The Nugget Newspaper's Partners in Real Estate & Construction 2022 // 2022-05-18

2022

Partners artners in Real Estate & Construction

Sisters has proven itself to be one of the most desirable places in the nation to make a home. So desirable, in fact, that housing prices have soared and available inventory has become very tight.

That puts a premium on having a knowledgeable, hardworking real estate professional in your corner.

Fortunately, Sisters has a strong cadre of real estate professionals who combine a high level of knowledge and skill with a hometown touch. Real estate brokers have to be knowledgeable, diligent — and above all they have to know how to listen to their clients, to determine what property best fits their vision of the Sisters way of life. The men and women you will meet in these pages know Sisters intimately, in all of its surprising diversity. They have the

construction professionals have solutions for you, and the ongoing service that means your experience will be a positive one. knowledge and resources to help you find the property of your dreams, or to sell the one you’re in and start somewhere new.

Buying a home in Sisters is only the start of a journey for many people — and some want to build their own dream right from the foundation up.

Knowledge and professional expertise — again, delivered with that all-important hometown touch — is critical in the building trades, too. Whether you are building a new home, or putting up fence, or selecting the fixtures and amenities that will make your home both beautiful and functional, Sisters’

For many people, working to fulfill their dreams with the help of their Sisters real estate broker and their local, family-run businesses becomes an important part of their life in the community. These professionals often become treasured friends — a powerful demonstration of the spirit of Sisters, a manifestation of the sense of community that truly does make this one of the best places in the world to make your home.

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief The Nugget Newspaper

A special section presented by The Nugget Newspaper

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Partners in Real Estate & Construction • The Nugget Newspaper • May 18, 2022

BANR: Experience and adaptability in construction In the world of construction, there’s no substitute for experience and adaptability.

Founder Scott Davis, who brings more than 30 years of experience to bear, considers BANR Enterprises a “traditional, family-oriented contracting company.” BANR’s old-school values of hard work, reliability, quality, and a fair price allow for exceptional versatility and adaptability.

BANR does a wide array of work: residential, commercial, and heavy civil construction are all in their wheelhouse.

BANR specializes in on-time, responsive demolition, excavation, grading, and site preparation for projects of all sizes. They are a full-service contractor, providing all types of utilities, concrete, and hardscape work. They also offer paving, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical services to complete any job. Customers range from homeowners to large companies.

There is no project too small or large for BANR to take on.

They can pave a massive parking lot — or pour a neighbor’s sidewalk.

“Residential is a big part of our work,” Davis said.

On-site project managers work closely with construction teams to assure cost-efficient, high-quality solutions to the unique circumstances of each job.

Circumstances are more unique than ever right now, due to disruptions in material availability and soaring costs. That puts a premium on consulting with a professional contractor on what a viable project looks like and what kind of timelines are realistic.

“Plan ahead as far as you can,” Davis said. “Be calculated and conservative in your projects.”

He encourages clients to prioritize projects that are less affected by price and material shortages.

While some projects might be better deferred, others are still a go, including concrete and gravel work. BANR has years of concrete expertise, specializing in walkways and driveways.

“There’s plenty of tasks we can do, improvement wise,” Davis said. “If you want to rock your driveway, that’s a product we can get our hands on.”

BANR does a lot of wastewater systems work for commercial production facilities.

“We go into the facilities and handle the mechanical aspect of those things,” Davis said.

That allows the producer to focus on their core competency — the creation of their product.

Their background and skill set is ideal for the burgeoning brewery and distillery sector in Sisters Country.

“We are looking forward to working with some of those people,” Davis said.

Davis is proud to be a native Oregonian. He literally grew up in the trade that would form the basis for his career.

“I grew up in the loggingroad-building business,” he said.

“That’s my background.”

That logging-road-building business was a family business, and the values it instilled in him were carried forward when he decided to set out on his own in the early 1990s. That’s when he got heavily into the demanding world of civil contracting.

Customer service is at the top of Davis’ list of core values, no matter whether the client is an agency, a big corporation, or a local homeowner. In fact, he believes that customer service is the basis for integrity and success in any endeavor. Responsiveness is important to every client. It boils down to one key premise: “You have got to follow through,” he said.

With that commitment firmly in mind, Davis is part of every job his company undertakes.

“I will be the guy who comes out and talks to my customers,” he said.

Davis’ commitment to his customers extends to a practice that might be thought unusual in the construction field.

“We reach out to our competitors (with work) if they meet our

standards,” Davis said.

And, he is eager to note, there are such contractors in Sisters, and he thinks of them as “trusted partners.”

Thirty years of experience on virtually every conceivable kind of job has made BANR a go-to contractor that lives up to the informal company motto: “When the going gets tough, even the tough call us.”

BANR Enterprises retains facilities in Tualatin in the Willamette Valley, but Davis and his family have been full-time Sisters residents for several years now.

Landing in Central Oregon was a long-term prospect that was always in the cards. From his youth, Davis was often in the region for work.

“I had a lot of exposure to Central Oregon, and I always loved it,” he said.

A friend located a spot in Sisters he thought Davis and his family would like, and they decided to make the move. The company is still a regional player, but

this is home now.

“We cover a lot of real estate,” Davis said. “We work all over the place — but our headquarters is in Sisters.”

Davis is acutely aware that he is now one of the old lions of the construction industry -- and he’s concerned that fewer young people are going into the trades.

In fact, he said, over the past 20 years, one of the challenges of his business has been to learn to maximize the ability to manage jobs efficiently and effectively with a small — and shrinking — labor pool.

He’d like to have a hand in seeing that trend reversed. He believes strongly in the value of the work he has dedicated his life to, and sees great potential for young people who want to “work for a reason,” as he put it.

“There are huge opportunities for young people,” he said. “I’m going to be happy to talk to any young man or young lady who wants to work.”

The Nugget Newspaper

• May 18, 2022 • Partners in Real Estate & Construction

from CLEARING to CONCRETE… DEMOLITION to DESIGN… “When the going gets tough, even the tough call us!”

…BANR CAN HELP YOUR PROJECT WITH: site preparation, underground utilities, driveways, parking lots, building pads, concrete, industrial waste water systems, and facilities

We also offer paving, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical services to complete the job!

Call 541-549-6977

BANR Enterprises, LLC P.O. Box 1108 | Sisters, OR 97759 | ccb#165122

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Partners in Real Estate & Construction • The Nugget Newspaper • May 18, 2022

Finding a niche in Sisters Aqua Hot Tubs is ready to help you create an oasis at your home

Kristin Turnquist is dedicated especially enjoy helping older buyto service — to her real estate cli- ers and first-time buyers navigate ents and to the community she is the home-buying process.”

A smooth transaction requires happy to call home.

She has created a motto for identifying goals and explaining KRIS Equity — an acronym from the steps required to attain that her name that reflects the ethic goal.

“You have to be able to identify she brings to work and to life: Kindness, Respect, Integrity, barriers,” Turnquist said. “It takes a combination of knowledge, creService.

Turnquist is a consistent ativity and action to make great multi-million-dollar producer in things happen.”

Turnquist’s service ethic the Portland-Metro area and in Central Oregon. Always drawn to encompasses a wide range of combusiness, she has an MBA and has munity service that brings her long invested in real estate herself. business acumen to bear. She is With KRIS Equity, she is commit- president of Age Friendly Sisters ted to “making sure that my cli- Country and serves on the board ents have what they need and the of directors for Kiwanis Club of expertise that’s required to make Sisters. She’s also a Sisters School one of the biggest financial deci- District budget committee member, and serves sions of their lives.”

It takes a combination on the bond oversight comCurrent marof knowledge, creativity mittee for the ket conditions and action to make construction of are fast-paced a new Sisters and demanding, great things happen.

Elementary with low inven— Kristin Turnquist School. tory and many She’s happy buyers competto pitch in to shape the future of ing for desirable properties.

“This market requires having the community she’s called home strong communication skills,” for almost two years.

“I’m really happy to be able Turnquist said. “I really strive to serve clients by building relation- to say I’ve found my niche in ships through excellent service. I Sisters,” she said.

REAL ESTATE with

Kindness Respect Integrity Service

Specializing in FIRST-TIME BUYERS & SELLERS and SENIORS to help them achieve their real estate goals.

You’re building your dream home in Sisters. Now is the time to plan for an oasis of comfort and restoration with a hot tub and/or a sauna.

Karen Post of Aqua Hot Tubs urges people to plan ahead for their hot tub or sauna so it can be prewired and ready to go. She also urges contractors to inquire about a builder’s program.

