Sherry MacRitchie

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42 NW Greenwood Ave.
Bend, OR 97703

THIS MONTH'S ANALYSIS

What’s Happening in the Central Oregon Housing Market?

“The May 2026 Deschutes County housing market reflected a balanced and active environment as the spring selling season progressed. Buyer activity strengthened across much of Central Oregon, helping support stable market conditions despite elevated inventory in several areas. Bend continued to show strong demand and price growth near $785,000, while Sisters moderated to approximately $743,000 as inventory expanded and buyers became more selective. Redmond softened to around $497,000, though sales activity remained healthy. La Pine remained one of the region’s most affordable markets near $364,000, with increased inventory continuing to favor buyers. Prineville stood out with continued price appreciation to roughly $440,000 despite slower sales volume. Overall, May reflected a market with greater choice for buyers, while well-priced and well-presented homes continued to perform strongly.”

-Cory Bettesworth, Managing Principal Broker, REMAX Key Properties

REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATES FOR CENTRAL OREGON

Deschutes County

Notable metrics include:

  • The Median Sales Price in May 2026 was $659,500, representing a 0.29% decrease year-over-year from $661,412 in May 2025, reflecting relatively stable pricing despite increased inventory and evolving market conditions throughout Deschutes County.
  • New listings declined 7.8% year-over-year, with 678 new residential properties coming to market compared to 735 in May 2025, though listing activity remains strong and continues to provide buyers with a broad range of options.
  • The Absorption Rate in May 2026 measured 5.28 months, down slightly from 5.46 months one year ago, indicating market conditions that remain generally balanced between buyers and sellers.
  • The average Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM) decreased to 56 days, down 12.5% from 64 days in May 2025, while the median CDOM improved modestly from 23 to 22 days, suggesting that well-positioned homes are continuing to attract buyer interest and sell efficiently.
  • Active listings totaled 1,837 homes, a slight 1.3% decrease from 1,862 one year ago, while sold listings increased 13.1% to 398 closed sales compared to 352 in May 2025, reflecting stronger transaction activity across the county.
  • Average sale prices declined 3.69% year-over-year to $793,412 from $823,776, while the average active list price increased 1.48% to $956,903, indicating some ongoing adjustment between seller expectations and buyer willingness to pay.

The key May 2026 real estate metrics for Deschutes County reflect a market that remains active and relatively balanced. Stable median pricing, increased sales activity, improving marketing times, and a modestly lower absorption rate point to healthy buyer engagement, while elevated inventory levels continue to provide buyers with greater choice and negotiating opportunities than in recent years.

Deschutes County MARKET CONDITIONS

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Bend, OR

Notable metrics include:

  • The Median Sales Price in May 2026 was $784,950, representing a 1.71% increase year-over-year from $771,750 in May 2025, reflecting continued price resilience in the Bend market despite a growing inventory of available homes.
  • New listings declined slightly by 2.7% year-over-year, with 430 new residential properties coming to market compared to 442 in May 2025, indicating relatively stable seller activity entering the summer selling season.
  • The Absorption Rate in May 2026 measured 4.58 months, down 16.58% from 5.49 months one year ago, suggesting stronger market conditions and improved balance between available inventory and buyer demand.
  • The average Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM) decreased significantly to 50 days, down 23.08% from 65 days last May, while the median CDOM fell from 25 to 15 days, indicating that homes are selling considerably faster than they were one year ago.
  • Active listings totaled 976 homes, a 9.0% decrease from 1,073 in May 2025, while sold listings increased 10.3% to 236 closed sales compared to 214 one year ago, reflecting stronger buyer activity alongside a tightening inventory environment.
  • Average sale prices increased 1.44% year-over-year to $949,874 from $936,436, while the average active list price rose 4.0% to $1,139,909, demonstrating continued confidence among sellers and sustained demand across many price segments.

The key May 2026 real estate metrics for Bend reflect a market that remains healthy and competitive. Rising sale prices, increased transaction volume, lower absorption rates, and substantially faster marketing times point to strong buyer engagement. While inventory remains more balanced than during the peak seller's market years, current conditions continue to favor well-priced and well-presented homes.

Bend, Oregon, MARKET CONDITIONS

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Sisters, OR

Notable metrics include:

  • The Median Sales Price in May 2026 was $742,500, representing a 6.48% decrease year-over-year from $793,975 in May 2025, reflecting continued price moderation in the Sisters market as inventory levels expand and buyers gain additional negotiating leverage.
  • New listings increased 25.0% year-over-year, with 45 new residential properties coming to market compared to 36 in May 2025, contributing to a significant rise in overall housing supply.
  • The Absorption Rate in May 2026 measured 8.70 months, up 52.1% from 5.72 months one year ago, indicating a substantially slower market pace and increasingly buyer-favorable conditions.
  • The average Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM) improved to 62 days, down 33.33% from 93 days in May 2025, while the median CDOM declined from 24 to 18 days, suggesting that homes priced appropriately are still attracting buyers despite softer overall market conditions.
  • Active listings increased 28.2% year-over-year to 132 homes from 103, while sold listings rose 66.7% to 20 closed sales compared to 12 in May 2025, reflecting both expanding inventory and improved transaction activity.
  • Average sale prices declined 21.89% year-over-year to $769,453 from $985,079, while the average active list price decreased 10.83% to $1,099,364, indicating ongoing pricing adjustments across the market as sellers respond to changing buyer demand.

