Hi, we’re Sara La Faver, Erica Davis and Shelley Griffin, the co-owners of Harcourts The Garner Group and the premier listing agency representing the developers of Discovery West. You’ve probably seen our cute dark gray Discovery Pod positioned at the entrance of Discovery West on Skyliner Ranch Road the past few years as the developer has welcomed its first four phases.
We’re family members who grew up in Redmond, answering the phone for Sandy Garner (Shelley and Erica’s mother and Sara’s aunt) as she grew her real estate business from the ground up starting in the 1970s. We cut our teeth on real estate in Central Oregon, in charge of getting Sandy’s real estate forms at the old Eriksen’s stationary shop on Main Street in Redmond, which, interestingly enough, is the very same building in which we just opened our new office.
Our long history in real estate in this area is just one of the reasons we love what we do, and why talking about Central Oregon and how special it is to live here comes so naturally. Discovery West is a gem in the Bend landscape that so many have grown to love like we have, so we want to tell you a little more about why we see owning a home here as one of the best possible investments for those seeking a lifestyle that offers a rich array of amenities and opportunities for a beautiful life.
Mixed-housing opportunities are where it’s at: The Discovery West live/work units will have retail space for lease on the ground floor in addition to two more floors each with a short term rental space. There will be 10 units or 5 buildings all together, the first building will be complete near the end of 2024 with all buildings being complete by approximately mid 2025. Discovery West’s variety of housing, ranging from single-family homes and cottages, to live-work townhomes and apartments, perfectly plays into trending desires for buyers who may want lower maintenance indoor and outdoor living spaces and flexible live/work spaces. Look for the Trove townhomes, Mews (Terrane) and cottages (The Nine). These attached single family homes are wonderful options for those looking for an alternative to larger single family homes.
Interest rates and inflation: Realtors aren’t futurists and we certainly don’t claim to know what the feds will do next, but all signs point to the possibility of rates staying at a higher level for some time. While inflation is trending down, that golden 2.0% is just within reach, and certain costs are definitely normalizing, we believe that we are in a “new normal” when it comes to interest rates. While the era of almost “free” money is behind us, the market forecast in our area is still quite strong, and we believe that investing in real estate in Bend is still a very smart move.
Location….you know the rest: The westside of Bend is popular for the same reasons that many folks moved to the city in the first place–access to trails, such as nearby Phil’s, proximity to Mt. Bachelor and the great amenities, shops and restaurants that make areas like NorthWest Crossing so attractive to live and work in. The beautiful Discovery Park and the trifecta of William E. Miller Elementary, Pacific Crest Middle School and Summit High School make it a kid-friendly paradise, too. We’ve enjoyed watching people of all ages cross country skiing to the office when winter blesses us with a midweek six-inch storm, kids fishing off the dock at the Discovery Park pond, and retirees lining up out the door at Sparrow on a Saturday morning for their weekly ocean roll before hitting up the popular NWX Farmers Market.
The live work dream: Bend has been lauded as one of the country’s hot spots for entrepreneurs. While many move here for the lifestyle and remote work is now de rigeur, it’s also a business-friendly mentality that helps entrepreneurs take root in our area. For instance, EDCO (Economic Development for Central Oregon), helps businesses through three key areas: Move (recruitment of companies to Bend); Start (startups); and Grow (helping with retention and growth through incentives and other means). It’s also Bend’s smaller town vibes that make it a great place to connect with other entrepreneurs. There’s not the massive network of other businesses to navigate that you might find in huge cityscapes. While we’re growing, yes, we’re still a small city, and that can make establishing yourself and business a little easier. Why not do that from your new home in Discovery West?
We hope you find your perfect home in Bend, and we’re here to help. Drop by the Pod in Discovery West to talk to us about what it’s like to enjoy a beautiful life in this thoughtfully developed community. We think you’ll fall in love, just like we have.