Hot tubs, swim spas, and saunas add immeasurably to wellbeing and quality of life. It’s worth investing in quality. Aqua Hot Tubs’ products are top-ofthe-line, built-to-last, and are exceptionally energy-efficient. A six-person hot tub from Aqua Hot Tubs can cost $15-20 a month to operate, where a cheaper model can cost twice that. Steel frame construction means they won’t attract destructive, wire-chewing critters, which can be a problem in Sisters Country.

“These are actually constructed not to allow creatures inside them,” Post said.

Hot tubs and saunas are

professionally installed and locally serviced.

“It’s not like they’re purchasing something and having it dropped off in the driveway,” Post said. “We’re right here in town if they need anything.

Follow-up is, to me, the most important thing.”

Post notes that her Finlandia saunas are manufactured in Portland and “are true Finnish saunas.” Demand for both hot tubs and saunas is high, and manufacturing is still working to catch up. Now is the time to order to have your hot tub or sauna ready for summer or fall.

“We’re currently about four months out,” Post said. “That’s actually an improvement from last year.”

Aqua Hot Tubs meets all your hot tub and sauna needs in one place and will make the process of creating a peaceful home oasis seamless and simple, from picking just the right model through installation and ongoing maintenance.

BUILD YOUR BACKYARD OASIS!

“I would not have been able to purchase my first home if it were not for the patience, resourcefulness and diligence of Kristin. Highly recommend!” - Bayley B. “If you want a realtor to get things done, Kristin is the one!” - Kim C. “Kristin made me feel like I was her only client even though she had many other clients — always responded quickly to texts, emails and phone calls: She didn’t treat me like a commission, instead she truly wanted to help me. This is a nice change from other realtors I’ve worked with. It was an amazing experience and I highly recommend Kristin! “ — Jennifer O.

Hot Tubs Swim Spas • Saunas Patio Furniture • Firepit/Stoves Pizza Ovens • Pellet Grills DELIVERY & INSTALLATION

Spa Maintenance

FINANCING AVAILABLE

Ask About Builder Discounts Kristin Turnquist, Broker 541-449-7275 • kristin@krisequity.com

www.kristinturnquist.exprealty.com

www.aquahottub.com | 541-410-1023 413 W. Hood Ave., Sisters

Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday by appt.

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The Nugget Newspaper

• May 18, 2022 • Partners in Real Estate & Construction

Partnership gives Arends team Thomas Arends has a little over a year under his belt in a new career in real estate — and he’s already made solid footprints in the marketplace.

In an April 29 market penetration report from Central Oregon Association of Realtors, Phil Arends and Thomas Arends of Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty ranked number one and number two in the residential property market in the Sisters area in listings, volume, and average.

The years 2021-22 have vindicated Thomas Arends’ decision to make a career change from director of player personnel at University of Oregon to join his father at Cascade Sotheby’s. And it vindicated Phil’s belief in his son.

“He took right to it, and he’s become an excellent broker,” the elder Arends said.

Thomas believed from the start that the skills he developed in building relationships and intense, mindful listening were transferrable to the real estate field. That has proved to be the case.

“That still rings true,” Thomas said. “It’s all about relationships.”

The Arends family has deep roots in Sisters. Phil has been here for over three decades, and Thomas was born and raised here.

That sense of rootedness matters to clients.

“They seem to appreciate that we’ve been here,” Thomas said.

The Arends team has thrived in an intense, fastpaced seller’s market, where inventory is low and prices have rocketed.

Phil noted that the median home price — which hit $699,500 last quarter — “speaks to how desirable our community is.”

Phil, who has seen real estate cycles rise and fall over more than a decade in the field, believes that increased interest rates, economic jitters, and the general instability in the world are starting to show in the local market.

“I do think we’re starting to see a tapering in activity,” he said.

Still, Arends doesn’t foresee major changes.

“Sisters is still a super desirable place to be,” he said.

That will continue to mean many buyers interested in a property. However, transactions may take a little longer and “price adjustments are going to happen,”

elite status

he said.

High prices have created an interesting conundrum for homeowners, Arends notes. It’s hard not to be tempted to reap the equity gains available in a seller’s market, where value is increasing at a startling rate. But buying back into the same market is not necessarily easy, and it’s hard to find a bargain.

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“That’s always the question: I’d love to sell, but where would I go?” Thomas said.

“For a lot of folks, Sisters was the last stop,” Phil said.

They don’t want to cash out and move somewhere else.

That means inventory will probably stay tight.

As for desirability, Thomas sees Sisters attracting many buyers for whom Bend has become too “city.”

Sisters, from his view, is hitting a sweet spot, still “small town” or semi-rural, but with a lot more amenities than it once had.

“Oh, I love that,” he said. “I love that. It’s changing; it’s growing. It’s amazing to see all of this stuff, because it’s so different even from when I was growing up here.”

For both men, passion for the work is evident in their enthusiasm about the community they call home. Phil says that working with Thomas has helped him find better work-life balance to enjoy Sisters. And Thomas is now building a thriving life and career in his hometown.

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Partners in Real Estate & Construction• The Nugget Newspaper • May 18, 2022

Richardson Log Homes — A family business with

artistry and heart PHOTO BY GRACE PULVER

For Lance and Rebecca Richardson, building and restoring log homes is about integrity, follow-through, artistry, and caring for their clients. Richardson Log Homes (RLH) is based in Terrebonne, with a client-base that spans the nation. With a thriving business, Lance and Rebecca feel blessed to work with family and doing what they love.

“With skill and excellence, we partner with our customers to build the home of their dreams,” said Richardson.

Decades of skill and artistry is apparent in every Richardson Log Home.

“Our standard of excellence and seasoned craftsmanship truly set us apart. We build fullscribe-style log homes, chinkstyle homes, and kit homes. In addition to new builds, we also offer log home restoration services, routine maintenance, and log home inspections,” said Richardson.

She emphasized that the work is not for the weak or faint of heart.

“We handcraft beauty one log at a time, peeling every log by hand. No milled wood can compare to the old-world style and warmth of hand-drawn logs.

Beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder. Beauty just is, and

as you sit in front of your stone fireplace with a good book and a warm mug, you’ll never tire of gazing at these logs.”

Services provided by RLH include barn design and construction, building custom, energy-efficient homes, tiny house construction and floor plans.

Currently, RLH has three log homes under construction in their log yard and a restoration project outside Sisters.

“We’d love to do another project in Sisters Country,” said Richardson. “My husband started building log homes over 30 years ago. He has experiential knowledge and incredible amounts of creativity and skill when it comes to building log homes. He got the desire to build log homes from his father, but he learned by teaching himself through manuals and books and increasing his knowledge as he went.”

RLH works with local company Banton Engineering and Design.

“Steve Banton has a wealth of knowledge about building and designing log homes for the area.

We’d love to hear from Sisters Country folks so we can help them walk through their preliminary planning. We can help them create a home of their dreams that fits the land of their dreams.

It’s wonderful to build a home that matches your setting, your property, and community. We listen to what dwells in your heart and what makes you happy,” said Richardson.

Richardson says there’s something about the wood and history of log homes that brings comfort.

“There’s a secure, solid feeling in a log home. No matter the weather, you’re safe and snuggled inside.”

Lance Richardson watched his father build log homes when he was young. “That’s our history. It gives my husband a rich past with log homes and a deep love for them. We love people and enjoy staying in relationships with the people we build homes for,” she said. “We stay connected with them, we remain available to assist them in consultation, maintenance and long-term care of their homes.”

RLH first builds the log homes in their log yard, then the logs are numbered, loaded onto a truck, and delivered to the homesite.

Customers can watch their home being built, giving them an appreciation for the craftsmanship and artistry that goes into handling huge Douglas fir logs.

“It’s helpful for our clients to visit the log yard and

see the mass of the logs,” said Richardson. “We use largerdiameter logs. They are massive and handcrafted.”

Viewing RLH logs up close, you can see the peel or drawknife marks.

“This style of construction is compelling for those clients who are looking for that handcrafted, creative look. They almost always go with us to build a log home,” Richardson said. “We encourage them to look at the homes we’ve built in the area. Our clients will travel long distances to see our work. We ship our log homes nationwide. We’re grateful for our amazing homeowners and clients who have homes in Central Oregon and allow us to show them to our new clients.”

Building log homes is hard, physical work and takes a lot of muscle. Logs are hand-peeled.

When the logs are moved it requires special tools that often don’t include machinery.

Lance uses a scribe, which is a small instrument with a pencil to help measure. Because the top log is measured to go perfectly over the under log, the full scribing is not just the corners but requires the entire length of the log.

“That part doesn’t take a lot of brawn but more artistry with that pencil and scribe tool,” said Richardson.

