After reading the title of this blog, you may find yourself wondering, “Why shouldn’t I choose a Bend OR real estate agent off of Zillow?” What could the harm be? What differences are there between realtors that reading reviews online wouldn’t give me? Choosing a realtor off of Zillow for Bend OR takes the human element out of home buying and selling.

Beyond providing shelter, our homes create the setting where we develop and connect with other people. For many, finding their next home means finding the place where their child or grandchild may take their first steps. Where you share stories and bottles of wine. Where life happens. Sometimes you may luck out by searching for a realtor on Zillow for Bend OR and find that the person with the most reviews will be the perfect match for your needs. On the other hand, choosing a real estate agent on Zillow may not lead to your dream home with the best possible buying or selling experience.

Why Work With Tuttle and Tuttle Instead of Finding a Realtor on Zillow for Bend OR

When it comes to selecting a realtor to help you buy or sell your next home, the human element plays a large role. You’ll be interacting with this person or team to handle the sale or purchase of one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your lifetime. Beyond how you get along with and communicate with a realtor, their experience speaks volumes. At Tuttle and Tuttle, Scott and I both bring long careers in finance and the title and escrow industries to the table.

We have a long-standing connection to Central Oregon — we were married in Sunriver in 1991 and were able to purchase a second home in the area in 2004. We relocated to Central Oregon full-time in 2009 and decided to use our collective experience in real estate to the help Central Oregon residents find their dream homes in Bend and Sunriver. Every year since 2014, Scott and I have been in the top 2% of all real estate sales in Central Oregon.

Searching for a realtor on Zillow for Bend may help you find a real estate agent, but when you choose to work with Tuttle and Tuttle, you benefit from our combined experience in finance, marketing, negotiation and a cultivated love for Central Oregon and knowledge of the area. We encourage you to reach out, talk to us on the phone, meet us in person and work with us to establish the true connection you seek in a broker-client relationship.

Reviews for Tuttle and Tuttle

Don’t just take our word for it. We have been able to help buyers and sellers throughout the Central Oregon region. With 12 new people moving to Central Oregon daily, many of our clients come from out of town and typically don’t have an established relationship with a broker in the area. We bring an elevated level of knowledge about the area and the Central Oregon real estate market to the table for our clients.

“Scott and Robin were such a pleasure to work with. We are from out of state and from the very first information call with Scott, we knew we had contacted an extremely knowledgeable realtor. Then, when we met him in person, we were so impressed with how informative he was and how much time he took with us. We felt we could trust him completely. His delightful associate Danielle drove us all around different properties and she quickly got a sense of what kind of property we were looking for. They kept us informed of all the properties for sale in Sunriver that fit our needs and within a few months, they found the perfect house for us. The whole process went very smoothly and quickly. They also had helpful recommendations for local companies who could help us with any improvements we wanted to make on the house. We would highly recommend them!”

Realtor Approved

We had the privilege of working with a couple in the real estate industry to assist in the selling of their old home and purchase of a new home. The couple couldn’t have been more pleased and would encourage you to work with the Tuttle and Tuttle team in the future.

“Scott and Robyn Tuttle, and their associate Jordan Bailey are the Dream Team for selling and buying real estate in Central Oregon. My husband and I are both in the real estate industry and get to witness first hand, the highs and lows of this field, which has the potential to make us tough clients to please. Our choice to work with Scott and Robyn was the best we could have made. From start to finish we were blown away by the kindness, knowledge, expertise, attention to detail and professionalism Robyn and Scott brought to the sale of our existing home, and purchase of our new home. We could not be more pleased with our experience, and will be referring everyone we know to the Tuttle & Tuttle Team!”

Choose the Right Partner

In a blog post published by Zillow (How to Find Your Perfect Real Estate Agent), they refer to their Agent Finder functionality as “a real estate Tinder.” At Tuttle and Tuttle, we don’t believe choosing a real estate agent comes down to the quick, aesthetics-only style of dating promoted by Zillow. Buying real estate is a major investment, one that takes time, consideration, research and a partner who will be there for you for the long haul. Choosing the person who helps you buy or sell your home shouldn’t come down to the fleeting feelings of the swipe culture. It anchors on experience, determination and true human connection.

