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Posts from July 2024

All Things Central Oregon

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July
26

Many people living or visiting in Central Oregon will take the drive outside of Sisters to Three Creek Lake to enjoy the quiet of this 28 acre shallow lake, fishing, boating, swimming or just relaxing around the shoreline. The campgrounds in this area are usually very busy during the summer and many people will come up daily to recreate in the area.

Besides the lake, many will take the 5.3 mile round trip hike (permit required) above the lake to Tam McArthur Rim, gaining over 1200 feet in elevation to reach the rim. Typically the views from this spot are clear from Broken Top and the Three Sisters all the way to Mt. Hood. However, in recent years summer forest fires have added haze and smoke often obstructing the views.

Tam McArthur Rim Tam McArthur Rim

On July 20, 2024, the day started with a slight haze but by the end of the day, the smoke from forest fires settled into the area. However, the hike to Tam McArthur Rim was uneventful with just a handful of people also taking the same trek. 

Tam McArthur Rim Tam McArthur Rim
Tam McArthur Rim Tam McArthur Rim

Past Tam McArthur Rim, the unmaintained trail to Broken Hand and Broken Top had abundant wildflowers for this alpine area as well as heavier snow patches than experienced in past years. The approach to Broken Hand involves scrambling over rocks and climbing several cinder ridges before reaching this rugged, rocky prominence. To pass it this July involved either detouring around the rocky base, hiking over snow fields, or trekking directly over snow on Broken Hand's westside. Either way people needed to be careful to avoid falling and sliding down the snowy hill. The majority of people appeared to be going directly over the snowy side of Broken Hand.


Broken Hand Tam McArthur Rim

Past Broken Hand, there is a hill to climb to reach a fabulous view point. From here, the cragged top and colorful flanks of Broken Top are very visible (along with ski tracks from recent, ambitious past visitors who must have either rope climbed to the top of Broken Top and rappelled down or else made their was up the very steep side of the mountain to the top of the snow patch and skied down to the lake) as well as snow and ice covered No Name Lake. Besides Broken Top, the Three Sisters are very big and impressive from this view point and Mt. Bachelor and Tumalo Mountain visible in the hazy distance. The hike back to the trail head goes fairly fast as it is mostly downhill.  All in all, the entire hike is under eleven miles and about 2150 feet of elevation gain.

Tam McArthur Rim Tam McArthur Rim
July
24

There's an interesting trend happening in the housing market. People are increasingly moving to more affordable areas, and remote or hybrid work is helping them do it.

Consider Moving to a More Affordable Area

Today's high mortgage rates combined with continually rising 

Click Here to Read More...

July
19

Bend Luxury Home Buyers Have More Options


The figures are out and the first six months of 2024 reflects an increase in Bend homes for sale over $1,000,000. The amount of Bend luxury home inventory is significantly up compared with 2023 and 2022 which leads to more options for the Bend home buyers who can afford a high end home. The days on market are rising and home sellers who really need to sell are recognizing that with more competition, asking price needs to reflect today's market...

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July
17

Marion Mountain Hike has it All in Central Oregon

Past Santiam Pass off Hwy 22 over the bridge at Marion Forks is the turn off to the trail head for Marion Lake/Mountain. Hikers have to travel over 5 miles down a paved, then decent gravel road to the trail head and must present a forest pass to hike the trail. Once past the trail head, hikers climb two miles through old growth forest until they reach Lake Ann, accessing the lake shore over a stone covered creek which flows from the lake. The trail skirts the end of Lake Ann and after a half a mile, reaches Marion Lake.

Marion Mountain Hike Marion Mountain hike
Marion Mountain Marion Mountain

The trail splits here. Hikers wishing to take the path next to Marion Lake can do so, and others wishing to bypass the lake and travel on to either Marion Falls or Marion Mountain can do that. The path to Marion Mountain connects again with the path next to the lake, but past the lake the path steepens as hikers gain elevation hiking up Marion Mountain. There are scattered open areas (complete with the remnants of forest fires) and forested areas as the remaining miles to the top of the mountain are climbed. At the top of the mountain the views of Mt Jefferson and Three Fingered Jack are wonderful. The viewpoint is on a narrow rocky outcrop with steep drop-offs on each side. On July 13, 2024, butterflies and summer wildflowers were abundant.

Marion Mountain Marion Mountain - Three Fingered Jack

On the hike back to the trail head, an unmarked path near the Marion Lake junction leads to Marion Falls. Hikers to the falls have to traverse over and around downed trees and a very steep path to get to Marion Falls. However, seeing the falls up close is wonderful. There is another steeper path to access the lower falls which adventurous hikers can take. The negative of seeing the falls up close is the steep path - which has to be climbed to get out and back to the main path back to the trail head.  All in all, the total distance traveled was over 11 miles with over 2200 feet of elevation gain.

Marion Falls Marion Mountain
July
15

Central Oregon Market Trends 2nd Quarter 2024

The Central Oregon real estate 2024 market trends for most of the major urban areas continue to reflect a seller's market in 2nd quarter, although that has changed in La Pine where inventory levels at 7.4 months reflect a buyer's market; Powell Butte and Madras are in a balanced market at 6 months. Although still in a seller's market, inventory is at a level in Bend that hasn't been seen since July, 2015 when the average home price was $391,000 and mortgage interest rates were at 4%.* With more inventory, days on market have also ticked up, but well priced homes can still sell quickly and multiple offers can happen. BendRedmond and Sunriver are showing strong upward trends in all categories (the only exception for Bend is the number of homes sold) with home prices, listings, inventory levels and days on market all rising. As we move into 3rd quarter, we expect mortgage interest rates may drop, which could enable more home buyers to afford a Central Oregon home.




*Data from Central Oregon MLS, July, 2024.
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