“Lance is good at what he does, and there’s a huge amount of heart behind his work,” she said. “We are a family-owned company without a quota for what has to be made for the boss.

We do what we do because we love it.”

Visit their RLH website at www.richardsonloghomes.com.

Rebecca and Lance invite folks to email them at info@richardsonloghomes.com. Or give them a call at 541-728-8787. RLH’s physical address is 71330 NW Lower Bridge Way, in Terrebonne.

The Nugget Newspaper

• May 18, 2022 • Partners in Real Estate & Construction

NEW CONSTRUCTION • LOG HOME RESTORATION

NEW CONSTRUCTION • LOG HOME RESTORATION

30 years of handcrafted, quality experience

LOG HOME MAINTENANCE •

LOG HOME INSPECTIONS

Be sure to stop by our website gallery and plans pages to find the timber or log floor plans for the home that best suits your needs. Any design can be customized. Call us today to start planning your new home!

Family owned and operated, based in Central Oregon.

Serving Central Oregon and Nationwide!

541-728-8787 | RichardsonLogHomes.com CCB#207650 Licensed | Bonded | Insured | Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

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Partners in Real Estate & Construction • The Nugget Newspaper • May 18, 2022

Serious business — touch of humor With years of involvement in the Sisters community under her belt, Susan Bird, broker with Coldwell Banker Bain, knows her market well.

That market is full of interested buyers, with limited inventory to satisfy that interest. Bird has the background and experience — and the institutional support — to put them in the best possible position in a competitive market.

She is quick to credit Bain, who took ownership of the Coldwell Banker brokerage in Sisters in 2021, for the support they have provided.

“We have an outstanding administrative staff here,” she said. “What Bain has brought to our office — it’s powerful.

Their marketing materials are top-notch. Constantly updating education is powerful.

That’s very important in today’s world.”

Bird says she’s a storyteller at heart, and there are plenty of stories in real estate — all of them with a nugget of education at the core. She chuckles when

she recounts the tale of a man who resisted staging his home, only to find it sitting on the market when it should have sold.

She persuaded him to let her prepare the home — and it sold in a day.

Bird brings a real personal touch to her work, which leads to her clients becoming lifelong friends. And it also brings repeat and referral business, which is the strongest indicator of success an agent can receive.

“If people are coming back to you and referring you, you’re probably doing the job right,” Bird said.

Bird says that her buyers these days are often families with younger children, people in their 40s and 50s who are seeking a way of life full-time or for a vacation home that they can find in Sisters Country.

“They want that lifestyle,” she said.

Helping people find the way of life they dream of is deeply satisfying to Bird. As she says simply: “I love this job.”

? u o Y lp e H I n a C How g With 20+ years specializin d exclusively in the Sisters an te Black Butte Ranch real esta markets, I bring a wealth of to experience and knowledge ng guide you through the selli g and buying process. (Raisin s three children here also give me a great deal of local experience and knowledge.)

Real Estate is a careering you infformedd lifestyle for me. I enjoy keep ude of steps involved and taking care of the multit — so you are relaxed, for a successful transaction your decisions. g in ak m nt de nfi co d an le, comfortab

I can help you? w ho t ou ab e or m ow kn to Want Call me at 541-410-5644.

Title business built on relationships The blazing pace of the real estate market in Central Oregon hasn’t slowed down from last year’s record-breaking volume.

Central Oregon Sales Manager Curtis Stafford of Western Title & Escrow says they’ve closed more transactions than at any time in history.

Western Title & Escrow in Sisters provides title insurance for buyers and sellers, for resale and refinance. Like everyone associated with the real estate industry, they continue to operate at an extraordinarily high tempo of business.

Stafford said that low supply and very high demand continue to drive a fast-paced seller’s market — a trend he sees continuing, despite an uptick in mortgage rates.

“We were floating around the high twos or low threes, and now we’re in the sixes,” he said.

However, he notes, “prices haven’t really softened much.”

What Stafford expects is that higher rates will merely reduce the number of offers made on properties — from 16 or 17 offers

made on a single property down.

“That’s a real-time, right-now thing that’s going on,” he said.

That doesn’t really slow pace and, he says, “transactions are holding pretty steady.”

Stafford notes that title companies all offer the same product.

“It’s level of service that really stands out,” he said.

Deeply rooted in the community, Western Title’s local employees offer that level of service, with good communication, proactive problem-solving, and attentiveness all the way through closing.

That was a hallmark of the work of Tiana van Landuyt, who worked 47 years in the industry and 30 years in Sisters before retiring last month. Stafford saluted her work, which was deeply appreciated in Sisters, and welcomed new escrow officer Elvia Holmes.

Established in 1987 in Newport, Western Title & Escrow opened in Central Oregon in 1993.

Now part of the Fidelity National Financial family, as of 2018 there are nine locations, including Sisters.

A partnership beyond expectations, grounded in your community

• Superior closing experiences • Services and online resources that are second to none • Strong relationships that last As a member of the Fidelity National Financial family of companies, the nation’s largest group of title companies and title insurance underwriters, we offer financial strength and broad resources to support real estate and lending professionals.

Stop by and visit with Shelley Marsh & Elvia Holmes

Susan Bird, Broker

susanbird@cbbain.com BlackButteRealEstate.com SistersRealEstateBroker.com

291 W. Cascade Ave. | 541-549-6000

330 W. Hood Avenue, Sisters | 541-548-9180

The Nugget Newspaper

• May 18, 2022 • Partners in Real Estate & Construction

G N I T S Company offers a blast A L B D N MOBILE SoA Steel • k c i r B • e of efficiency in prep work Wood • St n

BEFO BE FORE RE

AFTER

Blast Industries is a classic American entrepreneurial story.

Darrick Phallon and Todd Ashley saw an unmet need, and they set about filling it — and in the process created a new and thriving business in Sisters.

The company provides sandblasting services for homeowners, commercial property owners, and municipal governments.

“Both of us are general contractors, so this line of work was just something we had to find, companies over in Portland to come over and do it for us,” Phallon said.

Three years ago, they started wondering why nobody in Central Oregon seemed to be providing mobile sandblasting services — and they decided that it made sense to buy equipment and start doing the work themselves. From a part-time side enterprise, it quickly grew into a full-scale business, and now they have two fulltime crews working across Sisters Country, with an option to add in a third.

It’s not hard to understand why the enterprise took off.

Good prep work is key to a successful, long-lasting painting or staining project. That can mean hours of sanding — or you can call Blast Industries. Their sandblasting services get the job done safely and effectively — and far more quickly than anyone can do it with a sander.

“Anything you’d have to sand for days, the sandblaster can do that in a fraction of the time,” said Phallon.

Wet or dry applications are available to treat decks and siding, concrete, stone, steel, even plastic surfaces. They can run from 80 to 140 psi in pressure depending on the need. They’ve done everything from decks to graffiti removal for the City of

Sisters. Blast Industries can do exterior as well as interior work (thanks to dust containment options).

Phallon said that most of the summertime work involves restoring decks.

The exceptional efficiency of sandblasting created another need: a staining crew that can get right to work so that a homeowner doesn’t have to wait or schedule things weeks or months in advance.

“We wanted to put together a crew that can really jump on things quick,” Phallon said. “We can sandblast a deck in the morning and stain it in the afternoon.

We’re out of there in a day.”

The range of work is wide.

They can adjust their pressure and material flow to restore delicate cedar shakes to looking like new — or they can distress new timbers to create a rustic, weathered look. The abrasive product is EPA approved and environmentally safe. It’s “crushed, recycled, and sifted glass.”

“It’s like really fine beach sand,” Phallon said. “It’s safe for the soil. The sand is actually good for the soil — I know it sounds crazy (the sand helps retain moisture).”

In any case, the sand is easy to deal with.

“Usually a backpack blower and a rake and it pretty much disappears,” he said.

In addition to interior or exterior residential work, Blast Industries has contracted for parking stripe removal on streets and parking lots, and they can blast automotive or industrial parts. It’s all mobile.

Schedule now to get your deck done in a day so you can get to enjoying that space when summer finally rolls around in Sisters.

BEFO BE FORE RE

AFTER

Spec cia aliz zing in De ecks & Sid ding Ressidenttiaal & Com Residential Commercial mmerccial Wet W et or Dry (Dust Con Containment) ntainment) EPA-safe EPA A-safee • En Environmentally nvironmeentally y friendl friendly ly

BONDED AND INSURED

Blast Industries LLC

541-706-1490

blastindor@gmail.c com

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Partners in Real Estate & Construction • The Nugget Newspaper • May 18, 2022

Finding clients the right home for them Sheila Jones grew up with seller’s market—and that seller’s her dad building houses in the market has created a conundrum Portland Metro area, and that for some folks who want to take set her feet on the path toward advantage of the market, but are helping clients fulfill their real then challenged to buy back in. estate dreams. “For me it’s real“People want to sell, but they ly about finding my clients the don’t know where to move,” right home for them,” she said.