Instead of relying on the snap decisions of swiping in the Tinder-style real estate Agent Finder functionality on Zillow for Bend, we encourage you to develop a true connection with a skilled agent. At Tuttle and Tuttle, we know that when it comes to buying your next home, you’re looking for an agent who understands the long-term relationship you want to have with this piece of property. We specialize in uniting extraordinary homes with extraordinary people and would love to meet you in person to chat about your future.

Asking price $425,000

All you need is your suitcase. Start making memories today. This beautiful home situated in the pine trees has everything you’ve been looking for. Enjoy your morning soak in the hot tub on the large back deck over looking the water. More than half acre of privacy with an oversized 25 X 30 garage & storage building for all your toys. Just minutes to Sunriver Resort, Mt. Bachelor and countless lakes and trails.

Negotiation is a subtle art in real estate, but skilled negotiators can usually find some common ground that satisfies all parties. On the other hand, using the wrong negotiation tactics can sink a deal pretty quickly. Here are some negotiation tactics buyers (and real estate professionals) should avoid:

1. Lowball offers: Going far below market value when you make an offer damages your credibility as a buyer and can be insulting to the seller. The seller has a range in mind that they’ll accept, and if you’re not even approaching the low end of that range, they won’t even consider the offer.
2. Incremental negotiations: Don’t continue to go back to the seller with small increases in your offer ($1,000 or less). The constant back-and-forth can grow tiresome and lead the seller to consider other opportunities.
3. “Take it or leave it”: Try not to draw a line in the sand with your initial offer. The seller can get defensive and consider other offers if you immediately show that you’re unwilling to budge. Even if it’s true, don’t make a show of it.
4. Nitpicking after inspection: Obviously if inspection reveals a major issue, it should be factored into the final sale price. But insisting on a lower price for every minor repair can put negotiations in a stalemate.
5. Asking for more, more, more: Some buyers will request that the sellers throw in add-ons like furniture or appliances that weren’t included in the listing. Try to avoid giving the seller a reason to build up resentment and think that you’re being greedy.

With housing prices continuing to trend upward in the Bend real estate market, Robyn and I often get asked, “Do you think there’s a bubble? When will the bubble burst?” After the bubble burst in 2006, many Central Oregon residents fear another recession and rising housing costs remind buyers of the rise they saw in the early 2000s. At Tuttle and Tuttle, we don’t believe there is a Bend real estate bubble and as long as the current demand continues, so will the trend in upward pricing.

A Different Market Today

When considering the possibility of a Bend real estate bubble, it’s important to know the difference between the current market and the pre-recession bubble market of 12 years ago. We don’t live under the same market conditions as we did in 2006 for a variety of reasons. According to CoreLogic reports, the typical mortgage payment high point in 2006 reflected an abundance of subprime and other risky home financing practices, which are no longer widely available. This allowed homebuyers to reach their financial max, creating an artificial price peak.

The report by CoreLogic also converts typical mortgage payments for inflation and while payments have trended higher in recent years, they remain below the record levels that hit back in June of 2006. In addition to high demand, Central Oregon housing prices continue to trend with inflation without hitting close to the record highs of the last housing bubble.

Concerns that lending institutions are easing standards to a similar level that assisted in creating the last housing bubble prove to be nowhere near as bad as they had been before the market crash. According to The Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center, lenders won’t tolerate defaults and they have imposed higher lending standards. In their July Housing Credit Availability Index, they revealed that space remains to safely expand the credit box, citing that we’re well within the safe, pre-crisis space.

Low Foreclosure Rates

One of the biggest factors in the last housing bubble burst came from the number of foreclosures that hit the market during that time. Today, foreclosure numbers are lower than they were before the housing boom. According to the Federal Reserve’s most recent Household Debt and Credit Report, we see much lower numbers of new foreclosures today:

• 2003: 203,320
• 2009: 566,180
• Today: 76,480

We see that foreclosure rates today are less than 40 percent of what they were during the housing boom in 2003. Lower foreclosure rates contribute to the current Bend real estate market and the argument against a Central Oregon housing bubble.

