The Burma Road, Summit Trail, Misery Ridge Loop Can be Challenging

For those looking to undergo a challenging Central Oregon hike when the Cascades are covered with snow, Smith Rock State Park can provide many options. Typically very busy in the summer when rock climbing is at its peak and the weather warm, winter hikes in Smith Rock can be rewarding with fewer crowds and different perspectives of the rocks. Before sections of the park are shut off in the spring due to falcon nesting, hikers can explore little known social trails and see portions of the park rarely visited. However, for those who wish to exert themselves, hiking along the Wolf Creek trail until connecting with Burma Road, climbing it and then hiking the north side of the park along the Summit Trail, then up Mesa Verde until connecting with Misery Ridge and climbing the backside past Monkey Face to the summit until returning down to Crooked River and then up the canyon to the parking lot can be a fulfilling winter hike of over six miles and close to 1800 feet of elevation gain. During the winter, sometimes weather conditions can create icy patches, so microspikes and trekking poles can be helpful. But if the weather cooperates, the Burma Road, Misery Ridge Loop can be a wonderful challenge.

Is Central Oregon Real Estate Moving to a Balanced Market?

In Q3 2024, the Bend Oregon Real Estate market and surrounding communities experienced a change, moving closer to a balanced market after many years of being a seller's market. The number of listings grew, days on market increased, but prices appear to have leveled off, at least within Bend and Redmond. In Bend, Redmond, Powell Butte and Black Butte Ranch, the number of sold homes increased as third quarter 2024 also saw mortgage interest rates drop. Outside of Redmond and Sunriver, all of the Central Oregon real estate markets saw an increase in new listings year over year, many above 20%. This can partly be attributed to sellers recognizing that with lower mortgage interest rates, the cost of their replacement property would be less and the delayed move they planned on taking could finally happen.

What's in the September 2024 Bend Premier Real Estate Newsletter?

• Are Lower Mortgage Rates Spurring Bend Sales?
• Summertime Fruit Salad
• 10 Things to Do in September
• Take the Climbers Trail to Middle Sister
• Early Forecasts for the 2025 Housing Market

Central Oregon Market Trends 2nd Quarter 2024

Central Oregon Market Trends 1st Quarter 2024

The Central Oregon real estate market trends for the major urban areas continue to reflect a seller's market, although residential inventory levels have risen in most locations. The desperate lack of inventory experienced during Covid has changed, and while home prices overall continue to rise, in some smaller markets price reductions can be noted. With more inventory, days on market have also generally gone up, but well priced homes are still selling quickly and multiple offers can happen. Bend, Redmond and Sunriver are showing strong upward trends in all categories with home prices, listings, inventory levels and days on market all rising. Whether or not this trend continues in 2nd quarter with mortgage interest rates well about 7% remains to be seen.