Jones said.

An agent with Stellar Realty Real estate has always been NW, Jones relies on her broad a field that demands strong network and intimate familiar- communication and listening ity with every skills, and neighborhood that’s more You have to be really true now than in the Sisters area to stay on ever. Prior to on top of things. I top of a marher real estate ask everybody pretty career, Jones ket where the right house much on a daily basis acquired that can appear skill as a hairwhat’s going on in and then be stylist/salon gone in an their neighborhoods. owner with 30 instant. years’ experi— Sheila Jones “You have ence. “It’s realto be really just taking ly on top of the key notes things,” Jones said. “I ask every- of what clients want in a home,” body pretty much on a daily Jones said. basis what’s going on in their On her off time Jones enjoys neighborhoods.” all that Central Oregon has to Knowing who might be inter- offer. Fishing, hiking, boating, ested in selling is important in a and gardening.

Mortgage company guides seniors to ‘a better life’ Aging brings with it some important financial decisions.

One financial tool that is available to people once they reach the age of 62 is a reverse mortgage.

Dan Higgins of A Better Life Mortgage specializes in helping seniors use this financial tool effectively to meet their goals and provide financial security as they age. Higgins has years of experience in the industry and is a close student of the product, which enables him to provide responsive, transparent, and efficient service to his clients.

Simply put, a reverse mortgage is a loan allowing homeowners age 62 and older to borrow against the value of their home and receive funds as a lump sum, a fixed monthly payment, or as a line of credit. Unlike a conventional mortgage, the homeowner does not have to make payments — the mortgage comes due when the borrower dies, moves away, or sells their home.

Higgins notes that there

are many myths about reverse mortgages.

“The big one is that they lose ownership of the home — the bank is taking the house,” he said.

That’s not how the reverse mortgage works. The loan must be structured so that it won’t exceed the value of the house, and homeowners can still leave the house to their children.

“The heirs are always in a position to receive that equity,” Higgins said.

Higgins says that the reverse mortgage is not a loan of last resort — it’s a financial tool that can help seniors stay in their home, allow them to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle or to travel, help with assisted living, or meet other priorities.

Higgins works with clients to determine what they want to accomplish with their reverse mortgage, and discuss what their fears or concerns might be about their senior years.

“Then we can design it for them,” he said.

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The Nugget Newspaper

• May 18, 2022 • Partners in Real Estate & Construction

11

Family-owned businesses critical part of Sisters Brad King of Lakeview Millworks believes passionately in the value of community — and the small, family-owned businesses that make communities like Sisters strong.

“We’re the glue for the community, all these family-run businesses,” he said. “It’s a symbiotic relationship in the community, and it’s (so) important.”

For King, ownership of a small business is as much a calling as an enterprise. He sees business owners as stewards of community, people who work hard to stay in business through thick and thin, to provide a valued product and/ or service to the community, and keep people employed.

“We have an obligation we feel to do that,” he said.

Lakeview Millworks, like most small businesses, has had to adapt to a rapidly changing environment, with supply chain disruptions and other curveballs that the past two years have thrown at everybody in the construction world. But through it all, they’ve maintained their fundamental commitment to provide quality doors, windows, and window coverings at a fair price — with the best service in the field.

“We’re never the price of the

big-box store — we’ll never be the same price as the big-box store,” King said.

What they will be is on the spot when you need them, long after the fact. They want their customers to be satisfied.

“We don’t care what it takes, we always work it through,” King said. “That comes from our great staff.”

Part of making sure their customers are satisfied is clear communication — up-front and all through the process of ordering and installing. Nowadays, they need to remind their customers to plan ahead. Vinyl windows are two months out, and wood windows are still six months out.

“In the old days, we used to order doors and windows after the house was framed,” King said.

Now, it’s imperative to order early, which puts a premium on making solid choices from the getgo — and on clear communication between Lakeview Millworks, the customer, and the contractor.

There’s no substitute for in-person, face-to-face communication, and King urges clients to come in and talk through their project with Ken Roberts (doors and windows) and Shelly Clemens (BestVue Blinds window coverings).

Lakeview Millworks and BestVue Blinds pride themselves on carrying first-class products from top-tier vendors. Hunter Douglas blinds is one of those.

“Hunter Douglas is a fabulous company,” King said. “They stand behind anything and everything they produce.”

The staff is very excited to offer Hunter Douglas’ Powerview Generation 3 new line of “smart shades” that offer convenience, enhanced security, and safety.

They’re Bluetooth programmable and motorized.

“This is amazing,” King said.

He thinks this will be an

outstanding product for Sisters clients, especially those who aren’t here all the time.

“We know that it’s a tested and proven product that works,” he said.

The excitement King and the Lakeview Millworks staff have for the products they offer is palpable, but it’s only a reflection of what those can do to enhance the lives of their clients. Because those clients are friends and neighbors and part of a community that Lakeview Millworks is invested in with all the passion and commitment that characterizes a familyrun business.

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12

Partners in Real Estate & Construction • The Nugget Newspaper • May 18, 2022

First Story’s 100th homeowner

Hayden Homes celebrates There was a big enthusiastic crowd in McKenzie Meadows Village earlier this spring. Many participants wore white hard hats and obviously knew their way around a construction site. The event, presented by the neighborhood’s builder and founder of First Story, Hayden Homes, was a celebration for the 100th homeowner in their First Story program.

First Story’s approach to housing affordability is a pathway to ending multigenerational poverty for families in Central Oregon and across the Northwest.

The mission is made possible because of the passion and commitment of Hayden Homes. The celebration encompassed First Story homeowners from Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

“I hope that sharing our stories of collaboration, hope, commitment, and selflessness will show both an appreciation of First Story families, as well as the partners and people who continue to bring the First Story vision to fruition,” said First Story Executive Director Claire Duncan. “Most importantly, the celebration is a testament to the belief that great things can happen when we give more than we get.”

There were three construction sites with foundations ready for their first walls to go

up. After the families were welcomed and introduced to the crowd, attendees from Hayden Homes’ Simplicity by Hayden Homes teams were invited to line up along each wall. When the word rang out, all three groups lifted the homes’ first walls, putting them closer to being ready to shelter three new Sisters families.

After they were secured in place, messages of encouragement were written on the walls.

First Story’s unique approach to affordable homeownership removes the barriers that make homeownership inaccessible for some families and individuals who make up the fabric of the Sisters community. For some, without programs like First Story, the dream of homeownership and all that it brings is kept just out of reach.

With the generosity and dedication of founder, Hayden Homes, and loyal building partners, First Story homes are built in thriving Hayden Homes neighborhoods, and share the same aesthetics as every other home in the community. This inclusive approach to affordable housing strengthens communities and allows for the integration of diverse perspectives and backgrounds.

The event included a surprise for local Central Oregon nonprofit

NeighborImpact, pickups loaded with donations made on behalf of Hayden Homes and Simplicity

by Hayden Homes team members. First Story works closely with NeighborImpact, utilizing their Home Source program for all First Story recipients. As a thank-you for their years of

support to First Story homeowners, organizers created four teams to fill donation bags with books, games, activities, and crafts for kids 0-10 years old. The goal was one pickup truck full, but that was surpassed, with several loads on their way to the nonprofit and the families they support.

McKenzie Meadows Village Park is Since last year’s celebration for the opening of McKenzie Meadow Village Park, families have enjoyed getting to know their neighbors and playing in the beautiful setting. The park is in the latest new Hayden Homes community in Sisters.

Part of the master plan and subdivision applications by Hayden Homes for McKenzie Meadow Village required inclusion of three community amenities.

Rather than spread them out in small pocket parks, they consolidated them into one 1.96-acre park.

The location of the park was chosen to save as many trees as possible. It’s located in the center of the Hayden Homes neighborhood with houses facing the park on all four sides, including three of the First Story homes provided by Hayden Home’s charitable nonprofit. The saved trees add that signature Sisters feel with

building community

towering, stately pines dotted around the perimeter.

“Hayden Homes is proud to offer a space where homeowners can come together, enjoy the park amenities, and feel a sense of community,” said Tom Bennett, regional director for Hayden Homes. Hayden Homes partnered with the City Parks Advisory Board, Age Friendly Sisters, and

Sisters Park & Recreation District.

The group partnership was instrumental in putting concepts together and bringing the adult fitness area to life.

