Friday Pulse · July 17, 2026
Happy Friday. Good summer weekend ahead, and there's a bit worth flagging before you head out on some adventures.
Rate Read
After a roller coaster week for mortgage rates, the 30-yr fixed ended up around 6.68% this week, up a touch from 6.60% two weeks ago after cooler inflation reports nudged rates to a one-week low midweek before they gave a little back.
What this means for you: on a $700K Bend home, that shift trimmed a buyer's ceiling by about $6K on the same monthly budget. Anyone at the top of their pre-approval range is worth a quick call before they write an offer.
One Thing to Know This Weekend
Bend's single-family median dropped to $728K in June, down about $65K from May. Around 530 homes are on the market with 3.5 months of supply, so buyers finally have negotiating room they didn't have in recent years. But well-priced homes still go pending in about 21 days. Price it right and it still moves.
Why this matters: We've been fortunate enough to get several clients under contract this week and each one required the full team effort on the part of the listing agent, buyer's agent and lender to bring the deal together. Communication and teamwork is key in this market.
What Buyers Are Asking Me
"Should I keep waiting for prices to fall further?"
Honest answer: nobody times the bottom, and I've tried that across my ten home purchases. A cooling market with real negotiating room and rates still in the 6s is the window a lot of buyers wanted a year ago. Pre-approved and ready beats waiting for perfect. And buyers educated on leveraging seller credits are the biggest winners.
Loan Tip from Uncle Kip
CLOSE OF ESCROW (COE) – picking this date is HUGE. However, we often forget that there can be multiple counter offers… so your original 30-day close is no longer 30 days because the COE was written in the contract as a date (i.e. 8/11) instead of "30 Days from acceptance."
Why this matters: with appraisal turnaround times creeping up this summer, the typical fast closings we've been accustomed to have started to slow down. When possible, try to shoot for adding those lost days back in to the contract if negotiations drag on.
Kip's Bend Picks
Two this week, both family-tested. First, Rockridge Park. We took the kids this week and left wowed: beginner dirt trails for the little ones, an intermediate bike skills area, a skate park, a nature and water play zone, plus a playground and enough trails that us mid-lifers can still get our steps in. Easy one to pass along to relocation buyers with kids.
Second, our summer tradition: blueberry picking at Blueberry Patch Farm in Walterville. We've gone every summer since our oldest was born in 2020, so it holds a special place in our hearts. Never crowded, feels like you stepped back in time. Bring a picnic, pick your berries, and hit a few waterfalls on the drive back. Hard to beat as a way to spend a summer day.
Open House Scripts
Hosting an open house this weekend? Here's a great tip to provide value: keep a list of other open houses on the market right now that would be comparable to your listing. Or maybe a list that has a few other homes that answer those common objections you're hearing.
For example:
- "Oh, we really want a primary on the main floor."
- "We love this, but want a bigger backyard."
- "If this existed, but with a 3 car garage, we'd be in."
THEN, pull out your list of homes that meets their criteria. NOBODY CARES HOW MUCH YOU KNOW, UNTIL YOU SHOW THEM HOW MUCH YOU CARE. Care enough to solve their problem by thinking ahead.
On Call This Weekend
I'm around this weekend, Saturday and Sunday. Text or call 202-329-9187 to get a buyer pre-approved.
On Instagram → @mortgageswithkip
Real talk on buying, owning, and building wealth in Bend.
Best of Luck this Weekend!
— Kip