Sunriver Real Estate Market Update

Sunriver Real Estate Market Summary Information and Update

Simply said, the Sunriver real estate market is rather complex. There is no simple or canned answer for what has happened in the past, what is currently happening, or what will happen moving forward. The market is sliced into between 10 and 20 different mini segments (if not many more), depending upon how general or specific one is looking to get.

Let’s begin with the market as a whole. Homes for sale within Sunriver currently range from just over a million dollars to just under 200k. Of the 176 Single family residences, town homes and condos for sale, somewhere between 75% and 80% are listed below 500k. Meanwhile, homes under 500k account for 88% of the homes currently pended or sold in 2011. Needless to say, the most active end of the market are homes sold for less than 500k. To further support the notion that the more active end of the market is below 500k consider the following…

The average square footage of a home currently for sale in Sunriver is 2,040, while the 2011 Sunriver average square footage for a home that has sold or is currently pended is 1,922. The 2011 average price per square foot in Sunriver for pended and sold properties is $179. Based on these statistics, the 2011 average value of a home sold or currently pended within Sunriver is 346k.

At this point, you may be wondering if the most active end of the market is synonymous with the strongest end of the market…

The average price per square foot for Sunriver homes over 500k that were sold or are pended in 2011 was $202. Meanwhile, the average price per square foot for Sunriver homes under 500k that have sold or are pended in 2011 was $176. Typically, a smaller home will command a higher price per square foot because the land the home is built upon factors into the properties overall value. Also, If you are the biggest house in a subdivision and the ratio of smaller homes to bigger homes is slanted heavily in favor of smaller homes, the smaller homes will impact the value of larger homes in a negative way. Obviously that is not currently the case within Sunriver and there are many varibles that help create the paradox.

Confused yet? Let’s look at distressed properties and their affect on the Sunriver Real Estate Market…

As is the case with most real estate markets, short sales and bank owned homes have had a significant impact on the Sunriver market. However, the impact upon Sunriver stemming directly from non-traditional sales has been less than that of other areas of Central Oregon. Let’s use Bend, the largest area as an example. 2011 Bend real estate sales were comprised of just over 50% non-traditional sales (aka short sales and bank owned homes). In contrast, Sunriver real estate sales were comprised of just under 15%. Furthermore, non-traditional active listings represent 23% of active listings in Bend. Whereas non-traditional active listings represent just 8% of active listings in Sunriver.

Certain homes with certain features do have the ability to exist outside of all of the averages and trends, here are a few…
-Homes boasting a open or great room floor plan will typically sell for more than homes without the sought after feature.
-Homes boasting a 4th bedroom with relatively small square footage are in short supply and are able to command a small amount more when it comes to sale price.
-Homes that have been meticulously maintained will typically have a lower days on market statistic to their credit.
-Homes that have been completely updated or remodeled will command a premium. This is the most glaring trend I’ve noticed of the Sunriver real estate market.

It’s not always all rosy to exist outside of the averages…
-Homes near the railroad tracks, near the sewer facility, backing up to S. Century, or near a busy road like Beaver will sell for less than properties outside of those areas and will also experience a higher DOM or days on market.

What I’m trying to illustrate with this update is that the Sunriver real estate market is a little like a rabbit hole, no one can be completely sure of where it will lead. What’s certain is that it is imperative to rely upon someone who is aware of the “mini segments” and understands how to interpret them in relation to your specific real estate situation. Additionally, in my opinion it is dangerous to completely rely upon historical knowledge and wisdom. Although history is often times a great predictor of the future, if that is the only variable being considered it can produce disastrous results. Considering today’s real estate market is glaringly different than that of any other time, there is no substitute for a fresh look at your specific real estate situation and how it relates to the current state of the market, anything else is incomplete and likely incorrect.

Please feel free to leave comments below…

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Sunriver Real Estate FAQ’s, Own or Rent… Part 3

In parts one and two of this three part series we discussed personal factors to consider when choosing to own or rent a home. Today in part three we will discuss the pros to renting…

Benefits of Renting

Limited Commitment - Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of renting is the limited commitment that is required of tenants allowing, them more flexibility to relocate as circumstances change. Leases often only require an initial six-month or one-year term, allowing a lot of flexibility for tenants. At worse case, if something unexpected comes up and you need to move before the initial lease is up you are frequently out a deposit for breaking the contract, but you don’t need to sell a house before you can move or to free up your cash.

Repairs and Maintenance - In many circumstances, a tenant needs only to contact the property owner or manager to have repairs taken care of. And for those who don’t have the time or inclination to keep up a yard, renting a property where the upkeep is taken care of can be a real plus.

Roommates - Many people choose to have roommates to help defray housing costs by splitting the cost of rent as well as utilities. Although this tends to appeal more to young adults, it is not limited exclusively to the younger crowd. As the economy has created new challenges, some homeowners have begun seeking roommates to ease financial burdens by filling empty rooms in their homes.

Have questions or comments? Comments are heavily encouraged and are a good way to gain feedback on thoughts you may be having about the topic. Also, if you have a specific question or thought, please email me and it will be my pleasure to be of resource.

Email: khoak@prunw.com Cell: 541-639-7760 Visit me online: www.centraloregonrealestate-kylehoak.com

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Own Real Estate In Sunriver or Rent… Part 2

In part 1 of this 3 part series we discussed some of the personal variables to factor in when making the decision to own real estate or rent. Now in part 2 we will consider the positives of home ownership…

Benefits of Purchasing a Home

Ownership - For most people, owning their home is a key element of attaining the American Dream. And there is nothing quite like buying your first home and realizing it is all yours (provided of course that you continue to make your mortgage payments on time). Homeowners also tend to view their purchase an investment and have incentive to keep their property in good repair.