For Hayden Homes, building a strong community is a key component in all their efforts.

They’ve shown their commitment by building affordable homes for families, making sure their parks

are inclusive for all ages, and co-hosting with the Sisters Chamber of Commerce community get-togethers like last year’s Cookies and Cocoa in the Park with Santa.

Community members and their four-legged friends are welcome to enjoy the park. There’s play equipment including slides, large grass areas, paved pathways, and a covered pavilion with seating and capacity to accommodate large gatherings. At the other end of the park, there’s a fitness pad with several pieces of equipment suitable for all ages and abilities. Both the fitness equipment and the play structure are placed on a synthetic, cushioned surface to reduce the possibility of injuries from falls. There’s even a partial view of the Three Sisters Mountains to enjoy while relaxing on a bench or throwing down a blanket on the thick, comfortable lawns.

The Nugget Newspaper

• May 18, 2022 • Partners in Real Estate & Construction

NEW HOMES IN SISTERS, REDMOND, BEND, AND PRINEVILLE | HAYDEN-HOMES.COM

13

14

Partners in Real Estate & Construction • The Nugget Newspaper • May 18, 2022

Building a reputation for quality out of Stone countertops in kitchen and bathroom are one of the highest-value upgrades you can make for your home. Truly, the quality homes of Sisters Country need and deserve a granite or engineered quartz countertop.

Natural stone countertops, created by nature and fashioned by modern technology, are an investment homeowners will never regret. They are aesthetically pleasing upgrades for rooms where you spend a lot of time.

With deep iridescent colors, granite and other natural stone offer the elusive one-of-a-kind beauty created only in nature. Natural stone countertops add character and warmth to kitchens, baths, and other areas of the home, with a richness that cannot be duplicated in synthetic materials.

Since 2003, Solid Rock Granite has been bringing the beauty of natural stone into the homes and lives of families in Sisters. Mike and Carol Ezell bought the company in 2007 and have brought an ethic of first-class quality, attention to detail, customer service, and community involvement to their business.

Mike is a hands-on owner, who oversees all their projects and is Solid Rock Granite’s lead fabricator and installer. Carol

has a passion for helping customers achieve the vision they have for their home. She works with them to navigate an array of options to determine which product and configuration best suits their needs and desires.

Solid Rock Granite works with many suppliers of natural stone (granite, marble, limestone, soapstone, travertine, quartzite, onyx) and engineered quartz slabs. They will help you in your selection for material that will be right for your project, budget, and lifestyle.

The Ezells and their team have a deep knowledge of their product, and that helps them steer customers in the right direction.

Granite is comprised of many different minerals that give each countertop slab a unique and attractive appearance. Granite has excellent strength and durability and is resistant to scratches and damage from heat, such as pans or hot hair tools.

Engineered quartz is a manmade product created mostly from crushed natural materials.

It’s typically made of 90 to 94

percent ground quartz and 6 to 10 percent resins and pigments that are combined into durable and nonporous slabs. There are several manufacturers of engineered stone providing a variety of styles, colors, and pricing. Solid Rock Granite recommends that customers always use a cutting board on quartz countertops, and always use a trivet or hot pad when setting down hot objects.

Carol notes that the company

solid rock

has always been small, tight-knit, and family run, and will stay that way because that is the way to ensure that their two most important values stay at the forefront: quality work and strong relationships.

The team at Solid Rock Granite uses state-of-the art technology to ensure that each project is fabricated with the utmost precision and care. Their CNC machine provides a high level of quality and consistent fabrication.

The team of fabricators and installers take pride in their workmanship and demonstrate careful attention to detail with every project.

And that care is brought to the relationship with the customer too.

“We help them with the selection of material all the way through taking care of it,” Carol said.

Consistent attention to quality work and outstanding customer service have built a reputation for customer satisfaction and some of the best craftsmanship in Central Oregon — a reputation built on solid rock.

Our specialty is custom fabrication and installation of natural stone and engineered quartz slab countertops and other slab surfaces.

From design to the care of your new countertops, we will help guide you every step of the way.

541-549-8550

723 N. Curtis Ct., Sisters | SolidRockOregon.com CCB# 173830

Our mission is to provide quality workmanship and the best customer service possible.

The Nugget Newspaper

Agent/lender team is Khiva Beckwith is a down-toearth professional with Coldwell Banker Mayfield, born and raised in Central Oregon with a deep knowledge of “every nook and cranny” of the region. Kendra Hass is a mortgage loan broker with decades of experience and the backing of the highly regarded Socha Lending Group.

The two are longtime friends — and working together they form a powerful duo, helping clients fulfill their dreams of living in Sisters.

In an exceptionally competitive sellers’ market, it’s imperative to come into any potential transaction well prepared.

“I think it’s more important than ever that the consumer arms themselves with a good team behind them,” Hass said. “That’s how we’re getting people into homes right now.”

Buyers must have their financing pre-approved and their team has to be quick to move and hit every deadline. Without an efficient team behind them,” they’re not going to win the contract… they’re not going to make Sisters their home,” Hass said.

That’s a big challenge, but the duo thrives on it. Beckwith and Hass work so well together, and are so responsive and effective,

• May 18, 2022 • Partners in Real Estate & Construction

15

a winner for clients

that clients have taken to calling them “The Dream Team.”

“Kendra and I have beat out 12 offers before, working together,” Beckwith said, with a note of pride and satisfaction.

Socha Lending Group has the advantage of being an established brokerage associated with numerous banks, credit unions, and mortgage companies. That allows them access to a variety of loan products, so Hass is able to find the best solution to fit the buyer’s needs instead of trying to fit buyers into a specific set of products.

Socha has access to a full suite of mortgage products, including Conventional, VA, FHA, USDA, as well as private-money and nontraditional products.

As a self-described “hardworking go-getter,” Beckwith is the kind of agent both buyers and sellers want in their corner. That’s why many of her clients become friends. Beckwith is so deeply rooted in the Sisters and Central Oregon community that being “networked” is just a natural outgrowth of her life.

With inventory at an all-time low, finding a home for a buyer with big dreams requires constant diligence and the kind of hard work that has earned Beckwith the 2021 and 2022 Coldwell Banker

International President’s Circle Award, ranking her in the top 10 percent of agents worldwide.

“I’m checking the MLS (multiple listing service) every couple of hours,” Beckwith said.

When an opportunity appears, the team kicks into action with the goal of making “a seamless transaction.”

Clients like working with a pair of professionals who are also friends and who put a premium on building relationships.

“We take a real consultive approach with what we do for all of our new homeowners in

Central Oregon. I think that it’s very personal that way,” Hass said. “Because Khiva and I always answer our phone and never leave anybody hanging.”

Rising mortgage rates are expected to cool the hot market a little, but the team notes that Sisters is a little bit insulated from that impact, simply because so many people want to be here and are willing to work to get here.

The team has the tools to navigate change.

“We’re positioned really well for this changing market,” she said.

16

Partners in Real Estate & Construction • The Nugget Newspaper • May 18, 2022

Safety, reliability key to tree care in Sisters Country A lot has changed in Sisters and the world in recent weeks — but the need to care for our trees remains.

Doing that job right requires a wide range of knowledge and experience; the right equipment for the job; and a commitment to safety and reliability.

James Hatley and 4 Brothers Tree Service have quickly built a reputation in Sisters Country for responsiveness, reliability, and high-quality work. That reputation allowed Hatley to run two crews last summer to keep up with demand for his services.

Tree work is something of a calling for Hatley. He’s been in the trade since he was 18 in Yakima, Washington, and he launched 4 Brothers Tree Service in Central Oregon in May 2017.

Since then, the business has been thriving.

The company is named in honor of his four young sons and the logo is a silhouette of the boys.

Family is a key aspect of the way Hatley operates.

“I’ve always been in family business,” he said. “My dad and my grandpa had a wrecking yard in Washington for 33 years, and all the companies I’ve worked for have been family owned and run.”

The family aspect puts “a little bit more integrity into the work, I believe. A little more caring in the

work. It puts it a little more on the personal level than the business level to me.”

4 Brothers Tree Service provides a full range of services — tree removal, pruning, stumpgrinding, fire-fuel reduction, lot-clearing, and commercial thinning. In winter, they provide snow-removal services.

He’s well equipped to handle any tree-service job, from a planned project to an emergency such as a tree limb falling on your house or vehicle. That helps ensure that work is done in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.

“The equipment I’ve acquired has made the job faster and therefore less expensive for the customer,” Hatley said.

Over the past year, he’s added a larger, more efficient stump grinder and a new four-wheeldrive bucket truck.

