good ones early and have your pre-approval ready so you can write the day you find a fit. The most competitive activity shows up under $750,000, where well-presented listings in popular areas attract strong interest, while higher-priced homes and places that need work may give you slightly more room to negotiate.

What are property taxes like in Bend?

In Deschutes County, property taxes generally range between 0.9% and 1.1% of the assessed value. Oregon’s Measure 50 limits the growth of a property’s assessed value to 3% per year, so taxable values on many homes for sale can sit noticeably below real-market value. When you narrow in on specific MLS listings, it’s worth comparing the current assessed value and tax history as part of your monthly budget.

Is wildfire insurance difficult to get in Bend?

Wildfire coverage can be more complicated for certain locations, especially homes in the Wildland-Urban Interface that border national forest land in areas like Deschutes River Woods or Tetherow. Some properties may need specialized policies or higher premiums, so it’s smart to ask about a home’s fire-risk profile early and loop in a local insurance broker while you’re still evaluating on-market properties. That way, you understand both availability and cost before you move forward with an offer.

Can I build an ADU on my property in Bend?

Bend is generally progressive about Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as part of its effort to address housing supply, and most residential zones allow them when setback and size standards are met. Buyers often look at MLS listings with an eye toward whether the lot layout, utilities, and zoning make a future ADU realistic. If adding a rental is part of your plan, bring that up during showings so you can focus on homes for sale that fit the rules.

What is the sewer versus septic situation in Bend?

Most central neighborhoods, including Old Bend and River West, are on city sewer. On the outskirts, especially in Deschutes River Woods and some older pockets on the east side, many properties still rely on septic systems. As you compare active listings, it helps to note which homes are tied into sewer and which use septic, since that affects inspections, maintenance, and long-term planning.

Homes For Sale in Bend, Oregon

The city’s mix of established in-town streets and newer master-planned communities gives you options, whether you want a place close to St. Charles Health System or a house that makes weekend trips up to Mt. Bachelor feel easy. With active listings drawn from the Central Oregon MLS (COAR), you can track how different neighborhoods behave, compare townhomes and single-family homes, and see which on-market properties line up with your commute and lifestyle.

Listings are subject to the Fair Housing Act and Central Oregon MLS rules.