LEE is a principal broker in Oregon and Washington, affiliated in Oregon with Metolius Property Sales and is an independent managing broker in the Seattle area with Washington & Oregon Properties. His career has included development of marketing and public relations strategies for national and regional companies with commercial and residential projects in Denver and Seattle. Besides his real estate experience, Lee has been owner-publisher of  a 100-year-old weekly newspaper, and editor-reporter for daily newspapers and an international wire service.
additional background

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market reportS:
Central Oregon's real estate market continues to struggle following the boom of mid-decade but there are signs the market is stabilizing. Although short sales and foreclosures lead regional activity new construction in appealing neighborhoods has also attracted buyers. Get the details:

"This is Bend" - A photo tour and market overview in early 2011 (PowerPoint format)


 

TRACKING CENTRAL OREGON MARKETS:
Focus on Bend - a continuing blog report
Market trends
Luxury market
Vineyards and wineries (11)
Land conversation
Land use issues
Resort development
Economic development
Recreation

PREVIOUS MARKET REPORTS

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The summaries and links that follow provide a starting point if you're considering property in Central Oregon or Washington. I'd be pleased to provide additional details from the multiple listing services, government records or other sources and offer my opinion of specific or comparable properties.

CENTRAL OREGON PROPERTIES
Search the Central Oregon Multiple Listing Service
WASHINGTON STATE PROPERTIES
Search the Northwest Multiple Listing Service

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RANCH AT tHE CANYONS (PowerPoint slide show) or  View in magazine format
The incomparable beauty of the Smith Rock area above the Crooked River is the natural backdrop for the 1,700-acre Ranch at the Canyons, a working preservation ranch. For  60 landholders, the Ranch will be a home with plenty of room to enjoy the varied bounty of Central Oregon--lakes stocked for fly fishing, the Crooked River, hiking or horseback riding the canyons and river trails, rock climbing "Monkey Face" in Smith Rock State Park, enjoying the hay and grape harvest and sipping wine bottled at the Ranch. As the exclusive onsite listing broker I have considerable knowledge of Ranch opportunities. Contact me for details: lee@ranchatthecanyons.com.

spectacular ranch at the canyons setting & home to match Tour the property-PowerPoint slide show
Inspired by villas of Italy this 5,000 square foot home rests on the rim above the Crooked River in the remarkable setting of Ranch at the Canyons, with scenery so captivating it has been the site of several major films. Four bedrooms, each en suite, with an infinity pool facing the imposing spires of Smith Rocks. Fly fish the lakes at the Ranch and participate in the wine grape harvest at the vineyard. View slide show in magazine format  PDF

on the river in BEnd, Oregon Tour the property-PowerPoint slide show
Fly fish on the river below your 4,500 square feet, 4 bedroom, 4bath home with guest studio above the 3-car garage. On nearly 1.8 acres with easy trail access to the Deschutes River and some of the best fly fishing for Brown trout and Native Redsides. Yet only a 10 minute drive to downtown Bend and 5 minutes to the 1st tee of the Awbrey Glen Golf Club. View slide show in magazine format.   PDF

LIVE NEXT TO A VINEYARD and winery ON the AGRI-TOURISM TRAIL
Enjoy privacy and serenity in one of the Central Oregon's most fertile agricultural area. Choose from 6 home sites of approximately 5 acres each, or build on a 116 acre farm parcel with 112 acres of irrigation with an existing hay sale contract. Another parcel has a home on 4 acres. Spectacular Cascade and territorial views.
Tour the properties-PowerPoint slide show  or View in magazine format.  PDF  Looping presentation

equestrian property with great mountain views and privacy SOLD
Impeccably-maintained Central Oregon ranch property with nearly-new covered arena and 6 stalls, additional 3-stall barn, 9-plus acres with newer pole fencing,8 acres irrigation and expansive mountain views. Custom-built, open floor plan single-story home. Home has an excellent lease in place. Co-listed with Metolius Property Sales.
details on this property - PDF brochure

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NIGHTLY RENTAL INCOME
RARE 8 PLUS ACRE HEAVILY WOODED MOUNTAIN VIEW PROPERTY & HOME
This type of acreage with spectacular views at this price is difficult to find in all of Central Oregon. Chalet-style home is ideal as a vacation getaway or could be expanded for larger family. New decks, gas furnace and chef-quality range just 10 minutes from downtown Sisters, Oregon.  Details on this property - PDF brochure  ... Try it before you buy it - Sisters Vacation Rentals-property 7563, Cabin on Vista Ridge.

