January 2026 Housing Market Report for Central Oregon

If you’ve been waiting for the snow to settle before checking in on your home’s value, you might want to put down the cocoa and pay attention. The January 2026 Beacon Report just landed, and it’s carrying a surprising amount of heat for a winter month.

As your local market sherpa, I’ve crunched the numbers from Donnie Montagner and the team at Beacon Appraisal Group. While the temperatures are dropping, the machinery of the Bend real estate market is doing a little celebratory burnout in the driveway.

The Big Takeaways: Bend by the Numbers

If you’re a “just give me the highlights” kind of person, here is the state of the union for Single Family Residential (SFR) properties in Bend:

• Median Sales Price: We ended December 2025 at $686,000. While that’s down from the dizzying $832,000 peak we saw in April 2025, it shows the market is finding a more sustainable rhythm.

• The “Speed” Factor: Properties are spending a median of 53 days on market. Translation: You actually have time to do a second walkthrough without fear of the house selling while you’re in the driveway.

• Inventory Levels: We are sitting at 2.5 months of supply. In the world of real estate, that’s still technically a “seller’s market,” but it’s a far cry from the “Hunger Games” bidding wars of years past.

A Word from the Expert: “Ramping Up”

I reached out to the man behind the curtain, Donnie Montagner, for his take on the data. Even with his appraiser hat on, Donnie couldn’t help but notice a significant shift in the December energy. Donnie notes:

“The biggest talking point I have is December had 126 closings, which is 25% more closings than the previous three Decembers… things are ramping up even though we are in a slow season.”

That’s a big deal. Usually, December is when everyone is too busy arguing about tinsel to sign closing papers. Seeing a 25% jump in volume suggests that buyers and sellers are tired of sitting on the sidelines.

Compassionate Advice for the Road Ahead

Whether you are trying to plant roots or move on to your next adventure, here is some heart-to-heart advice:

For the Sellers: Clean Your Room (and Your Price Expectation)

Yes, Donnie says things are “ramping up,” but that doesn’t mean it’s 2021 again. Buyers are savvy and a bit more cautious. If you want to be one of those 126 closings, make sure your home is “Pinterest-ready” and priced to the current market, not your neighbor’s “wish price” from last spring.

For the Buyers: Don’t Let the Frostbite Bite

It’s easy to get discouraged when you see sales volume increasing in the “slow” season. However, remember that 53-day median on market. You have the power of choice right now. Use it. Get a good inspection, ask for those repairs, and remember that you’re buying a lifestyle in the most beautiful place on earth, not just a line on a graph.

The Bottom Line

The Bend market isn’t “cooling off” so much as it is “waking up” early from its winter nap. With building permits still trickling in (31 in December) and sales volume defying the seasonal odds, the spring season is going to be a fascinating ride.

Would you like me to break down the specific December data for Redmond or Sisters to see how they compare to Bend?

Read the full Beacon Report for Central Oregon January 2026