Understanding How to Search the MLS for Bend, Oregon Real Estate

It wasn’t that long ago that the only way to find homes for sale in your local area was to use the services of a real estate professional. He or she would find listings that suited your criteria and then drive you around to view houses. Or maybe on weekends you’d drive up and down numerous streets looking for those “for sale” signs.

But in recent years, the proliferation of online real estate listing services has dramatically altered the way American’s shop for homes. With the simple click of a mouse, home buyers can target the features, prices, and location they desire and take virtual tours of the results.

But can they gain access to the same depth of information available to real estate professionals? Read on to find out.

What is MLS Exactly?

MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service. Essentially, every home that is listed by a real estate agent (unless purposefully exempted from MLS) will be listed in MLS. Data on houses consists of things like the address, square footage, age, number of bedrooms, baths, school districts to any recent upgrades. Listings can also include the type of financing the seller will consider.

Believe it or not, MLS did exist before the internet, you know, back in the “old days,” but the printed books were heavy to haul around. Luckily the world wide web makes buying and selling homes easier – and lighter!

Create One Search or Many and Get Updated When A Property is Added or Changed

Here is a list of some of the criteria you can request to have included in your search report (Click here to create your customized search.):

Cities or by ZIP CodeDraw a Map! You can draw a map around just the area you’re searching for and have new properties delivered to your inbox.Property TypeRegion or AdditionView (Cascade Mountain, River, Golf Course, etc.)

Within those parameters, you can further define your search to:

Price range from low to highNumber of bedrooms and bathsOne StoryMaster Ground Level (also known as Main Floor Master)New Construction2 Master BedroomsGaragesSquare footageAcreageStyle (Contemporary, Bungalow, Traditional, etc.)

Here’s a handy guide on how to easily create a personalized property search.

Your Bend real estate MLS criteria can be even more clearly defined, just be aware that the stricter you get with your parameters, the fewer results will be returned, and the more opportunities you might be missing out on. We can’t tell you how many clients we’ve worked with who started their search, adamant about specific features, and inevitably fell in love with a home that did not have every single requirement, but was HOME none-the-less.

Here is a comprehensive resource on Bend Oregon Real Estate. And we’re here to help you personally and answer any questions you have. Click here for information about getting in touch with us!