Moving to Bend... where to live? (Redmond: house prices, water heater, neighborhoods)

[BendLocal]

Originally Posted by kapetrich

Fast most of the time? Wait, you're telling us getting around Bend is more trafficked during the rush hours AND there's more cars on the road than there was 10 years ago?!

Dude are you working on a master's degree in sarcasm or what? What I wrote was right on the money.

BTW - I wasn't talking about rush hour - the times that the roads really get congested is during the cluster fluck that occurs on some roads that feed into Century for the drive up to Bachelor on pow days and holidays. And in town when the roads are covered in snow and ice.

[ontherocs]

Came across this thread in a search to find out more about Bend's neighborhoods and surrounding 'suburbs'. Wondering if the 2014 tips are still on point and whether much has changed in the last couple years. Looks like there are quite a few 'new construction' homes currently on Zillow which tends to suggest expansion. Don't necessarily need to be in town proper and would be happy to be on the outskirts in easy commute distance.

Responses on commute time should probably be placed into perspective as currently where I live it can take 45 mins to travel 9 miles.

[whirnot]

Yep, Building like crazy. Still some options, just depends on what you want and how close you want to be.
I think it is pretty much impossible to begin without being here and getting the basic run of the land.
Then decisions can be made from afar. If you are looking for inexpensive, just bring your time machine.

[ontherocs]

[forgot to hit send on this note last week] jumping on a plane this weekend to get a sneak peek at winter in bend. >.< not sure what to think about the -6* forecast that was posted earlier today. definitely considering renting for the first few months to get a good lay of the land before committing to any one neighborhood. not surprised that bend is booming and prices continue to increase.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by ontherocs

...... Wondering if the 2014 tips are still on point and whether much has changed in the last couple years.........

In the last couple of years, prices have gone up substantially.

The great big change, though, is that Bend just got approval to expand their urban growth boundary, so now Bend is going to be much bigger and there is much more land available for housing tracts, and a lot more land available for commercial and industrial.

Those changes have not started because the expansion has just been approved.

My prediction is that no one will take that newly available residential land and build low cost housing. New houses going in are very likely to be expensive houses, large, but large going upward because Bend is allowing very tiny building lots. Thus tall houses with a smaller footprint.

Houses closer together because Bend has reduced the setback distances, which were not generous to begin with.

[Coniferian]

It looks like the cost of upgrading and expanding the sewer system is going to be a big burden on existing homeowners and new buyers. Those with septic systems may have to pay up to $90,000 to connect if they're close enough.

[ontherocs]

it's unfortunate to hear that bend might be planning to expand using smaller lots and setback distances. hopefully there are plans to vary the newer options so it's not just all that. our area had switched to packing things in at least a decade ago and it really impacts everything: visual congestion, traffic congestion, people congestion. just drove through st. gorge, utah last month and was BLOWN away by its expansion and how packed everything is starting to look there. bend is still a far cry from either though!

drove through quite a few neighborhoods a couple weekends ago. can't wait to return in spring and see how everything looks without snow cover to get a better idea of lot sizes, street widths, sidewalks. was really impressed with how clear all the roads were throughout the county although we chose to drive around instead of through the mountains from portland because of the winter storm watch.

any idea if there are plans to expand the redmond airport? and are roundabouts a thing in Oregon like not pumping your own gas? can totally get used to not jumping out of my car to pump gas; but, do the roundabouts help or hinder congestion during months where bend is hit hardest with tourists? they were definitely challenging with snow/ice conditions even going super slow.

by the ways... re-read the whole thread after our visit and it is truly packed with useful information. thanks to all that have provided their insights throughout the years!

[delta07]

Originally Posted by ontherocs

[forgot to hit send on this note last week] jumping on a plane this weekend to get a sneak peek at winter in bend. >.< not sure what to think about the -6* forecast that was posted earlier today. definitely considering renting for the first few months to get a good lay of the land before committing to any one neighborhood. not surprised that bend is booming and prices continue to increase.

Negative digits in the winter are not entirely uncommon. About 2 years ago, we had temperatures that went down to -26° one night, and stayed in the negatives for almost a week. This year, we've already had one spell of negatives, and about to get hit with another. So, it is something that will happen.

Originally Posted by ontherocs

it's unfortunate to hear that bend might be planning to expand using smaller lots and setback distances. hopefully there are plans to vary the newer options so it's not just all that. our area had switched to packing things in at least a decade ago and it really impacts everything: visual congestion, traffic congestion, people congestion. just drove through st. gorge, utah last month and was BLOWN away by its expansion and how packed everything is starting to look there. bend is still a far cry from either though!

drove through quite a few neighborhoods a couple weekends ago. can't wait to return in spring and see how everything looks without snow cover to get a better idea of lot sizes, street widths, sidewalks. was really impressed with how clear all the roads were throughout the county although we chose to drive around instead of through the mountains from portland because of the winter storm watch.

any idea if there are plans to expand the redmond airport? and are roundabouts a thing in Oregon like not pumping your own gas? can totally get used to not jumping out of my car to pump gas; but, do the roundabouts help or hinder congestion during months where bend is hit hardest with tourists? they were definitely challenging with snow/ice conditions even going super slow.

by the ways... re-read the whole thread after our visit and it is truly packed with useful information. thanks to all that have provided their insights throughout the years!

I love the round-a-bouts and feel like they do a much better job of moving traffic than a 4 way stop. They do get icy and snowpacked though, but pretty much all the roads around town are like that. There's a 2 way stop getting into my neighborhood that are downright treacherous right now because of the ice. I would much prefer a round-a-bout.

[Thom52]

Originally Posted by delta07

Negative digits in the winter are not entirely uncommon. About 2 years ago, we had temperatures that went down to -26° one night, and stayed in the negatives for almost a week. This year, we've already had one spell of negatives, and about to get hit with another. So, it is something that will happen.



I love the round-a-bouts and feel like they do a much better job of moving traffic than a 4 way stop. They do get icy and snowpacked though, but pretty much all the roads around town are like that. There's a 2 way stop getting into my neighborhood that are downright treacherous right now because of the ice. I would much prefer a round-a-bout.

I think I am starting to appreciate the advantages of a round about, even in icy weather, especially after watching a couple people approach a 4 way stop too fast on an icy day and slide on through. By pure luck they didn't hit anyone, and therefore can merrily go on their way figuring they could get away with the speed.

Do round abouts get slick with ice? Sure do. By their nature, people are pretty much forced to slow as they approach. I think there might be better odds of no harm to any/fewer drivers if they take it too fast and either slide into the center or slide off to the side. Of course, Bad odds are if you are in front of them as they approach too fast. The round abouts also make it pretty hard to ignore slick conditions, as compared to roaring down a straightaway into a standard intersection. Seems like most people would take it to heart after going squirrely in an icy round about, which will certainly test the traction conditions.

Just a theory.

[BendLocal]

Round a bouts are more efficient as long as the traffic flow is equal. But hit one of the major intersections during rush hour when you are going against the flow and you may be wishing for a 4 way stop.