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It all began in 1988 when I came to this small town for college. I loved central Oregon’s weather and soon met my wife of now 29 years in this beautiful town. Eventually, we moved back to Beaverton and I began working for a company where I would continue to work for them the next 17 years. All while my wife and I were raising two growing boys and both working. It was then when I was feeling the constant stress of being away from my family that I began observing one of our painting contractors who appeared to have a good balance between life and work. I reached out to the contractor and he agreed to mentor me and still does to this day. It quickly became clear to my family that Bend would be a natural fit as my wife is 5th generation bendite. After moving to Bend, my first job was to paint a mile-long fence. That one fence was the start of my business. A business that has developed and expanded beyond anything we could have ever imagined.

Townhouse does things differently than your average competitive painting company. We let the quality of our work speak for itself. Instead of expensive advertising, catchy brochures our business is built on mostly referrals and word of mouth. Building positive and trusting relationships with our customers is the first step to a job well done. One of our best qualities is how much we value our community. We love to be involved with other local businesses and find ways to support our community.

Job sites are typically very family-oriented. This means safety is most important to us because we know that small children, animals, and adults are constantly moving through the site. We always make sure that we have a safe environment for not only our workers but the families we are working with and once we start a project we do not stop until it is completed and that you are satisfied with the outcome. Making sure we provide notice and coordinate schedules with onsite staff is all in a day’s work.

Inadequate funding? Let us help you devise a strategy to keep your investment’s exterior maintained with good curb appeal and at a budget you can afford with a phased approach.

Communicating and working with our customers to ensure that we are doing all we can for them while sticking to a budget that fits their interests and needs is important for us. Owner, Matt Carey brings 15 years of experience in property and asset management. This expertise allows customers to trust that their expectations will be exceeded and that ensuring the best possible product within a realistic budget is met.

You can contact Matt at Townhouse Painters Bend at (541) 410-1932.

The Story of D.E. Rink Construction – Building Central Oregon since 1979

Custom homes and remodels in Central Oregon are most of the 2000 projects that D.E. Rink Construction is very proud of.  Many of the commercial projects on our resume include restaurants, retail buildings, and numerous tenant improvements.  The company built a reputation for quality building, a clean job site, honesty, and timely completion.  For 15 years DE Rink Construction worked in the medical world remodeling all of the St. Charles Hospital campus’, Bend Memorial Clinic, and many private physician and dental offices.   

D.E. Rink Construction joined Central Oregon Builders Association in 1984.  Dave served as president in 1989 and 1999. Throughout the years, it has been a pleasure to attend meetings, serve on the board, attend national conventions and contribute to many volunteer projects.  They have been honored with numerous COBA awards over the years.

D.E. Rink Construction has been a member of the Bend Chamber of Commerce since 1987. Liz participated in Leadership Bend and was a Chamber Ambassador for 5 years. Both Liz and Dave have contributed to many non-profit organizations in our community.  They support BendFilm, Deschutes Historical Museum, Arts and Culture Alliance, Tower Theatre, Boneyard Cycling Team and other exciting pillars of the community.

Through the years, D.E. Rink Construction has been blessed with some talented and dependable employees.  Brianna Janssen, daughter, was the right-hand office manager and decorator for over 10 years.  Throughout their lives, their son and daughter have worked with the business in different ways.

After building in Central Oregon for over 40 years, D.E. Rink Construction continues to build and improve our community.  Bend is welcoming, historical, vibrant, and progressive.  

Please check out our website at www.derink.com to see beautiful photos of homes and projects.  Call us to chat about your ideas and a free consultation (541) 388-0719.  

At Moving To Bend, we get a lot of questions about living in Bend from newcomers. That’s great! We love answering those questions. But to make things a little easier for those doing research on how to relocate to Bend, we gathered the 10 most commonly asked questions about living here to answer them all in one spot. 

1. What is the Cost of Living Like? 

Above the national average, but this is largely relative. Bend can be expensive but is generally cheaper than the most popular Portland suburbs, and significantly less expensive than places like the Bay Area or the most sought-after spots in Seattle. 

