Are you thinking about relocating your family to Bend Oregon but feeling worried that you might be making the worst decision of your life? Well listen up, surprises can be fun but there are 3 things you don’t want to be surprised by AFTER you’ve moved to Bend. If we haven’t met before my name is Amanda Ferrari and I am a Real estate agent, wife, and mother helping families relocate to Bend Oregon.
#1 Weather
Bend is in the high desert and has four seasons. Our summers are hot in the 80’s and 90’s and our winters are usually cold with a couple of good snow storms in town. During the hot and dry summer months there are often wildfires up and down the west coast. As a result of these fires we often have days or even weeks at a time of smoky air. However, unlike the west side of Oregon, we get loads of sunshine year round. Lots of delicious vitamin D. Personally I love the blue sky and sunshine and would have a tough time moving back to the west side of the cascades. Will you be okay with our cold winters of shoveling snow, and the possibility of poor air quality in the summer months?
#2 Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor Recreation is a huge part of the Central Oregon Lifestyle. Bend has been dubbed as an “outdoor playground” and it really is true. Bend is a great place to get outdoors and have some fun with your family. Is playing outside something that appeals to you? If you appreciate outdoor activities you will be able to embrace all that Bend has to offer.
I’m not saying it is always easy to get those kids out on a Saturday morning.... Ok we do bribe our kids from time to time.. Ok all the time. But when we get back from an adventure we are all grateful for the time we shared together. (Except for the kids fighting in the car on the way home…)
In all seriousness, Bend is a gem nestled in the mountains with rivers and lakes galore. We have endless opportunities to get outside. From floating the river, recreating in the snow, and hiking the South Sister, there really is something for everyone!
#3 Population growth
f you haven’t been to Bend in a while you might be surprised to see how much our population has grown. Consequently, there is more traffic. Depending on the time of day it can take 15-25 minutes to get to the other side of town. Many Bend residents live near a school and not too far from a grocery store. So relatively speaking the traffic is not too bad.
The population growth has also caused many campsites and hiking trails to require reservations and permits. As a result, there is a lot more planning and less spontaneity than in prior years. There’s no more” Hey let’s go camping this weekend”. That has been replaced by “do you want to go camping 6 months from now”??
Now that you know more about potential surprises you could encounter in Bend, you should feel more equipped to make a confident decision about moving here with your family. In my next video I will walk you through 3 tips for relocating to Bend so it is less stressful and you will have no regrets.
If you have questions about anything related to real estate in Bend Oregon, please don’t hesitate to reach out!