BEND CITY & MT. BACHELOR VIEWS SOLD
This is one of the few lots available on the southern exposure of Awbrey Butte, with views of Mt. Bachelor, Pilot Butte and the Old Mill District. A mature neighborhood offering west-side schools and easy access to Central Oregon Community College and the Oregon State University Bend campus.
details on this property - PDF brochure

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PINE MEADOW VILLAGE-EXCEPTIONAL VIEW LOT New price $102,000! SOLD
This lot within Sisters prestigious Pine Meadow Village offers a protected view open space corridor with expansive views of the Three Sisters and Broken Top peaks. The home site is bordered on two sides by open space and a stream, and is two blocks to the community clubhouse, pool and tennis courts.  details on this property - brochure

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Washington State Properties:
As a licensed Realtor in Washington for over 20 years I'm knowledgeable in a wide range of resort, residential and commercial properties. There is particularly strong interest at this time in properties around the new Suncadia destination resort on the dry east slope of the Cascades just 90 miles from Seattle.
I'm also familiar with resort areas such as Lake Chelan--with its orchards and vineyards which produce premium estate wines--and the Methow Valley, gateway to the spectacular North Cascades National Park and home to the country's premier recreational trails system and trophy fly fishing on the Methow River. PHOTO GALLERY

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SUNCADIA RESORT, Cle Elum, Washington
Call or e-mail for complete  listings
Until the emergence of 6,000-acre Suncadia resort in 2003, premier destination resorts in Washington state were mostly confined to the "moist" side of the Cascade mountain range. Bisected by the scenic Cle Elum River, Suncadia is situated in mature stands of pine, Douglas fir and aspen trees that spread through home sites and along the resort's two golf courses and the private 18-holes at Tumble Creek. In 2008, the Lodge at Suncadia with its 160 condo-style units opened on a bluff overlooking the river. Since 2005 overnight guests have enjoyed the Prospector Inn, which also provides fine dining and serves as the Prospector course pro shop. Also opened in 2008 were the resort spa adjacent to the lodge and a new recreation center. Home sites of approximately a half-acre and more range from the mid-$200,000s to more than $1 million in the Tumble Creek area. Family-size cabins and homes are available from under $1 million to more than $2 million. I've represented buyers and sellers at Suncadia.  (email for an overview brochure)

THE METHOW VALLEY of Washington
Experience the largest recreational trails system in the Northwest
The New York Times praised Washington's pristine Methow Valley as an outdoor haven for the physically fit. That might be expected as "the Met-ow," boasts the nation's largest recreational trails system, including the second most extensive cross-country ski system. Maybe that's why many of the country's top Nordic skiers, including a couple of Olympians, make the Methow their home. Properties available range from small acreages near the western-themed town of Winthrop to cabins nestled among aspen, spruce, fir and pine as well as working ranches and condominiums.The North Cascades Highway crosses the spectacular "American Alps" in summer, but closes for winter as 10 feet or more of snow accumulates on the scenic route. The paved and lighted airfield can accommodate general aviation jets with a 5,505 foot runway and fuel service.
Contact me for a list of available Methow Valley properties.

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(Note that individual properties may be listed with different real estate offices. Prices cited may be higher or lower for properties available at any given time. Any information presented is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)
Most links in this site are customized to provide quick access to information. Please e-mail me for more information or let me know if any links are not functioning properly:
leemvnews@aol.com 

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OREGON Properties:

About black Butte
Black Butte Ranch:
(MAP) Along with Sunriver and Eagle Crest, Black Butte helped create Central Oregon as a vacation destination. Today it attracts vacation homeowners as well as full time residents and retirees. Although BBR is essentially a "built out" community, a few vacant home sites occasionally come to market. It's an appealing place, with golf, an extensive bike-hike trail  system, a clubhouse with fine dining and spectacular views of the Sisters peaks and its namesake Black Butte. Existing homes and condos are listed from the $300,000s to more than $1,000,000.