People Still Believe in Buying Houses

In an article by The Source Weekly, the local alternative paper, about 2018 real estate trends, they cite a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors that shows people still believe in buying houses. 86 percent of millennials surveyed agreed that buying a home is a good financial decision, but less than 40 percent of people 34 and under currently own homes nationwide. The study discusses debt as being a large factor for this, specifically student loan debt.

Is There a Bend Real Estate Bubble?

Some of the same factors still influence the Central Oregon real estate market — limited inventory and an influx of new people to the area, but our research doesn’t consider the current housing climate to be a bubble that will soon burst. Expect Bend real estate prices to even out, but due to inflation, lower foreclosure rates and higher lending standards, prices won’t necessarily be dropping in the near future.

Do you want more information about the Bend real estate market including trends and analysis? Reach out to Robyn and Scott Tuttle, your Central Oregon luxury real estate experts. We look forward to chatting with you about the Sunriver and Bend real estate market.

Choosing the ideal Central Oregon real estate broker can be difficult with the volume of qualified and talented agents in the region. That choice becomes instantly easier when you meet The Tuttle’s and our team at Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty. Scott and myself, Robyn Tuttle, relocated to Central Oregon from Portland in 2009. We decided to combine our extensive real estate backgrounds in order to help current and future Central Oregonians buy or sell their dream home in Bend and Sunriver. We specialize in uniting extraordinary homes with extraordinary lives.

Scott and Robyn Tuttle — Central Oregon Real Estate Brokers

Scott and I know what it’s like to transition from a bigger city like Portland to Central Oregon and we pass along this knowledge to our valued clients. As relocation specialists, we know what you’re looking for when considering a move to Central Oregon. We’ve been through it and can help you in your transition to the area. We’ve also owned investment properties in Sunriver and have history working with local property management companies, which gives us an edge over the competition.

Scott and I both have had long careers in the finance and title and escrow industries. We bring our executive-level management experience with Fortune 500 companies to our business and use those skills to make the home buying or selling process as seamless as possible for you. We boast skills in negotiation, marketing, market analysis, finance and effective communication. We know the ins and the outs of the Central Oregon real estate market and can help you find the ideal property for your lifestyle and personal requirements.

We have been in the top 2% of all real estate sales in Central Oregon every year since 2014 and only continue to grow and thrive in the area. We are top performers in all market conditions, which makes us the clear choice for your next Central Oregon realtors. We’ve mastered the Bend lifestyle and take great pleasure in connecting people with the right homes so they can live their Central Oregon dreams, as well.

Learn more about our awards, business highlights and qualifications on our About page.

Meet Jordan Bailey — Bend Realtor

Jordan Bailey comes to the Tuttle and Tuttle team by way of First American Title. She brings her strong experience in title and escrow to Cascade Sotheby’s, which provides extreme value for her clients. She is a licensed realtor and specializes in helping buyers find their dream homes in Central Oregon.

Jordan grew up in Portland and now loves living the Bend lifestyle with her growing family. Jordan and her family love enjoying everything that Central Oregon has to offer — including paddleboarding, hiking, and camping. She lives between Bend and Sisters, which gives her an advantage in selling real estate from Sunriver all the way to Sisters.

With Jordan on the Tuttle and Tuttle team, you can always count on someone being available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have during the home buying process.

Central Oregon Home Specialists

At Tuttle and Tuttle, our team specializes in helping Central Oregon home buyers and sellers in Bend, Sunriver, Redmond, Crosswater and Vandevert Ranch. You can count on Tuttle and Tuttle to assist you in buying or selling golf course properties, waterfront properties and investment properties. As personal investors, we can assist you in not only finding the perfect investment property for you, but also provide information on property management and vacation rental income in the area.

At Tuttle and Tuttle, we are your Central Oregon home specialists and it brings us no greater pleasure than uniting people with the ideal home. Start living the Bend or Sunriver life when you partner with Tuttle and Tuttle at Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty for your real estate needs. Contact us today, we look forward to learning more about you and your ideal dream home in Central Oregon.