2. What Do You Do To Make Friends?

Bend has a plethora of different events, festivals, workshops, and gatherings to make bonding with others easier. However, COVID-19 has led to many of these opportunities to switch to online versions, at least for now. We suggest that you look at MeetUp and other popular apps to find which groups are arranging web meetings and hop in. Volunteer options are also a great way to get to know people throughout the city!

3. Is There Public Transportation?

Bend has a public bus system with regular stops throughout the city. Getting familiar with ride apps like Uber is a good idea if you don’t feel like you’ll be doing much driving here. If you have a bike, biking through the center of the city can be one of the best ways to easily get around during the day. 

4. What Do You Do When It Starts Snowing?

Fans of Bend’s fresh powder will hit the slopes! But if you love summer activities and aren’t sure what to do in winter, don’t worry. There are plenty of indoor/outdoor places with firepits to cozy up to, and lots of winter adventures for all ages, from snowshoeing in the moonlight to skiing at Mt. Bachelor. But it’s a good idea to grab some snow tires. 

5. What Beer is the Best?

We don’t want to start a fight, so we suggest you try them all yourself! The Bend Ale Trail can help with that. But in the battle of the breweries, Deschutes Brewery generally stands out as the oldest and most well-known brand. 

6. Is Bend Pet Friendly?

Bend is consistently known as one of the most dog-friendly places in the country. There are tons of activities and parks to take your pet, lots of local products just for them, and nearly everywhere you go will have some type of provision for dog companions. 

7. Where is the Best Place to Live in Bend?

All of Bend’s neighborhoods have their advantages, so a lot will depend on what type of living experience (and environment) you want when moving to Bend. That being said, homes near the center of town and Old Mill are generally the most sought after. If you are looking for a rental, start your search early, because vacancy rates can sometimes be a challenge. 

8. Are the People in Bend Friendly?

Bend generally does an excellent job of retaining small-town friendliness and welcoming attitudes for all – it’s a point of pride for the community, which includes a lot of newcomers since Bend has been a popular relocation spot for years. Some are a little worried about how large Bend has become but enjoy the benefits that growth has brought. 

9. What are Job Opportunities Like in Bend?

Great for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Bend also has opportunities in tech, healthcare, recreation of all kinds, and, of course, hospitality and restaurant industries. 

10. What Can I Do If I Don’t Like a Lot of Outdoor Recreation?

While outdoor fun is a big feature of living in Bend, it’s far from the only focus. There are many opportunities for getting involved in the arts, exploring the robust music scene in Bend, finding your favorite café, perusing used bookshops, or just looking for the next good place to eat. While frequent festivals and events have changed a bit during coronavirus times, there are smaller versions of gatherings to look for and many online events as well!

Welcome to Bend Relocation Services! Our expert team is dedicated to helping you relocate or buy a home in Bend with ease and style. From personalized home searches to seamless moving assistance, we handle all your needs so you can enjoy a smooth transition to your new life in this beautiful city.

With the latest census numbers out from 2019, it’s no surprise that Bend’s population is higher than ever and that the city had an excellent decade of growth, with an estimated 31% increase in population within the last 10 years and around 3% growth last year alone. That’s why Bend continues to make it into the lists of the most popular cities for relocation in the United States. 

Despite the tumult of 2020, we’re still seeing a steady influx of visitors and relocators moving to Bend from other regions – and here’s why that’s important. 

1. Bend Businesses Continue to Thrive from New Customers

More people relocating to Bend for work or family reasons means more opportunities for local businesses to win new customers. Bend brands have long thrived on creating long-term loyalty with a combination of quality and embracing the innate upbeat friendliness of the region. Relocators are a valuable source of new revenue, new ideas – and in some cases, new business partners to create synergy with. 

Once these loyal customers are created, they are also more likely to tell their out-of-town friends and family about the businesses they like most or show off products that they got. This increases brand reach and is a valuable type of ambassadorship. 

2. Bend Still Thrives Even Under Pandemic Conditions

There’s another important reason moving to Bend has remained a popular option in 2020: COVID-19 has not treated many larger cities well, but Bend has several strengths that have enabled it to avoid these problems and continue to be a destination for those looking to find a new job. 