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Pine Meadow Village: Pine meadow village MAP
This is the largest master planned community within the town of Sisters. The community offers protected mountain and open space views and is an easy walk to the Sisters business and shopping core. There are more than 110 single family homesites, as well as sites for about 80 condominiums and townhomes. (click photos to enlarge) Pine Meadow has a completed clubhouse with pool and tennis courts. Also planned are a hotel with dining, spa and conference facilities. Besides home sites, a number of completed single family and condominium homes are now available. Call or e-mail for a brochure.

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Sisters' established neighborhoods:
Crossroads and Tollgate  are within two miles of downtown Sisters. Tollgate has a clubhouse, pool and tennis facilities. Home prices generally range from the low $300,000s.To the north on Camp Polk Road, are Indian Ford Ranch and Sage Meadow. Indian Ford has access to many horseback riding trails Coyote Springs and Buck Run in the town limits have new craftsman-styled homes starting in the upper $300,000s. Timber Creek near the elementary school has homes starting in the lower $200,000s. There are also new  townhomes below $200,000. Just east of downtown on nicely-treed sites along Wychus Creek is the Creekside neighborhood.

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RANCH & Horse properties:
Central Oregon is known to be horse-friendly, and by some estimates has one of the highest rates of horse ownership in Oregon. Many smaller properties of only a few acres have barns or corrals. Larger ranch-type properties may include multiple paddocks and arenas, and a few have indoor facilities. A key advantage to having a horse in the Sisters area is easy access to hundreds of thousands of acres of BLM and Forest Service lands.

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Camp Sherman and Metolius River area: (METOLIUS FISHING)
Most Northwest fly fishers have heard of the Metolius, a remarkable blue ribbon river that emerges from underground just above the historic Camp Sherman store. Native redband and bull trout up to several pounds attract anglers on this year-round catch and release stream. Metolius Meadows has 147 home sites, about 70 with existing homes and privileges of a community pool, stables and  tennis courts. Many sites have views of Black Butte and the Cascade peaks. Also unique to the Camp Sherman area are 108 cabins, many retaining their rustic character, sited along the Metolius River on Forest Service special use permit land.These cabins are rarely available for sale.

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Aspen Lakes:
This 550 acre golf community is just east of the Sisters town limits. Golf Digest  named the 7,302 yard par 72 course among its top 10 "affordable public courses"  back in 2002.  Lot prices generally range from the $300,000s depending on fairway siting and views with some homes starting below $1 million.

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PREMIER HOMES AND LAND:
There are several special projects with extensive open space in unique recreation settings around Sisters. An example of a unique property is the Deschutes River Ranch, with 420 acres--350 acres to remain in open space--along the middle Deschutes River northwest of Bend in Tumalo.There are hiking and riding trails along this trout-rich stream and upland areas. Cascade Meadow Ranch just west of Sisters offers buyers more than 300 acres in a gated community with common open space for horses, an equestrian center and clubhouse. Homes are in the $800,000 to $1.5 million range with lots starting in the $300,000s.

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The Pronghorn Club:
This new 640-acre community between Bend and Redmond represents the first time that Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio have created golf courses, comprising 420 acres, in the same project. Developer Hix-Rubenstein has planned 300 homesites as well as a fractional interest residence club which opened in 2007. Hix-Rubenstein also created the vineyard and golf resort Corde Valle near San Jose.

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Eagle Crest resort:
Eagle Crest borders the middle Deschutes River on 1,700 acres nearer to Redmond but only about 15 miles from downtown Sisters. Besides the lodge, clubhouse, pool and tennis facilities, Eagle Crest has three golf courses. Home site prices range from the upper $100,000s depending on size and views. Townhomes/smaller chalets start in the $200,000s.

 

PREVIOUS MARKET REPORTS

• PAST MARKET REPORTS
  January 2010 - The 2009 year end market report. Hoping for a turnaround  (PDF format)  OR  Issuu Magazine format
  
  Past Years: Looking back to early 2009 and the year end 2008 market report. Compare the numbers and trend.
   

• SEATTLE AREA:
  January 2010 - 2009 market report from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service for 21 Washington counties.
   
• Seattle condo market at year end 2009. A report from The Seattle Condo Blog.

 

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