Vintage is always in style. In fashion, design, architecture and society, it seems the ol’ phrase “history repeats itself” holds true.
Lately, I have been spending some time in the areas of midtown and downtown Bend, really soaking in the historic charm that this town hides behind its more modern appeal. Bend is filled with a rich history as a mill town, a ski town, and a town that sat for years and years just waiting to be discovered for all its natural resources and inherent beauty. This history is shared in the walls of many homes scattered throughout the town, and it’s a shame that the character of these homes is often not appreciated to the level that it should be.
I’ve recently acquired a listing on a great mid-century home on 9th Street in midtown Bend. For those familiar with the city, the home is a block North of Hwy 20 at the base of Pilot Butte. In walking through and taking pictures of the home, it struck me that the character of this home simply cannot be copied. There was a different mindset in those days, of which the current perspective would restrict any designer/remodeler/architect/etc from replicating. The kitchen boasts ORIGINAL Thermador appliances, with a matching stainless steel counter-top. Offsetting these steel components is a blue-ish linoleum counter and wallpapered walls with drawings of soldiers & horses. There is a unique trim design throughout the home, and the doorknob on the entry is located in the center of the door! Everything works together and it looks AWESOME!! But seriously, these designs just couldn’t be found in the inventory of today’s retailers.
It’s my opinion that there exists fantastic opportunity in revitalizing the character of these homes by embracing their original finishes. I’m not talking remodel here, as that would go completely against what I’m trying to say. If you find the right property, it should only require minor repairs, and maybe a few, appropriate updates. I’ve been told that the original materials for many of these homes were stored in their crawl spaces; so if wallpaper is peeling or there’s a section of carpet that needs replacing, it might be the case that you can simply install the extra material and maintain the integrity of the home’s era-specific character.
My 9th street listing is just an example of some incredible opportunities out there right now in this niche market! These homes have incredible “bones”, meaning they are built VERY well, but are often not appreciated when looked at with a “modern” perspective. This means that they are commonly undervalued. Find your inner-hippie, get in touch with your beatnik side, and have some fun finding embracing the “vintage” of mid-century properties! Like they say, “they just don’t make ‘em like they used to”!
As an fyi, the 9th Street home is listed at $149,900 (price recently reduced!). It’s 1,596 sq.ft., has 3 bedrooms and 1 bath. It is a short-sale, and a fantastic opportunity in a great location. If you’re interested, or know somebody who would be, feel free to give me a call at (541) 389-7910 or email me at mrobinson@hunterproperties.info
Thanks to all who've been reading!
Best,
Matt
We all want to live the “American Dream”, but the truth is we all have different visions of what that dream looks like. About three years ago, I began compiling a notebook of photos & ideas for my absolute dream home. The notebook is separated by tabs labeled “Exterior”, “Kitchen”, “Master Bath”, “Hardware”, etc. and in each category I’ve cut out magazine articles, clippings, and pictures of home ideas that I really really like and would someday like to incorporate if I’m fortunate enough to build a custom home.
