Median Home Price Climbs to $780,000 as Inventory Tightens and Buyer Activity Remains Strong
The Bend real estate market continued to demonstrate resilience in July 2026. While the number of new listings declined and inventory tightened compared to last year, buyer demand remained healthy with more homes closing, pending sales increasing, and the median sales price rising nearly 5%.
One of the more notable trends this month was the continued increase in seller concessions. Nearly half of all closed sales included some form of concession, providing buyers with opportunities to offset closing costs or reduce financing expenses while sellers continued to achieve strong overall sale prices.
Quick Market Snapshot
- Median Sales Price: $780,000 ▲ 4.8%
- Closed Sales: 188 ▲ 3.3%
- Price Per Square Foot: $394 ▲ 3.7%
- Original List Price Received: 96.8% ▲ 0.9%
- Cash Sales: 29.8% ▼ 13.9%
- Sold Dollar Volume: $185,804,534 ▲ 13.7%
- List to Close Days: 65 ▲ 6.6%
- Closed Sales with Seller Concessions: 48.9% ▲ 41.4%
- Median Seller Concession: $9,890 ▲ 41.3%
- New Listings: 217 ▼ 4.8%
- Pending Sales: 168 ▲ 3.7%
- Active Inventory: 573 ▼ 20.0%
- Months of Inventory: 3.0 ▼ 22.5%
What the July Numbers Tell Us
July continued the pattern we've seen throughout much of 2026—a market that remains balanced but increasingly competitive due to limited inventory. The median sales price climbed to $780,000, up 4.8% from July 2025, while the average price per square foot also increased. Those gains indicate buyers continue to place strong value on Bend homes despite higher borrowing costs than many experienced just a few years ago. Inventory remains one of the biggest stories. Active listings declined 20% compared to last year, and months of inventory dropped to just 3 months. Although this isn't the extremely tight market experienced during the pandemic years, it continues to favor well-priced sellers.
Closed sales increased 3.3%, pending sales rose 3.7%, and overall dollar volume climbed nearly 14%, showing that buyers continue to transact despite fewer homes coming to market.
Seller Concessions Continue to Increase
One of the most significant shifts in today's market is the continued rise in seller concessions. Nearly 49% of all closed sales included concessions, and the median concession amount increased to $9,890. This does not necessarily mean sellers are reducing prices. Instead, many are helping buyers with closing costs, prepaid expenses, or interest rate buydowns while maintaining strong contract prices. For buyers, these concessions can make monthly payments more affordable. For sellers, they often provide a strategic way to attract qualified buyers without making significant price reductions that can affect neighborhood values.
Cash Buyers Still Play an Important Role
Cash transactions represented 29.8% of all July sales. While that percentage declined nearly 14% from last year, it still reflects a substantial segment of the Bend market. Cash buyers continue to include retirees relocating to Central Oregon, second-home purchasers, and investors seeking long-term appreciation.
What This Means for Sellers
Today's sellers continue to benefit from:
- Rising home values
- Limited competing inventory
- Strong buyer demand
- Healthy sales volume
However, pricing remains critical. Homes priced appropriately continue to attract strong interest, while those priced above current market expectations often require longer marketing times or concessions before selling.
What This Means for Buyers
Buyers have slightly more negotiating opportunities than they did during the peak seller's market, particularly when requesting seller-paid closing costs or financing incentives. However, reduced inventory means desirable homes—especially those that are updated, well-located, and priced correctly—continue to receive strong attention. Waiting for substantially lower prices may not prove advantageous if inventory remains constrained and demand continues at current levels.
Looking Ahead
As we move toward late summer and early fall, the Bend housing market continues to show remarkable stability. Inventory remains below last year's levels, pricing continues to appreciate, and buyer activity remains healthy despite changing financing conditions. Unless inventory increases significantly over the coming months, current market conditions should continue to support home values while offering buyers more flexibility through negotiated concessions rather than substantial price reductions.
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