Bend’s Love Affair with AirBnb

Renters and travelers in Bend are big fans of using Airbnb. In fact, if you look up the cities in the United States with the most Airbnb rentals per capita, Bend scores an amazing number 4 on the list, and it’s the only city on the West Coast to actually make the top ten, in data collected at the end of 2019!

So, Airbnb rentals are a popular option around town – but does that mean you should choose Airbnb in Bend? Yes, you can find more listings per capita here than many places, and gain access to some beautiful lodgings, but when is that worthwhile? Let’s take a closer look.

Airbnb in Bend: Pros

There are a lot of incredible options: Whether you want a spacious living area, extra-comfy bedroom, or stunning view of the mountains, Bend’s Airbnb options can get you what you want (and average a 4.9 out of 5 stars for reviews, too). This is a great way to explore what Bend has to offer, get a taste for specific features/destinations up close, or shop around different parts of the city when you are looking for the best places to live. Hey, even if you’ve bought a home already, browsing the Airbnb listings is a great way to get some new décor ideas!

Affordable prices: For short term stays, Airbnb in Bend is quite affordable. Prices tend to range from $50 to $90 per night for all kinds of accommodations for couples. Bringing kids will cost more, but prices are still manageable. Everywhere except the distant cabins is certain to offer Wi-Fi for free, too.

It’s a handy stop before a full move-in: If you’re planning on moving to Bend, there are often situations where you need to stay in the city for a few days here and there during preparation, before your move is fully completed. Airbnb is an ideal solution for many of these situations.

Airbnb in Bend: Cons

Professional services and privacy are harder to obtain: Airbnb hosts can be very welcoming, but they don’t exactly offer the same hospitality services that professional landlords and property management companies can provide their renters, so you have to take what you can get. The same is true of privacy – “private entry” Airbnb dwellings are always in high demand and may be difficult to find in a pinch, whereas it’s always guaranteed in a professional rental.

Not every rental is suited to the climate: While Airbnbs may sport wood stoves and advertise heating/cooling, that doesn’t mean every system is up to the hot summers and cold winters here, especially if there’s poor insulation. This is one of the things that’s also difficult to test beforehand.

Airbnb isn’t the best option for extended stays: Most rentals here are designed to be used for several days or a week or so. Long-term Airbnb rentals can be much harder to find, and there are no bonuses for an extended contract.

Conclusion on Choosing Bend Airbnb Options

If you want to check out what specific areas of Bend have to offer or check in to make some important preparations ahead of a full move-in, Airbnb has some excellent options for you. For more extended stays or more reliable renting possibilities, it may be best to go through a local property management company.

 

Meet Andee Jessee of A Superior Property Management Company

Meet Andee Jessee, who was born and raised in Central Oregon. She started her working career at age 7, cashiering at her family business, Natures General Store, a busy little health food store in midtown Bend. Before she learned the register, she would make arts and crafts and sell them to customers. She was born an entrepreneur.

Andee graduated from Bend High School and went on to COCC to get a business degree specializing in hospitality and tourism. She didn’t know exactly what she wanted to do with her career, but she knew she wanted to be self employed. During college, she took a little break and lived in the Caribbean. It was during that time that her now late father
happened to share an article forecasting the top 50 industries that would grow over the next 10 years. Property management was an industry on that list. She decided to get her feet wet with a local property management company and
decided it was the thing for her. In the time working for another company, she noticed there was a definite need for a more specialized type of residential property management. She strived to go above and beyond what local companies offered.

In 2007, Andee started A Superior Property Management Company  (ASPMC) with only one property under management, a cute downtown Bend bungalow. She quickly learned that the extras she offered like frequent inspections, heavy advertising and excellent customer service was exactly what people wanted. Her goal was to not only have a
successful business but to do it with integrity. She started soliciting local realtors and called every “for rent by owner” that she could find. Andee convinced many homeowners to give her a try and within two years had expanded her portfolio quite substantially. As Central Oregon continued to grow, so did the need for quality property management. Keeping up the high level of service as she grew her business was tricky and she knew if she wanted to do it successfully, she would have to add staff even if there wasn’t money to pay herself.

Her ideas worked and she now has a dedicated staff who share her vision and have helped her to achieve her business goals. With responsible growth ASPMC now manages approximately 500 doors.

Success to Andee is not about money and possessions. It includes living a happy, healthy life, treating others with patience and kindness, and being fair and honest while running a thriving business. Outside of her office family, Andee is blessed with three wonderful sons – one very sweet 10-year-old and rambunctious five-year-old twins who keep her busy. They love to explore together and enjoy all that Bend and Central Oregon have to offer. When she isn’t working, she enjoys traveling, camping, hiking and exploring.

 

Meet Bendite Paul Frazier, Knightsbridge International Real Estate Group

It’s our goal to help connect you to the people and businesses that make Bend such a special community so from time to time, we’ll profile many of these individuals and organizations. Meet Paul Frazier, long-time local and real estate broker.

  I relocated to Bend in 1996 with my wife and four children. At that time, Bend was a much different place. There was no Facebook, no cool websites with all the answers and no YouTube. We had some friends in the San Francisco Bay Area that recommended we take a look at Central Oregon because we were ready for change.

I grew up in California in a small town in the Sierra Nevada mountains where the population was about 600 people. After I finished school, I joined the family business in the Bay Area and met my wife Kari. A few years later, we decided it was time to relocate and find a place where we felt like we were at home. It’s a long story, but that’s how we made our way to Bend.

Once here, I started a construction company and grew the business to 50 employees. We were stationed in Redmond and had contracts all over Central Oregon. During that time, from 1996 to 2007, I became very familiar with the leading builders, architects and designers all around the region.

In 2007, I decided it was time to sell my construction business and pursue real estate instead, something I have been wanting to do for many years. The timing was right, so I started investing in foreclosures and looking for buyers. That was my introduction into real estate, and it wasn’t easy or much fun, but it was a great learning experience coming through a really hard market. Thankfully,  we saw a slow but steady recovery in Central Oregon and have been enjoying helping hundreds of people move to Bend ever since.

Raising four children here in Central Oregon has truly been a blessing. My wife and I have enjoyed all the outdoor activities that Bend offers with our children for the past 20 years. Now they’re all grown and have chosen to remain here because it’s a hard place to leave. I have to say my wife and I really enjoy the foodie scene in Bend. It’s really impressive how many great restaurants we have in the city and it just keeps getting better. We enjoy biking, kayaking the high lakes and daily walks along the river. We count our lucky stars to live in this beautiful place and enjoy everything that Central Oregon has to offer. I can go on and on about why Bend is such a wonderful community and would be happy to show you around the area and help you find your dream home.