Their grinders are able to fit through 36-inch wide gates to access hard-to-reach backyard stumps.

“For a surface grind we will grind the stump below grade so you may grow grass where the stump was, or if you choose to replant another tree or shrub, we’ll grind the stump completely out,” Hatley said.

When finished, the wood chips are raked into a mound over the

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

hole and the lawn is left looking events have not come to pass so better than before. Hatley notes far. that many homeowners enjoy “There was supposed to be using the remaining wood chips a wave of beetle kill coming as mulch for flowerbeds. through,” he said. “I haven’t really “As an option, we can remove seen a lot of it.” the wood chips, fill the hole with While it might seem that they topsoil, apply seed/straw or sod, are in the straightforward busior leave a hole so you can plant ness of cutting down trees, 4 your next valuable tree,” he said.

Brothers Tree Service is really 4 Brothers also provides lot about the health of the landscape. clearing services — not just trees They’ll save trees where they can.

Often 4 and shrubs, but Brothers Tree also removal of There are still things Service can save stumps, logs, that need to be done a vulnerable rocks, dirt, gravcodominant tree el, demolition, as far as fire-fuel grass, weeds, etc. reduction. Necessary (one that forks into more than “Don’t be things as opposed one trunk) by afraid to ask,” tying it off so that to aesthetics.

Hatley said. the trunks grow “We’ll come take — James Hatley closer together a look and help and are less likely any way we can.”

A couple of days’ lead time to split away. Or, if one trunk is is usually all that is necessary to less dominant, sometimes that one can be limbed off. obtain an estimate for work.

“No two trees are alike,” Hatley The 4 Brothers Tree Service crew is working through the said. “It’s all job-specific — treecurrent coronavirus crisis. specific, you could say.”

A dead or dying tree can pose Discussions about the work are done by phone or at a distance, a big hazard to life and property, and crews maintain social dis- and property owners should regutance and are just working and larly assess the condition of their trees. going home to their families.

“Look up!” Hatley urges.

“There are still things that Sometimes branches are broneed to be done as far as firefuel reduction,” Hatley noted. ken and go unnoticed until wind “Necessary things as opposed to or snow brings them down.

Junipers — as many folks in aesthetics.”

Customers usually know what Sisters discovered last month — they want him to do, but Hatley are brittle and subject to breaking will assess conditions and risk. under load.

Look for discolored needles — Sometimes he is able to allay a homeowner’s concern about a that’s a sign of ill health. A tree that has been girdled by having tree and let them know it’s fine.

When it’s evident that trees the bark chewed off by animals have to come down, Hatley will is in bad shape, too. It’s best to provide a variety of options as to be proactive rather than risking a disposition of the wood — leave catastrophic event.

Hatley enjoys climbing. it down, haul it out, cut firewood “I don’t mind being 100 feet in — that give customers a range of the air,” he said with a smile. prices to choose from.

But he also acknowledges that Many homeowners strongly desire to save a tree, and Hatley his is one of the most dangerwill do everything he can to make ous jobs around, and safety for that happen. He notes that, “we all concerned is always the top don’t like topping trees, because priority.

Another important priority it’s not right — it’s not good for the tree.” Under certain circum- is making sure you have whatstances they’ll do so because ever permits and paperwork “sometimes it’s the safest way are required before starting to remove trees. Check with your while still keeping the tree.”

Hatley is glad that Sisters homeowners association or with escaped the heavy snowfall that the City of Sisters about requiredamaged so many trees a couple ments and make sure all is in order before starting work, as of winters ago.

“I’d rather not go out taking fines for illegal tree removal can down broken trees — because the be steep.

And if you have any questions, customer didn’t want that tree James Hatley and 4 Brothers Tree removed,” he said.

He’s also pleased to see that Service are ready to come to your concerns about high-mortality property to make an assessment.

The Nugget Newspaper

• May 18, 2022 • Partners in Real Estate & Construction

17

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18

Partners in Real Estate & Construction • The Nugget Newspaper • May 18, 2022

COAR works to keep More and more people are finding a way to make their dream of living in Sisters a reality. In some ways, it’s become easier than ever.

Many people have discovered that technology finally does allow them to choose where they can live and work. But there are challenges.

Like other desirable communities across the United States, Sisters has seen a sharp rise in prices and a sharp decline in the inventory of homes available for purchase.

In 2020-2021, this developed into an intense seller’s market — which local analysts expect to persist for a while, despite mortgage rate increases.

“It is still a strong seller’s market,” said Cat Zwicker of Central Oregon Association of Realtors (COAR). “We’re really on a track to echo last year. It’s probably too early to see impact from rate increases.”

The driver is not complicated, Zwicker says: “We just live in a great area, and people want to come here and enjoy the Central Oregon lifestyle. We had a booming economy, even during the pandemic.”

Eventually, of course, higher rates will have an impact.

“I do think we will change direction a little bit based on

housing in reach in Sisters

interest rates,” Zwicker said.

COAR’s mission is “to enhance its member’s ability and opportunity to operate successfully in all real estate markets, through professional standards, educational services, information networks, and collective community and political influence.”

With support from COAR, realtors can then help buyers and sellers navigate a competitive market — and whatever changes come as the market cycles.

Zwicker says that the extremely hot seller’s market has given rise to the belief that housing is moving out of reach.

“The biggest myth is that housing has become unattainable,” she said. “I don’t think that’s true.”

She notes that COAR is engaged in helping to shape policy that affects housing in the region.

“We’re looking every day to find ways to make housing more accessible and affordable, given the circumstances we find ourselves in,” she said.

One of the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is that people are much more invested in and intentional about creating the home they truly want. People from big cities are looking for a sense of community that is always

on display in Sisters. And far more people and businesses have discovered that employees can work effectively from anywhere they have a good internet connection.

Most of the interest in Central Oregon is still coming from the Willamette Valley.

Intense interest in communities like Sisters has driven prices up and inventory down across the West, and Sisters is conforming to that trend. Median home prices climbed 37 percent quarterto-quarter to end Q4 of 2021 at

$725,000. And a market that consistently has had 60 to 100 homes on the market now consistently has fewer than 20 — sometimes much fewer. Rentals are scarce and expensive.

The competitive market in Sisters is expected to continue, but Zwicker sees local growth in a positive light.

“Sisters has experienced thoughtful growth through the years,” she said.

That trend, too, she expects to continue.

The Nugget Newspaper

• May 18, 2022 • Partners in Real Estate & Construction

Black Butte Realty Group’s Don Bowler and Gary Yoder have been co-owners of Black Butte Realty Group (BBRG) since purchasing the company in 2016.

Prior to that they were brokers in the same office formerly owned

by Dick Howells. The company has been the exclusive on-site real estate sales office at Black Butte Ranch (BBR) for over 10 years.

Bowler and his wife, Lynn, have lived full-time on the Ranch since 2008. For Bowler, retirement from a career in the financial services industry didn’t mean slowing down. He serves on the BBR Finance and Natural Resources committees and as a director on the rural fire protection district.

That’s just his volunteer work. He has a thriving real estate sales dossier that specializes in ensuring his clients receive excellent representation during their transactions. Bowler heads up the BBRG vacation rental program on the Ranch, overseeing staff dedicated to providing a Ranch vacation experience that can’t be found anywhere else.

Gary Yoder’s family connection to the Ranch began over 50 years ago.

“My father-in-law, Robert Muir Graves, was a golf course architect and part of the original design

Don Bowler President & Broker 971-244-3012

team for the Ranch back in the early 1970’s. He designed the Big Meadow Golf Course and worked on many other landscape features including the shape for Phalarope Lake,” said Yoder.

Yoder has worked for BBR since he and his wife, Katy, moved to Sisters Country in 1993. After retiring from the Air Force, he decided to join his father-in-law and work in the golf industry.

Eventually, he transitioned to real estate and has continued working on the Ranch in that capacity.

BBRG agents have extensive experience representing clients on the Ranch. Ross Kennedy, Corrie Lake, and Tiffany Hubbard round out the BBRG team. “Now more than ever it’s important to have knowledge of the unique attributes found at Black Butte Ranch.

If you’re represented by someone who doesn’t know the intricacies of real estate on the Ranch, they may be missing things that could be detrimental to their client’s transaction. We have the knowledge and experience to do a better job of making sure our clients get the best deal possible,” said Yoder. “We have five agents on our real estate sales team,” said Yoder, who is the managing broker for the company. “We also

Gary Yoder Managing Principal Broker 541-420-6708

19

roots run deep in region

actively sell and represent clients throughout Central Oregon.”

Along with their on-site office on the Ranch, BBRG has an office in Sisters on the corner of Pine Street and Sisters Park Drive. “We are open seven days a week. It’s where our vacation rental team works. We have additional offices for our sales team, and Don and I have offices there.”

