OUR BEND OREGON REAL ESTATE BLOG

March 18, 2016 · by Cheri Smith & Molly Brundage

Which are the best neighborhoods in Bend, OR?
Naturally when someone decides to relocate to Bend, OR they want to know which neighborhoods are the best or most desirable. In this series of 4 blog posts, we will provide information about the 13 different neighborhoods in Bend, OR, broken down by quadrant. Hopefully this post will help you get a feel for which Bend, OR neighborhood will be the best fit for you.

In this second post of the series, we focus on the neighborhoods in SW Bend, OR. The maps above and below will show you where each neighborhood is located (click on the map to enlarge it), and within each neighborhood, there are numerous subdivisions. Below is a list of the main neighborhoods in SW Bend.

Why do people want to live in SW Bend?
SW Bend has a lot to offer. There are many new homes being built, yet you’ll still find established neighborhoods with large lots and mature trees. Many of the neighborhoods border the Deschutes River and have direct river trail access, making it possible to hike or bike to the Old Mill District. If you are into kayaking, skiing, snowboarding, fishing, mountain biking or golf, you might want to consider this area. There are 11 parks in SW Bend managed by the Bend Parks and Recreation District  as of the date this post was written. One of the newest, which opened in December 2015, is The Pavillion. The Pavillion is open for ice skating, hockey, and curling in the winter and basketball, tennis, pickleball, and volleyball during the non-ice season.

Which schools will my children attend?
If you live in SW Bend, the school attendance areas vary significantly, even from one street to the next, so if you have your heart set on a particular school, make sure you check with the Bend LaPine School District to verify which school your child will attend. Schools serving this area include Elk Meadow Elementary, Pine Ridge Elementary, William E. Miller Elementary, High Desert Middle School, Cascade Middle School, Pilot Butte Middle School, and Summit High School.

In addition to the Bend LaPine schools, SW Bend will be home to the OSU – Cascades campus, the first and only branch campus of an Oregon public university and Central Oregon’s first 4-year university.

Southwest Bend Neighborhoods
CENTURY WEST
SOUTHERN CROSSING
SOUTHWEST BEND

CENTURY WEST: There are many subdivisions located off Mt. Washington Dr. and Century Dr., also known as the Cascade Lakes Highway. Cascade views and larger, heavily treed lots make this a coveted area. If you are into kayaking, skiing, snowboarding, fishing, mountain biking or golf, you might want to consider this area. Broken Top, Tetherow, and Widgi Creek golf courses all lie within the neighborhood and you can’t get much closer to Mt. Bachelor and the Cascade Lakes than Century West. Subdivisions include the private gated golf community of Broken Top, The Parks at Broken Top, Sunrise Village, River Wild, Mt. Bachelor Village (condos), Bachelor View, Braeburn, Tetherow Golf Resort, Points West Townhomes, 7th Mountain Resort (fractionals & condos), Westbrook Meadows, Sagewood, and 1st On The Hillsites. Property values range from about $50,000 for a condo at 7th Mtn Resort or Mt. Bachelor Village, and from $350,000 to over $1,000,000 for single family homes.

SOUTHERN CROSSING: The Southern Crossing neighborhood in Bend, OR is located on both sides of the Deschutes River in the general vicinity of the Old Mill District. Home types range from cottages/bungalows built in the early 1900’s to brand new riverfront townhomes. There’s quite a bit of new construction occurring in this neighborhood and new retail tenants are continually moving into the area. The Old Mill District has quite a history, as it actually was the site of Bend’s original lumber mills. The area has been renovated and is now home to The Shops at the Old Mill, the Les Schwab Amphitheatre, Regal movie theater, commercial offices, hotels, and condos. The Old Mill District is a popular alternative to downtown Bend.

 Popular subdivisions within Southern Crossing include: Deschutes Landing, The Bluffs, Otter Run, The Plaza/Upper Terrace, Mill Quarter, Millbrook Estates, McClellan Commons, Old Mill Terrace, 2nd Addition Bend Park, Duncan Heights, Gallatin, Sherwater, Woodriver Village, and Silver Lake Estates. Home values range from around $300,000 to over $1,000,000 for a riverfront townhome.

SOUTHWEST BEND: Driving South on Brookswood Blvd will take you into Southwest Bend which includes a lot of newer neighborhoods developed adjacent to the Deschutes River. The boundary lines include the Deschutes River to the west, Powers Road on the north, Third Street on the east, and the Bend city limits on the south. The Old Mill District is a short drive from many southwest neighborhoods making this an attractive part of Bend to own a home in. Brookswood Meadow Plaza, located at the corner of Brookswood Blvd and Amber Meadow Dr, is a new shopping center featuring a coffee shop, restaurants, grocery store, and fitness center. There are presently 5 city parks in this area. Some of the subdivisions that fall within SW Bend include Aspen Rim, River Canyon Estates, Quail Pine Estates, River Rim, Copper Canyon, Homestead, Mountain River Estates, Poplar Park, Deschutes River Crossing, and Deschutes River Woods. Home values range from around $225,000 (DRW) to around $650,000 for the largest homes in River Rim and River Canyon Estates. Riverfront homes are closer to the $1,000,000 mark. The median home price is around $350,000 for a 3 bedroom/2.5 bath, 2100 square foot home.

Here are links to the other posts in the series:
PART 1 – NW BEND
PART 3 – SE BEND (coming soon)
PART 4 – NE BEND (coming soon)