$575,000

Serene, rolling grass to waterfront acreage property in beautiful Three Rivers South. Property boasts unobstructed waterfront views, beautifully landscaped, stunning floor to ceiling windows, great open floor plan and a gourmet kitchen. Home was fully remodeled and is ready for sunny mornings by the water, views of wildlife, pine trees and endless nature. Property includes 1200 sf heated shop with pull through garage.

Tax Lot 2500 / .68 acre is available for sale should potential buyer wish to buy at the same time.
They wish to not sell lot separately at this time, discounted purchase price of $60,000 is offered
if purchased with home.

 Tax Lot 2100 / 1 acre is available for sale should potential buyer wish to buy at the same time.
They wish to not sell lot separately at this time, discounted purchase price of $100,000 is offered
if purchased with home. The home has septic feasibility. Potential to have dock approved. A
previous dock was on the property and portion of it is still showing.

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 201809280 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

 Home was completely remodeled 2001. Property was taken to studs, all new plumbing, wiring,
etc. Seller has left pictures on the buffet.

 Septic was inspected and pumped in 2018

 2 Wood Stoves Propane tank is leased for $50 a year. It is used for the gas stove and the heater in the garage.

 Stove is a commercial convection 6 burner grill with double oven, refrigerator is subzero and all
stainless steel.

 Property has an artesian well.

 Home is wired for security, but not being used.

 RV Parking and access to electricity.

 The shop has a pull through garage door.

 Shop is heated, roughly 1200 sf, and includes large attic.

 Property is completely ready for hot tub. Owners removed old one due to move.

 The HOA is $20 a year and includes boat dock and park.

 Downstairs laundry room area has been plumbed for a wet bar or small kitchenette. Seller had
considered making this space into a mother-n-law unit

$315,000

Location! Just an easy walk or bike ride to the SHARC and Village. Three full sleeping areas and beautiful Pine-wood accents throughout. Updated flooring and kitchen Features fireplace, two slider doors to access the main deck, overlooking the nice commons behind. Lots of windows, including upper story windows, skylight for lots of natural light. Sold furnished.

$1,049,000

56750 Nest Pine Drive, Bend, OR 97707 (MLS # 201808895)

(all data current as of 1/8/2019)

You’ve already fallen in love with Bend. You love being able to hop on your mountain bike after work to throw up some dirt Phil’s Trail and you know the dates of each street festival throughout the year. Finding a new home in the ideal neighborhood plays a big role in your home buying process whether you’ve lived here for years and you want to find a new house in Bend or you plan on relocating from out of town. We encourage you to consider real estate in southwest Bend and specifically the River Rim and River Canyon Estates neighborhoods, which both specialize in creating a desirable place to live.

River Rim

You’ll find River Rim nestled off of Brookswood Boulevard in southwest Bend. The River Rim development includes 456 residential lots, a three-acre community park and a smaller commercial zone. The neighborhood backs up to the Deschutes River, which allows you to enjoy stunning views of the water, the natural environment and the wildlife that calls this area home. Within River Rim, discover a five-acre wildlife park operated by Bend Parks and Recreation.

The homesites at River Rim include lush, landscaped yards, parks with plenty of playground equipment, and a wide selection of single-family homes with access to the Deschutes River. Many of the homes in River Rim include convenient access to the Deschutes River Trail, which leads you to the historic and active Old Mill District.

River Canyon Estates

River Canyon Estates provides residents with an outdoor-oriented community with luxurious homes sites along the rim of the Deschutes River. Enjoy being walking distance to the Deschutes River Trail, as well as three different parks maintained by Bend Parks and Recreation. The community also includes a “lodge-style” clubhouse for residents with an exclusive fitness center, tennis court, swimming pool, children’s wading pool and great room with a full kitchen, bar seating and cozy leather couches near the fireplace. Residents spend time gathering at the clubhouse and residential life in the neighborhood includes endless outdoor activities.

River Canyon Estates operates under a homeowner’s association that is managed by a five-member board of homeowners elected by the community. Living in River Canyon Estates includes stunning luxury homes set in a lush and beautifully maintained natural setting with incredible views of the river and the mountains.