Bowler invites everyone to attend BBRG’s open house every

Ross Kennedy Principal Broker 541-408-1343

Corrie Lake Principal Broker 541-521-2392

— Serving Greater Central Oregon —

Wednesday on the Ranch. Their on-site office is located across the lawn from the Lakeside Bistro.

“The open house is part of the concert series happening during the summer on the Ranch.

“We’re always happy to talk about real estate and answer people’s questions about the Ranch,” said Bowler. To get in touch with a real estate expert from BBRG visit their website, blackbutterealty group.com, or call 541-595-3838.

Tiffany Hubbard Broker 541-620-2072

541-595-3838 Black Butte Ranch l 541-549-5555 Sisters | blackbutte.com

20

Partners in Real Estate & Construction • The Nugget Newspaper • May 18, 2022

Real estate team serves Keeping up with insurance in wildfire country clients across region Ross Kennedy and Tiffany Hubbard have been working together for over a year, serving clients across Sisters Country with Black Butte Realty Group.

“The partnership is working,” Kennedy said. “It’s working very effectively.”

In the current strong seller’s market, they are consistently working with about 20 clients who are ready to buy — but inventory is very low. That puts a premium on quick, efficient action and clear communication.

“When something comes on, we have to be Johnny-on-thespot getting it out to our clients,” Kennedy said.

The partnership allows Kennedy and Hubbard to be constantly “on,” while still enjoying some balance in their own lives — which in turn makes them more effective agents for their clients.

More than ever, transactions have to be nailed down at every step.

“The benefit for the client is that we’ve got two sets of eyes on the transaction,” Kennedy said.

Having lived in Sisters for

many years, and being deeply invested in the community, Kennedy brings a high degree of knowledge to each transaction. He knows every neighborhood and all the different microregions of Sisters Country — from Black Butte Ranch to town and as far east as Redmond, Bend and Prineville. That broad and deep knowledge is complemented by Hubbard’s exceptional organizational and transaction management skills. That translates to being able to find the right property for a buyer, even in a tight market, and the ability to act effectively when an opportunity arises.

Kennedy anticipates that, because Sisters is such a desirable locale, the seller’s market will persist through the year and into next year, despite changes in rates and the economy. That means buyers need to be ready with prequalification, and be ready to compete.

Sellers have a chance to maximize their investment. And they need a strong team to help them manage a smooth and seamless transaction.

Catastrophic wildfires have destroyed communities across the West. The Holiday Farm Fire in McKenzie Canyon and the Santiam Canyon Fire, which devastated Oregon communities in September 2020, brought home how vulnerable those of us who dwell amid the forest really are.

Insurance companies paid out hundreds and hundreds of claims.

The landscape of home insurance changed as drastically as the actual landscape.

Keeping your homeowners’ insurance in good standing requires attention, says Tammy Taylor of Bisnett Insurance in Sisters. While some carriers are pulling out of the market or severely restricting whom they will cover, Bisnett continues to be able to write policies for people in Sisters Country. But homeowners have to be engaged.

“You, as a homeowner, need to be proactive about defensible space,” Taylor said.

She notes that Safeco Insurance has contracted with Wildfire Defense Systems out of Bozeman, Montana, to provide enhanced fire protection services, from

defensible space to sprinkler systems to biodegradable fire retardant foam. The upgrade comes without additional cost.

“When looking at a home carrier, you should be looking at that, and whether that carrier offers that,” Taylor said.

You must make sure your property is accessible to fire trucks.

“Insurance companies are inspecting properties,” Taylor said. “They’re doing external inspections. That’s the numberone factor that they’re looking at.”

Make sure firewood is stacked away from structures and brush is cut back.

Taylor said rates are going to go up due to the extent of claims, and being non-renewed will affect future premiums. Being part of a certified Firewise community can help.

“If you’re living in a community that is not a Firewise community, I would look into that,” Taylor said.

Working with a qualified, independent agent like Taylor keeps Sisters residents insured — but it is up to all of us to keep ourselves safe.

In This Fast-Paced Real Estate Market,Trust in Experience and Proven Results

Representing the Buyer

Representing the Buyer

Representing the Buyer

Representing the Seller

Proudly representing buyers and sellers in all of Central Oregon.

Ross Kennedy

Principal Broker

Tiffany Hubbard

541-408-1343

541-620-2072

Loan Originator NMLS #1612019

Broker

We are a full-service insurance agency offering auto, home, business, life and health.

As an insurance agency, we partner with Safeco Insurance. Safeco offers many programs and resources to make it easy for their customers, such as wildfire defense and mobile capabilities.

— In Business Since 1980 —

541-549-3172 • 1-800-752-8540 704 W. HOOD AVE., SISTERS

The Nugget Newspaper

• May 18, 2022 • Partners in Real Estate & Construction

21

Craftsman loves working in stone and brick If a project involves masonry work — fireplaces, interior and exterior stone or brick work, perhaps a barbecue or a paved walk — Cesar Alvarez will not only get the job done, he’ll revel in it.

The lead craftsman for Lara’s Construction & Cleaning absolutely loves stonework. And he loves pleasing his clients.

“When you’re done and the house looks different and they’re happy, that makes me happy,” Cesar said.

Jonathan Hicks, a Sisters resident and real estate professional, is one of the happy ones. He had Lara’s Construction & Cleaning build a fireplace in his home and lay pavers outside.

“Ruth and Cesar have been a pleasure to work with through multiple projects,” Hicks reported. “They offer the highest-quality

craftsmanship with reasonable price points. I regularly recommend their services.”

Cesar came to his passion for masonry on a winding path.

Fifteen years ago, he was working in the restaurant business in California. A friend in Oregon urged him to move here and join him in the construction industry.

Cesar and his wife, Ruth, talked about it — but there was a concern: Cesar had no construction experience.

They decided to take the plunge anyway, and they moved to Oregon in 2005, where Cesar went to work and Ruth worked in residential cleaning. And it turned out that it was the right move.

Almost immediately, Cesar discovered that he had a knack for masonry — and he loved the craft.

There is a certain satisfaction

photo provided

photo provided

in laboring in such an elemental medium, and there is an almost endless variety to the work.

“There’s nothing the same, there’s always something different,” Ruth said.

Over the years, Cesar gained a wide range of experience and a mastery of the craft he loves. A couple of years ago, they decided to start their own company, and Lara’s Construction & Cleaning was born. Part of the motivation was a desire to work directly with clients to realize their visions for

their home.

Cesar remains the hands and the passion behind the work, even when he has others working with him on the job.

“Cesar is always there,” Ruth said. “He’s always making sure the job is good.”

Reliability, craftsmanship, and a fair price are the hallmarks of Lara’s Construction & Cleaning’s work. That commitment, along with a pure love for the work, leaves everybody happy and satisfied.

OUR WORK IS SET IN STONE,

TO BE ENJOYED FOR YEARS TO COME. Artistry comes in many forms and we are proud to create home accents, fireplaces, patios, walkways, and more that give your home a personality all its own.

Stonework adds one-of-a-kind texture, richness and color to any project.

Masonry is energy saving, mold and fire resistant, and affordable.

WHAT CAN WE DESIGN FOR YOU?

Call today for your free estimate!

541-350-3218

Bonded & Insured | CCB#223701

22

Partners in Real Estate & Construction • The Nugget Newspaper • May 18, 2022

Sweeney family-run, dedicated to service

Transmitting the magic of Sisters

Sweeney Plumbing is one of Sisters’ classic family-run businesses, built on an ethic of quality work, attentive, respectful service and community support.

Now a second-generation family business, Sweeney Plumbing is taking on big commercial projects and unique custom homes — while still remaining dedicated to serving all of its customers in Sisters Country.

Sweeney Plumbing recently completed high-profile projects like the Ski Inn on Cascade Avenue, the brand-new High Desert Chocolates on the corner of Cascade Avenue and Pine Street, and the new Sisters Coffee Roasters in the industrial park.

“We’re seeing a lot more commercial stuff happening in Sisters than there has been for a while,” Zach Sweeney said.

Sweeney notes that the company has also been doing a lot of work in large residential projects, “very custom, unique jobs.”

All of that is an indicator of the capabilities of Sweeney Plumbing. They thrive on big,

Jennifer McCrystal has enjoyed “attributing value to a property a meteoric rise in the real estate that is legitimate and not getting world of Central Oregon. That’s caught up in the feeding frenzy.” attributable to a number of facThat puts a premium on good tors: a network of relationships research and understanding of built in decades of living and oper- market history. ating businesses here; a diligent She also recognizes that “peowork ethic and a sincere desire to ple are investing here for a lot of do right by her clients. But per- different reasons,” and she makes haps the most important factor every effort to “pay attention to is simply the joy she finds in the what their goals are.” work itself.

