Friday Pulse · August 14, 2026
Happy Friday! Here’s your 4-minute realtor rundown to win big this weekend. 😊
Loan Tip from Uncle Kip
THE CONCESSION PLAYBOOK
Your buyers have real leverage right now, and most of them are wasting it. Everyone knows how to ask for a lower price. Almost nobody knows that the same seller money aimed at the rate usually beats the price cut on a monthly payment. I built a simple 3-ask framework you can walk any buyer through, and I’ll run the side-by-side numbers on any deal.
Grab it below.
Send me any live negotiation and I’ll have scenarios back same day.
THE THREE ASKS INSIDE: Price Reduction, Closing Cost Credit, Rate Buydown Credit.
Open House Scripts
One word can kill a conversation. Or start one.
This weekend, when you’ve got buyers wandering through an open house, don’t ask “Any questions?” It’s a trap door — the easiest answer is “Nope,” and now you’re standing there in silence.
Try this instead: “What questions do you have?”
Same moment, completely different result. You’ve gone from giving them an exit to giving them an opening.
That’s the trick — “any” gives them an out, “what” gives them a reason to stay in the room.
Small word. Big difference. Your Uncle Kip’s free tip of the week.
Kip’s Bend Pick
“HOT PIPES MOTORCYCLE SHOW” - August 15th @ Volcanic Theatre Pub. The Hot Pipes Motorcycle Show is a family-friendly celebration of custom bikes, music, and art here in Bend. hotpipesmotoshow.com
POETRY NIGHT @ Lone Pine (Eastside) - August 15th, 5-7pm. The Community Poetry Night at Lone Pine Coffee Roasters takes place the 3rd Saturday of every month. A free open mic runs 5-7pm during Apéro Hour, welcoming local poets and listeners to share or just enjoy original verses.
Rate Read
30-yr fixed conventional is at 6.74% this week, down a touch from 6.77% and now the lowest in three weeks. July’s inflation report landed right where forecasters expected, which let rates settle back after the one-year high they hit in late July.
What this means for you: The move is small on a monthly payment, but the door just cracked back open. Anyone you had pre-approved in early August who went quiet when rates spiked is worth a quick call. Their numbers got a little friendlier, and it’s a natural reason to restart the conversation.
Market Analysis
Fresh July numbers from the MLS of Central Oregon are out: Bend’s single-family median is $780K, with 3.5 months of supply. The thing that actually moved is speed. Homes are going pending in about 31 days now, up from roughly 21 in the spring. On a listing appointment this weekend, that’s your conversation: price at the comp on day one, because a cut three weeks from now lands in front of a smaller, more rate-sensitive pool.
Kip’s CE Summer Camp — This Summer’s Free Classes
A couple of free CE classes left this summer, all live on Zoom at 10:30 AM PST. Register once for any or all:
- Aug 19: IG Reels for Real Estate
- Aug 26: Top 5 IG Reels & ‘B’ Roll
On Call This Weekend
I’m around this weekend, Saturday and Sunday. Text or call 202-329-9187 to get a buyer pre-approved. Got a fence-sitter? Send them my way. Same-day pre-approvals, no commitment.
On Instagram → @mortgageswithkip
Real talk on buying, owning, and building wealth in Bend.
Best of Luck this Weekend!
— Kip