First, the city’s focus on the outdoors is particularly timely while social distancing regulations continue. It’s a lot easier and safe to plan an afternoon of open-air mountain climbing with close friends or family rather than heading to a more crowded location where chances of infection are higher. These outdoor options may not be available in larger urban areas without significant travel. Many outdoor activities in Bend also allow for easy social distancing or solo ventures, from kayaking to fishing or desert hiking. 

Second, businesses in Bend have been in some ways more fortunate that the companies in many other cities. Outdoor companies can continue to focus on Bend’s summer and winter activities without worrying too much about these activities being curtailed (and in some cases, the extra time lockdown has created has actually been a boon). The great summer weather has also meant that businesses can utilize their outdoor areas to the greatest extent possible to ensure customers stay safe while still visiting – there’s a reason food trucks have been so popular this year!

3. Bend Continues to Manage Its Development

When small cities see lots of growth over a short period of time, they can sometimes struggle to match that growth with the proper planning and development. Fortunately, Bend has shown the ability to create proper plans and room for development in accordance with needs changing over time. Rezoning locations, adding another school district, and similar changes are slowly but surely preparing the city for its new residents. 

Remember, if you want to relocate to Bend or learn more about the process, we are here to help with the latest information and services!

While the average home price in Bend, Oregon sits at around $529,000, there are a wide variety of homes and rental options available in all kinds of price ranges. However, some knowledge of the real estate in Bend can be a huge help: Here are a few things everyone should know when starting their search for a home in the Bend market.

1. Know the Type of Home You Are Looking For First

Bend has many different property types depending on what you are looking for. There are condos, single-family homes with small yards, townhouses, more rural estates with space, secluded cabins and cottages, farmhouses, and more. That’s why it’s very important to start by thinking about the type of home you would be interested in purchasing based on your lifestyle. Think about a type of home and a price range, then you can narrow down your search in Bend to the right neighborhoods.

This is also a good time to think about amenities and the physical location of your home. Do you want to live surrounded by trees? Do you want easy access to the high desert, or are you more interested in being close to the heart of the city? Are mountain views important to you? Every decision you make can help speed up the process!

2. Be Prepared to Act Fast

The real estate market in Bend continues to thrive – but that can also pose challenges for buyers. The latest numbers we have from July 2020 show that, year-over-year, average single-family home sales prices are up around 12%, pending sales are up 153%, and sold homes are up about 31%, even during this pandemic. This flurry of activity and the associated general conditions of 2020 also mean that the number of new listings and overall homes for sale are down.

This creates an extremely competitive market for those buying a home in Bend. The best way to deal with this is to be prepared to act fast. That means making decisions about sales offers and counter offers as soon as you can. If you find a property that really seems ideal to you, you may not want to wait around before setting the purchase process into action. Also, the more cash down you can offer, the better your chances to win the most sought-after properties.

3. Find an Experienced Realtor or Relocation Service

You don’t want to waste time to trying to figure out the right neighborhoods to search or find that the by the time a property appears in an online listing offers have already been made on it. That’s why it’s important to find a realtor or work with a relocation service that knows experienced realtors that have worked in the area for years.

4. Home Prices Can Vary (Somewhat) By Region

Home prices in Bend don’t vary as much as they do in some areas, but there are differences in how similar homes are priced depending on the neighborhood. Generally speaking, the homes closest to the Deschutes River (and primarily throughout the center and northwest parts of Bend) have the highest prices. The further you move away from the river and central location – especially towards the south – the more affordable options are generally available.

5. Think About Shopping Around In the Fall

It can be easier to move around the city, carry out home inspections, meet with realtors, and other tasks before the winter snow and ice arrive in the city. As a result, many sellers try to get their properties off the market before the holidays, when things slow down. This makes fall a good time to look for home deals or enter into negotiations – and it’s usually not as busy as the spring real estate rush.

Remember, Bend Relocation Services can help make the home buying experience faster and more pleasant as you get ready to move to Bend. Contact them to see what they can do for you.