The Sunriver Life

Playing, Living & Working in Sunriver

Photo by Chris Murray

Ask a resident why they moved anywhere from San Francisco to Boston to Sunriver and you’ll discover they fell in love with the Sunriver lifestyle when they were a visitor.

Sunriver is a world apart from anywhere else as residents will share how they enjoy the quietness, the brilliant stars and planets in the night’s sky, being close to abundant recreational activities, the sanctuary to nature and wildlife, and the feeling of living in a “small town,” where locals know one another.

The Sunriver community and the nearby 27 neighborhoods that comprise Three Rivers South (TRS) have local shops, services and restaurants and are only 15 miles south of Bend and 15 miles north of La Pine.

Sunriver’s amenities include the 34 miles of paved pathways, allowing people to walk or bike to nearby shopping, restaurants, services and athletic facilities. The newly renovated owner’s-only North Pool complex has a lap/leisure pool, kids’ pool with water slide and expansive lawn area surrounded by native vegetation. The roads in Sunriver are well maintained, including in the winter, and the community is served by its own police and fire departments.

Three Rivers South continues to grow in popularity. These neighborhoods, located to the south between Sunriver and La Pine, are intersected by the Deschutes, Spring and Fall Rivers. There is great diversity in housing here. For example, some areas may allow manufactured homes, while others have the option of living in gated communities.

Photos courtesy of Sun Forest Construction

PURCHASING YOUR DREAM HOME

People looking to buy a home, whether in Sunriver or TRS, have a host of choices when it comes to the cost of housing — from starter cabins to custom-built luxury homes.

Several real estate agents have shared purchasing a home is a sound long-term investment. In recent years, residents have seen their home’s value steadily increase. The quality of life offered in the greater Sunriver area — country living, resort amenities and the surrounding public lands that protect views — all contribute to home values appreciating. Sunriver has become increasingly popular as a place to work from home.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING YOUR HOME

When it comes to maintaining a home in Sunriver and Three Rivers South, residents need not worry about finding contractors to help maintain their home. Whether you’re looking to do a major remodel, roofing, painting, plumbing or landscaping, there are highly skilled experts available who take great pride in their work. Camp Abbot Trading Company, the local hardware store, also has what the do-it-yourselfer needs for home maintenance.

Homeowners do face some weather-related challenges. While enjoying about 300 days of sunshine per year, Sunriver and TRS are at about 4,000-feet elevation. This means real winters with real snow.

Homes here require foam vent covers in the foundation to protect pipes, and snow buildup on the roof can cause ice dams. To help local homeowners

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with these and other cold weather challenges, businesses like roofers and landscapers switch gears in the winter months to provide snow removal services.

During summer months, residents take advantage of the dry days to paint their homes and rake pine needles. Again, the weather can be taxing for projects like deck maintenance, with heavy moisture and cold in the winter, and dry heat in the summer.

“Most homes in Sunriver include a wood deck to allow homeowners and visitors alike to enjoy the splendor of the outdoors inches from their back door. If decks could talk, however, they would tell you they would prefer to live inside,” says Gavin Hepp, owner of WebFoot Painting.

But Hepp advises that with proper care, like a wood-penetrating stain, and the right timing — when the deck is dry and the spring pollen has fallen — decks can look great and last a long time.

WORKING WITH HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS

One of the benefits of living in Sunriver is the quality and aesthetic standards for homes set by the Sunriver Owners Association (SROA), and the services that are provided by SROA to help residents maintain these standards. These guidelines help preserve Sunriver’s nature-based lifestyle.

For example, residents who want to make changes to the outside of their homes, like a change in color, landscaping, or an addition, must receive approval from a citizen’s design committee.

Some neighborhoods in Three Rivers South may also be governed by Homeowners Associations. Those looking to purchase a home should learn about the HOA for a particular community.

Whether buying a home or planning a maintenance project, you can obtain a local business referral from the Sunriver Area Chamber of Commerce at 541-593-8149 or sunriverchamber.com.