Reviewing December 2025 Results in Bend & Deschutes County

December often feels quiet in real estate, and that is normal. What matters is what the year-end data reveals beneath the seasonal slowdown: more listings came to market, more homes sold than last year, and pricing remained steady overall. The shift is not a market “going cold.” It is a market where buyers are taking more time, comparing more options, and negotiating with intention.

Key takeaways (what to know before you make a move):

• Pricing was stable year over year, but buyers are far less tolerant of overpricing.
• Sales activity and new listings increased year over year, meaning the market is active and choice has improved.
• Outcomes are increasingly driven by execution: pricing accuracy, condition, marketing, and negotiation strategy.

The numbers at a glance

Bend (Single Family, Year to Date through December 2025)

• Median sales price: $771,750 (+0.2% year over year)
• Closed sales: 2,178 (+10.4%)
• New listings: 2,871 (+6.4%)
• Median days on market: 34 (up from 23)
• List price received: 98.2%

Bend year-in-review: pricing held steady year over year, while sales activity and new listings increased. Buyers are taking longer to decide, which makes correct pricing and strong presentation more important than ever.

Zooming out: Deschutes County

(Single Family, Year to Date through December 2025)

• Median sales price: $689,950 (+1.5% year over year)
• Closed sales: 3,507 (+4.9%)
• New listings: 4,679 (+2.5%)
• Median days on market: 36 (up from 25)
• List price received: 98.2%

Countywide, pricing rose modestly and activity improved. The market is moving, but buyers are making more deliberate decisions and negotiating more carefully.

December seasonality: why month-to-month can mislead

December is typically a slower month for new listings and closings, so month-to-month changes can look dramatic. The more useful lens is the year-over-year trend, especially when you are planning a move in the next 3–6 months.

December seasonality in action: closings and pendings typically slow late year, while inventory and pricing can move month to month. Use trendlines, not one month snapshots, to guide decisions.

What these numbers actually mean . . .

1) The market is active, but the “easy wins” are gone

With sales and new listings up year over year, the market is functioning with real liquidity and more choice than buyers had during the tightest years. At the same time, longer days on market signals that buyers are pausing, comparing, and moving forward only when value is clear.

2) Pricing is stable, but pricing mistakes are expensive

In a stable-price environment, the difference between a strong result and a frustrating one is rarely “the market.” It is the strategy. Homes that are priced accurately and presented well are still selling. Homes that miss the mark tend to sit longer, invite concessions, and lose leverage.

3) This is a balanced market. Good for planning, great for prepared people

A calmer pace is healthy. It creates room for thoughtful decisions, stronger negotiations, and cleaner outcomes, but it rewards preparation and precision.

The trendline view: listings, pricing, pace of sales, and market balance over time. This helps explain why the market feels calmer while opportunity remains for well-prepared buyers and sellers.

Top Strategies for 2026 moves:

If you are selling: launch like you mean it.

This is not the market to test pricing and hope it works out. Your first week matters. The best results are coming from homes that are positioned clearly, presented well, and priced to attract the right buyer pool immediately. Check your estimated home value.

If you are buying: negotiate with discipline, not hesitation

More time on market can create leverage in the right situations, but the best homes still move quickly. The goal is not to negotiate everything. The goal is to negotiate intelligently using comps, condition, and timing without missing the right property.

If you are investing: focus on fundamentals and resilience

Stable pricing and a more balanced market can be constructive for investors who underwrite conservatively and prioritize long term performance. If your plan relies on rapid appreciation, revisit the assumptions. If your plan works with stable growth and strong fundamentals, this environment can create compelling opportunities.

Bottom line?

Bend and Deschutes County ended 2025 with more transactions, more listings, and stable pricing, alongside longer decision cycles and more negotiation. That is not a negative market. It is a market where outcomes are increasingly earned through strategy.

If you are considering a move in 2026, the smartest next step is a short, specific conversation: your neighborhood, your price point, your timeline, and the plan that fits it.