Building Equity – Obviously the largest benefit is that you are now building equity in your own property instead of contributing to the equity in someone else’s property via rent payments. Historically, home ownership has been a long-standing means of building long-term wealth.

Decorating Without Limitations - As an owner, you have the freedom to personalize your property to your heart’s content, subject only to local code and any applicable Homeowners’ Association rules, unlike when you rent and experience many restrictions as to what you can and cannot do to the rental property. No need to get approval to paint interior walls, change flooring, install custom closet organizers, or complete minor home improvement projects. Although larger remodel projects may require getting permits, other than meeting code requirements, you are limited only by your budget and creativity when making changes to reflect your personal tastes and style.

Financial Stability - Fixed rate mortgages result in both greater financial stability and predictability. Assuming a fixed-rate mortgage, over time your housing costs should become a smaller percentage of your monthly budget as your income continues to grow while the mortgage remains constant. Additionally, fixed mortgages offer a great deal of predictability when preparing long-term budgets. Although repairs and maintenance will need to be factored in, there will be no surprises with unexpected hikes in rent.

Personal Benefits – Owning property frequently allows you a greater opportunity to meet neighbors and develop friendships with others that hold values similar to your own. And unlike apartment dwellers that tend to be more nomadic and view their unit as just a place to sleep at night, homeowner’s tend to move less often and view their homes as investments. It is also not uncommon to find neighbors that were drawn to the area for many of the same reasons that caught your attention – good reputation of schools, easy access to public transportation, close proximity to outdoor activities, the architecture of the homes, or the availability of shopping, dining and entertainment within walking distance – giving you something in common right from the beginning to build upon.

In part three of this three part series we will examine the benefits of renting…

In the mean time, did you have questions or comments? Comments are heavily encouraged and are a good way to gain feedback on thoughts you may be having about the topic. Also, if you have a specific question or thought, please email me and it will be my pleasure to be of resource.

Email: khoak@prunw.com Cell: 541-639-7760 Visit me online: www.centraloregonrealestate-kylehoak.com

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Own Sunriver Real Estate or Rent It… Part 1

Should You Purchase or Rent a Home In Sunriver?

There are many factors to be considered when deciding to move to a new location with the first critical decision being whether to purchase some property or rent. Depending upon your circumstances, it may either be a clear-cut decision or one that requires a more thorough analysis to make that determination. These circumstances will be disscussed in this three part series over the next couple of days… Enjoy part 1! 

Factors to Consider

Career - For some individuals, it may not be practical to purchase property if their career will require them to relocate frequently. Although some people have the resources and inclination to accumulate property each time they move, for most of us that is either not an option or would be an undesirable outcome to find ourselves in the role of landlord. For the majority of us, that means we need to sell property each time we move, so careful analysis is required to determine whether it is better to buy or rent property for the duration of the assignment. One item to consider is that it generally takes 3 – 5 years under average real estate market conditions to reach the break even point for recouping the closing costs incurred at the time of purchase. Individual situations will vary, but in a stagnant real estate market it will take longer to realize enough in property appreciation to cover the transaction costs related to acquiring and selling property.

Property Resale – Not all Sunriver properties or real estate markets are equal when it comes time to sell property. Factors to weigh include the typical length of time it takes to sell property in your area or the area you are interested in which you are interested, and if there is something unique about the property (price range, location, size) that you are interested in that would make it either easier or harder to sell. Whether or not you have relocation benefits available to you through an employer if you are unable to sell your property may also be a factor.

Finances – The purchase of a Sunriver property typically involves significant upfront cash outlays: pre-purchase inspections, a down payment and closing costs. Equally important is whether or not sufficient income is available to cover the mortgage/escrow payments while still having enough income to adequately take care of other living expenses, car payments as well as saving for retirement. The lack of sufficient funds may quickly eliminate any thought of purchasing property and dictate that in the interim renting, living with family members or some other living arrangement will be required until enough funds can be saved.

Relationship Status – Personal relationships can play an important part in deciding to purchase property. Engaged or newly married couples often are looking to establish a single common property on which to build their future together. Single or newly divorced adults may not be ready or interested in making a long-term obligation to a specific location and prefer to leave their options open as they pursue relationships, careers, other interests and hobbies.

Personal Preference – While some people feel a strong need to own property, others don’t want the responsibility of maintaining property (especially in Sunriver which has occasional heavy winters) and prefer to simply pick up the phone at the first sign of any possible trouble and have someone else be responsible for remedying the issue at hand.

In the next part of this three part series we will examine the benefits of home ownership in Sunriver…

In the mean time, did you have questions or comments? Comments are heavily encouraged and are a good way to gain feedback on thoughts you may be having about the topic. Also, if you have a specific question or thought, please email me and it will be my pleasure to be of resource.

Email: khoak@prunw.com Cell: 541-639-7760 Visit me online: www.centraloregonrealestate-kylehoak.com

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Adding A Second Story To A Sunriver One Story Home

Home in SunriverSunriver Home renovations often time call for more than just granite counter tops and travertine floors. When the plan for remodel includes structural changes, the SROA development department must be contacted.

In regards to adding a second story onto a one story home, it is possible. Height restrictions in Sunriver is as follows… A structure under 21 ft requires a 5 ft setback from property lines, whereas a structure or home over 21 ft must maintain a 7 1/2 ft setback from it’s property line(s). A overall height restriction of 30 ft caps how tall a structure can be within Sunriver.

Interested In Sunriver Homes For Sale? View Sunriver Home Listings Here…

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