The key May 2026 real estate metrics for Sisters reflect a market that is becoming increasingly balanced and price-sensitive. While sales activity improved notably and homes that are well-positioned continue to move efficiently, rising inventory, higher absorption rates, and lower sale prices indicate greater competition among sellers and expanded opportunities for buyers throughout the market.

Sisters, Oregon, MARKET CONDITIONS

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Redmond, OR

Notable metrics include:

  • The Median Sales Price in May 2026 was $496,500, representing a 5.43% decrease year-over-year from $525,000 in May 2025, reflecting modest price softening as inventory levels continue to expand and buyers gain additional leverage in the Redmond market.
  • New listings declined 18.9% year-over-year, with 107 new residential properties coming to market compared to 132 in May 2025, though overall inventory remains higher than one year ago due to slower absorption.
  • The Absorption Rate in May 2026 measured 4.82 months, up 20.2% from 4.01 months one year ago, indicating a shift toward more balanced market conditions as available inventory grows relative to sales activity.
  • The average Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM) improved to 50 days, down 13.79% from 58 days in May 2025, while the median CDOM increased slightly from 21 to 24 days, suggesting mixed marketing-time trends depending on property type and price point.
  • Active listings increased 8.1% year-over-year to 362 homes from 335, while sold listings rose 12.7% to 89 closed sales compared to 79 one year ago, reflecting stronger buyer activity despite softer pricing trends.
  • Average sale prices declined 4.06% year-over-year to $560,457 from $584,154, while the average active list price increased 1.69% to $636,267, indicating some continued adjustment between seller expectations and current buyer demand.

The key May 2026 real estate metrics for Redmond reflect a market that remains active while gradually moving toward greater balance. Increased inventory, higher absorption rates, and softer pricing point to improved opportunities for buyers, while rising sales volume and shorter average marketing times demonstrate that well-priced homes continue to attract steady demand.

Redmond, Oregon, MARKET CONDITIONS

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La Pine, OR

Notable metrics include:

  • The Median Sales Price in May 2026 was $363,900, representing a 0.30% decrease year-over-year from $365,000 in May 2025, reflecting relatively stable pricing despite increasing inventory and more buyer-favorable market conditions in La Pine.
  • New listings declined 15.4% year-over-year, with 66 new residential properties coming to market compared to 78 in May 2025, though overall inventory levels continued to expand as homes remained on the market longer.
  • The Absorption Rate in May 2026 measured 9.03 months, up 18.35% from 7.63 months one year ago, indicating a slower market pace and increasingly favorable conditions for buyers.
  • The average Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM) improved to 70 days, down 29.29% from 99 days in May 2025, while the median CDOM increased from 39 to 47 days, suggesting that although some properties are selling more quickly, many homes are still requiring extended marketing periods before securing a buyer.
  • Active listings increased 9.2% year-over-year to 225 homes from 206, while sold listings surged 51.7% to 44 closed sales compared to 29 one year ago, reflecting a notable increase in transaction activity despite higher inventory levels.
  • Average sale prices increased 2.43% year-over-year to $410,177 from $400,431, while the average active list price rose 19.02% to $624,479, indicating that sellers continue to bring higher-priced inventory to market even as buyers remain focused on affordability and value.

The key May 2026 real estate metrics for La Pine reflect a market that continues to favor buyers while maintaining steady demand. Rising inventory, higher absorption rates, and stable median pricing point to a more competitive environment for sellers, while the significant increase in closed sales demonstrates that motivated buyers remain active when homes are priced appropriately for current market conditions.

La Pine, Oregon, MARKET CONDITIONS

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Prineville, OR

Notable metrics include:

  • The Median Sales Price in May 2026 was $440,000, representing a 4.76% increase year-over-year from $420,000 in May 2025, reflecting continued price strength in the Prineville market despite a slower overall pace of sales activity.
  • New listings declined 26.4% year-over-year, with 53 new residential properties coming to market compared to 72 in May 2025, indicating a notable reduction in seller activity compared to last spring.
  • The Absorption Rate in May 2026 measured 6.62 months, up 4.42% from 6.34 months one year ago, suggesting a market that continues to trend toward balanced conditions with slightly more inventory available relative to buyer demand.
  • The average Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM) improved to 86 days, down 10.42% from 96 days in May 2025, while the median CDOM declined significantly from 58 to 32 days, indicating that many well-priced homes are finding buyers more quickly than they did a year ago.
  • Active listings increased 9.2% year-over-year to 214 homes from 196, while sold listings declined 13.9% to 31 closed sales compared to 36 one year ago, reflecting growing inventory alongside softer transaction volume.
  • Average sale prices decreased modestly by 1.31% year-over-year to $449,373 from $455,351, while the average active list price declined 2.48% to $616,628, suggesting that sellers are making pricing adjustments as market conditions become more competitive.

The key May 2026 real estate metrics for Prineville reflect a market that remains relatively stable while continuing to shift toward greater balance. Rising median sale prices and improved marketing times demonstrate ongoing buyer demand, while increased inventory, higher absorption rates, and lower sales volume indicate a more measured pace that offers buyers additional options and negotiating opportunities.

Prineville, Oregon, MARKET CONDITIONS

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Source: Information obtained from the MLS of Central Oregon

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