McCrystal acknowledges that “I do this because I really pas- interest rates and economic jitsionately enjoy it,” she said. ters are rising, but she has confiAn agent with Coldwell Banker dence in the strength of the Sisters Bain, McCrystal brings two Country market. decades of deep involvement in “Historically, places that have the Sisters community to bear on access to recreation and culture, each local transoffer a lifeaction, the inef- I do this because I really style — those fable quality places tend to passionately enjoy it. of “living here hold their value — Jennifer McCrystal and loving this regardless of community and highs and lows realizing how magical it is.” of the market,” she said.

She ardently desires to share McCrystal has seen a lot of that magic with her clients, which change since first coming to means making sure she’s help- Sisters two decades ago, and ing them make the best possible knows more change will come. decisions in a fast-paced, demand“I want to be conscientious of ing market. She prides herself on our future,” she said.

complex jobs — and bring that level of craftsmanship to smaller, more straightforward jobs as well. And they have a plumber on staff dedicated to making those all-important service calls too.

Many people in Sisters are unaware that they have a showroom, with knowledgeable staff that can help customers make selections of fixtures for their project. The staff has expanded to meet customer needs, and the showroom will be undergoing a major upgrade this summer. The upgrade will make the showroom “more user-friendly” for people coming in to select fixtures, Sweeney said.

As the community and the company grow hand-in-hand, Sweeney Plumbing remains dedicated to the same ethic that established them as a bedrock Sisters company. They strive to be responsive to customer needs, and they treat your home or commercial establishment with the same respect they give their own.

Welcome Home

Our Business i & Crew Are Growing… i Thank You To All Our Customers!

LOCAL. RELIABLE. PROFESSIONAL. Residential/Commercial New Construction & Remodels Emergency Service & Repairs Experienced, Reliable Team

“I love real estate! But more importantly, I love the buyers and sellers I am privileged to work with. Whether we are hunting for a new home or preparing a property to go on the market, I treasure the interest and excitement I see in my clients when we sit down to discuss a plan for making their real estate dreams reality. There is no one-size-fits-all in real estate and every client has a unique set of wants and needs. I thrive on the challenge of exceeding my clients’ expectations. But that’s rarely the end of our story, many new long-term friendships are being built in Sisters, and for that I am grateful!” — Jen

Thank you for choosing me as your realtor!

541-549-4349 260 N. Pine St., Sisters Licensed / Bonded / Insured / CCB#87587

Jen McCrystal, Broker

541-420-4347 • jenmccrystal@cbbain.com 291 W. Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-6000 | www.cbbain/sisters.com

The Nugget Newspaper

Seeking the So many people discover Sisters on a vacation or a visit to friends and relatives — and they decide that this is the place they want to call home.

Grand Peaks at Sisters offers those people a way to make that dream a reality.

There are still 18 out of the original 37 homesites available at the community located along Camp Polk Road near Sisters Eagle Airport. Seven homes are currently occupied, and seven more are under construction, with an eighth to get underway in a month.

Grand Peaks at Sisters offers a range of home types that can fulfill a range of lifestyle preferences. Models range from 1,802 square feet with two bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms to 3,309 square feet with three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The models feature main-floor living. The lots are the largest available within the city limits of Sisters, notes Jeanmarie Kapp of Renaissance Realty Group, and one of the principal partners in the development. The largest is 14,400 square feet.

“When you buy a lot, you buy

• May 18, 2022 • Partners in Real Estate & Construction

23

Sisters lifestyle at Grand Peaks the house that’s on that lot,” Kapp said.

Grand Peaks in Sisters offers a selection of high-end contemporary/rustic designs with stone and cedar accents, far from being “cookie-cutter.”

“The designs continue to be different, and you’re not necessarily going to see them anywhere else,” Kapp said.

The houses are heat-zoned to allow adjustable, customizable levels of comfort from bedroom to great room. Kapp notes that there are exceptional window packages to take advantage of the views the location offers – and which help make the homes environmentally friendly and energy-efficient.

“All of our houses are Earth Advantage certified,” Kapp said.

Pacific Construction & Development, Inc. is the general contractor that is bringing the community to life. Pacific has been in Central Oregon approaching two decades, developing and building a portfolio that includes commercial and residential construction.

“They do incredible work,” Kapp said. “They win

awards regularly for their craftsmanship.”

Grand Peaks has a strong focus on aesthetics — an aspect that Kapp herself brings to the table.

“I’m also the project manager, so our influence is everywhere,” she said.

Kapp and the development team bring 30 years of experience into crafting a project that is obviously a heart-and-soul effort for Kapp.

Her enthusiasm for the Grand Peaks at Sisters community is evident, starting with a location that is pretty unique for Sisters — a minute’s drive, or a pleasant walk or pedal from downtown restaurants and shops, but with a feeling of open space and separation usually found outside

the city limits.

“It’s so convenient, but it’s a little bit removed, which I really like,” Kapp said.

The community is also home to a couple of privately owned pickleball courts — giving residents access to one of the fastestgrowing activities in the country. And, as Kapp notes, the nets are up and they’re open for the season.

In a seller’s market with scarce inventory of homes for sale, Grand Peaks at Sisters offers a unique way of literally building Sisters dreams from the ground up.

As Kapp says, “If people want to live in Sisters, and are willing to wait a little bit for a build, this is a great choice.”

24

Partners in Real Estate & Construction • The Nugget Newspaper • May 18, 2022

Versatility, quality work hallmarks of Sisters Fence Sisters Fence Company prides itself on being “locally owned and craftsman built.”

Being locally owned makes it imperative that the company provides excellent service and a high level of customer satisfaction. And being craftsman built means the nine-man crew takes pride in its work, makes sure to get it right — and continues to add capabilities.

In fact, learning, adapting, finding new niches, and developing their capabilities are among the great satisfactions of the work for the Sisters Fence Company crew.

That’s brought the company, in business since 2015, to the point where owner Pat Burke can confidently state: “The bottom line is that we do everything.”

Steel pipe ranch fencing has become a specialty for Sisters Fence Company.

“It’s beneficial in this area, because of all the rock we run into in this area,” Burke said.

That’s because a smaller drill bit can get the job done on pipe fencing, where other types require a bigger bit and slower going.

Speaking of drilling, Sisters Fence Company can work just about anywhere.

“If you can drive a pickup next

to it, we can drill it,” Burke said.

Whether your needs are a neighborhood privacy fence or acres of ranch fencing, or some other application that is unique to your property, Sisters Fence can get it done. They have experience and expertise in residential and commercial work, creating driveway entryways, ranch fencing, custom gates, and automated gate entries.

“There’s not much out there that we can’t build, that we’re not set up to do,” Burke said.

That includes automatic gates and entries, including custom gates. Single-arm, double-arm, solar-powered, the Sisters Fence Company crew has done all types of work and can work with whatever configuration is desired.

Custom welding and metal fabrication is part of the portfolio.

Burke says that the crew can take a customer’s vision and make it a working reality.

“It works best if they (the customer) find one that they like and say, ‘This is what we want,’ and we can make it,” Burke said.

Burke notes that Sisters Fence Company always strives to maximize the value the customer gets out of their investment. Clear communication with clients on

costs, scope of work, materials, and the desired end product is key to a successful project.

Burke says his crew “really try to figure out what they want and how they can do it, so when the project is complete, they say, ‘This is what I envisioned, and thank you.’”

The busy season for construction is getting underway, so customers are urged to get their projects going now.

“We’re looking to fill our schedule here for summer and fall,” Burke said.

It’s best to get scheduled

early, but there’s still room on the docket. The crew is efficient and fast-moving.

“We’re getting through projects pretty quick,” Burke said.

As always, Burke is committed to supporting the local economy.

Sisters Fence Company strives at every opportunity to buy materials and supplies in Sisters and Central Oregon. Burke grew up in Sisters and he wants his company to continue to be integrated into the life of the community.

“This is our community. We’ve been here since ’94 — we’re here for the long haul,” he said.

Exceeding Expectations through CRAFTSMANSHIP and SUPERIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE • Residential, commercial, and agricultural fencing, decks, and gates • Installation of Kentucky fencing and pipe fencing • Custom metal gate fabrication and automated gate entries • Mobile welding

• Installation, repair, stain, and paint

www.SistersFenceCompany.com FREE ESTIMATES... 541-588-2062 CCB#228388 • Licensed • Bonded • Insured