Bend, Oregon...A Recreationist's Dream!

Bend, Oregon is located nearly in the geographic center of the state and is the most populated city in Central Oregon.  Bend is the county seat for Deschutes County, which currently ranks as Oregon's fastest growing county and the 90th fastest growing county in the United States.

Bend lies on the transition zone between Oregon's High Desert country to the east and the Cascade Mountains to the west.  At an elevation of 3,628 feet, Bend enjoys the predominantly dry climate of the Great Basin with sunny days and cools nights the common weather pattern.

The countryside around Bend is an outdoor recreationist's dream come true.  One can enjoy everything from mountain biking, hiking, rafting, golfing, hunting, fishing, rock climbing, camping, boating, downhill and cross country skiing, snow mobiling, general sightseeing and much more.  Bend is surrounded by vast tracts of U.S. National Forest lands to the west and south, as well as extensive BLM high desert to the east.  There are vast unspoiled wilderness areas in the nearby Cascades.

For over a decade Deschutes County has ranked as one of Oregon's fastest growing counties and as a result the Bend real estate market has been booming, offering strong growth and appreciation.  Average residential home sales in the year 2006 were $406,122 compared to $197,682 in 2000.  In the rural areas near Bend average home prices in 2006 were $741,839.

--Photos courtesy of Sharon Raimondi-Hrdlicka