Schools

Residents choosing to live in the River Rim and River Canyon Estates neighborhoods send their school-aged children to:

• Elk Meadow Elementary School
• Cascade Middle School
• Summit High School

All of the schools close to River Rim and River Canyon Estates have everything your child needs to succeed and become a well-educated student.

Brookswood Meadow Plaza

Residents enjoy dining out and shopping at Brookswood Meadow Plaza, located near both River Rim and River Canyon Estates off of Brookswood Boulevard. Brookswood Meadow Plaza features a grocery store, C.E. Lovejoy Market, a variety of restaurants, services and a coffee shop.

C.E. Lovejoy’s offers quality meats, fresh produce, freshly baked goods, local dairy products, a full-service deli and a wide selection of beer and wine. C.E. Lovejoy’s also hosts a beer and wine garden in the summer months with live music and food carts. This neighborhood market creates a true sense of community in southwest Bend. Residents living in River Rim and River Canyon Estates enjoy the close proximity to a variety of dining options in Brookswood Meadow Plaza including Local Slice pizza and Mexican food at the always delicious La Rosa.

Why Choose River Rim and River Canyon Estates

As realtors, we have helped clients buy and sell real estate throughout Central Oregon and we consider River Rim and River Canyon Estates to be two of the better neighborhoods with newer construction on the westside of Bend. You’ll see people who live in River Rim and River Canyon hiking and mountain biking the scenic Deschutes River Trail and dining and shopping in the Old Mill District and in Downtown Bend. Enjoy concerts at the Les Schwab Amphitheater during the summer months, accessible via short bike ride from your home in River Rim or River Canyon.

When lifestyle and luxury top your list of requirements in a Bend neighborhood, look no further than River Rim and River Canyon Estates in southwest Bend, Oregon. Contact Scott and me for more information about properties currently available for sale in these wonderful southwest Bend neighborhoods.

Calling all Portland and Willamette Valley real estate agents! Do you have clients selling their homes in the Portland area and looking to relocate to Central Oregon? Bend realtors Scott and Robyn Tuttle specialize in relocation and will take excellent care of your clients who wish to move to Central Oregon. We offer a great referral fee when realtors outside of the region who send their clients to us when it comes to buying real estate in Central Oregon.

Why Work With Us

Aside from a referral bonus, brokers love to partner with Scott and me for many reasons. We have been in the top two percent of all real estate sales in Central Oregon every year since 2014. We consistently perform in the top of all Bend realtors in all market conditions, which makes us a clear choice to help your clients find real estate in Central Oregon.

We’re originally from Portland, which means we know what it’s like to transition from the city to Central Oregon. We consider ourselves relocation specialists and know what clients look for when moving to Central Oregon. We’ve also owned investment properties in Sunriver and have a history of working with local property management and vacation rental companies, which gives us an edge over the competition.

Before moving to Central Oregon, Scott and I both had long careers in the finance and tile and escrow industries. We bring executive-level management experience with Fortune 500 companies to our business, where we use our skills in finance, sales, marketing, market analysis and effective communication. While we have an extensive background in finance and real estate, we take great pleasure in uniting the right people with the right homes. We’ve mastered the Bend lifestyle and love passing on our knowledge of the area and using our skills to help others find their dream home in Bend, Sunriver or Redmond.

We’re Bend Realtors Who Will Take Care of You and Your Clients

We’re skilled negotiators, home stagers and marketers who specialize in waterfront properties, golf course properties, investment properties and relocation. As personal investors ourselves, we know the ins and outs of the business and can assist your clients in finding the ideal investment property for their lifestyle and revenue requirements. We have the experience necessary to help our clients find their dream homes and we pair that with personality and an unbeatable working relationship with our clients. When you refer your clients to Scott and me for your clients seeking Bend realtors, we’ll thank you with a great referral fee. Let’s connect to create an ongoing referral partnership that works for all parties involved.

Scott and I have partnered with Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty, which provides us and our clients with world-class resources when it comes to acquiring real estate in Central Oregon. We would love to chat with you further about a referral partnership and how we can help your clients realize their dreams of owning property in Central Oregon. Contact us for more information and to start the conversation.