How to Choose a Real Estate Agent in Bend, OR

Q: What should you look for in a top real estate agent in Bend?

Ask how they price, what local rules affect the property, and whether they will tell you to walk away. In Bend, local rules include the 500 foot spacing rule for whole home short term rentals, ADU potential, wildfire risk and insurance, and irrigation water rights on acreage near Tumalo.

by Corey Hanson

The right real estate agent in Bend, OR prices from local data, knows the rules that change a property's value, and tells you when a deal does not make sense. I am Corey Hanson, a Bend broker with Real Broker and an active investor. I have closed 30 plus transactions and have owned investment property since 2009.

What should you look for in a top real estate agent in Bend?

Look past billboards and volume. Ask three questions.

How do you price? I hold the Pricing Strategy Advisor designation and price from absorption rate, which measures how fast homes in your price range are actually selling.
What local rules affect this property? In Bend that means the 500 foot spacing rule for whole home short term rentals, ADU potential, wildfire risk and insurance, and irrigation water rights on acreage near Tumalo.
Will you tell me to walk away? Oregon brokers owe clients duties of loyalty and disclosure. I would rather lose a deal than put you in a bad one.

How is the Bend market different right now?

Bend has cooled from its pandemic peak but still rewards preparation. Well priced homes in popular neighborhoods move quickly. Overpriced homes sit and sell for less. Westside, Northwest Crossing and Awbrey Butte trade at a premium, while Northeast and Southeast Bend offer more space for the money. See current numbers on the Bend real estate market page.

How does Corey Hanson help Bend buyers, sellers and investors?

Buyers: I track new and coming soon listings in your target neighborhoods and use my network to hear about homes before they hit the portals. My Accredited Buyer's Representative designation is in buyer representation. Browse Bend homes for sale.
Sellers: Absorption rate pricing, pre-listing preparation and professional photography, with drone and 3D tours where they add value. See how I sell Central Oregon homes.
Investors: Underwriting before you tour: rent, expenses, vacancy, cap rate and cash on cash return. For a 1031 exchange, I work alongside your Qualified Intermediary to find replacement property inside the identification window. View investor searches.

Quick answers

What credentials does Corey Hanson hold? He is a licensed Oregon broker with Real Broker, license 201230582, and holds the Accredited Buyer's Representative, Pricing Strategy Advisor and Real Estate Negotiation Expert designations.

Does Corey work outside Bend? Yes. He serves Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties, including Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver, La Pine, Prineville and Madras.

Do I need a written agreement to work with a buyer's agent in Oregon? Yes. Since January 1, 2025, Oregon law requires a written buyer representation agreement that states how your broker is paid.