Some Bend neighborhoods have a personality that takes years to develop. Century West is one of them. It's a neighborhood where you can find a classic home tucked among mature Ponderosa pines, a beautifully updated property with contemporary touches or a custom home that makes the most of its Central Oregon surroundings. There's no single architectural style that defines Century West and that's part of its charm. The location doesn't hurt, either. With convenient access to trails, parks, the Deschutes River corridor and Bend's westside amenities, it's a pretty appealing place to call home.
September's real estate numbers offer another reason to take a closer look. The neighborhood recorded seven closed sales, a median sale price of $950,000 and more than $7.1 million in sales volume. Homes also spent less time on the market than they did in August. Let's dig into what those numbers mean and how Century West has performed throughout 2026.
Seven Sales and a Market Finding Its Fall Rhythm
Century West recorded seven closed sales totaling $7,121,000 in September. That's the same number of transactions as August, when seven homes sold for approximately $7.59 million. Two consecutive months with seven sales might not sound particularly dramatic but consistency can be encouraging. Looking back through 2026, the neighborhood has experienced some fairly noticeable swings in monthly sales activity. January and February each recorded four sales, March had six and April finished with five. May brought a jump to 11 transactions, followed by four in June and 10 in July. August and September each settled at seven.
Through the first nine months of the year, Century West has recorded 58 closed sales totaling $77,911,858. That's nearly $78 million in neighborhood real estate activity. The summer months have been especially productive. July, August and September combined for 24 sales and more than $28.2 million in volume. The market hasn't followed a perfectly straight line, but buyers have continued finding homes in Century West throughout the year.
Home Prices: It's All About the Mix
September's median sale price was $950,000, compared with $945,000 in August. That's a modest increase of about half a percent. The median price per square foot also moved higher, from $460 in August to $484 in September. Looking back over the year, Century West has experienced a wide range of monthly median prices. January began at $849,000, February reached 1,250,000, and April recorded the year's highest monthly median so far at $1,718,625. July came in at $1,274,500 before the median settled closer to $950,000 during August and September.
Those changes are a good illustration of why neighborhood market statistics need context. Century West includes a diverse collection of properties. Home size, lot characteristics, architectural style, updates and location within the neighborhood can all influence selling prices. When only a handful of homes close in a particular month, the mix of those properties can significantly affect the median. September's median doesn't mean every Century West home is worth $950,000, just as April's higher median didn't mean every property suddenly jumped in value.
For homeowners considering a sale, the most useful information comes from comparing similar properties rather than relying on a single neighborhood wide number.
Homes Are Finding Buyers a Little Faster
September brought an encouraging improvement in the time it took homes to sell. The median days on market declined from 37 in August to 27 in September. That's a 10 day improvement. The broader 2026 numbers reveal just how much Century West's selling pace has varied. January's median was 74 days, February came in at 27, and March dropped to just 3.5 days. April and May were even quicker at three and four days, respectively. June recorded five days, followed by six in July.
Those spring and early summer numbers were remarkably fast. August's 37 days represented a noticeable change, while September's 27 days brought the median back down. For buyers, that can mean having a little more time to evaluate a property and make a thoughtful decision. For sellers, it reinforces the importance of presentation, condition and pricing. A home that checks the right boxes can still attract attention but today's buyers are looking closely at what they're getting for their money. That's particularly relevant in a neighborhood where homes can differ substantially in size, design, and amenities.
A Few More Homes to Choose From
Century West finished September with 19 active listings, up from 15 at the end of August. That's four additional homes available at month's end. For buyers exploring Century West, the increase provides a little more selection. Using September's seven sales, the neighborhood finished the month with approximately 2.7 months of inventory, compared with 2.1 months in August.
Inventory has moved around throughout the year, though not dramatically. Century West began 2026 with 18 active listings, a level that remained unchanged through May. June dropped to 13, July finished with 14, and August had 15 before September climbed to 19. September's month end count was the highest recorded so far this year. That's a useful development for buyers who may have struggled to find a property that fits their needs. Of course, more listings don't necessarily mean every buyer will find exactly what they're looking for.
Century West's variety is one of its strengths, but it also means that individual homes can appeal to very different buyers.
Pricing Still Makes a Difference
September's selling-price percentages offer some insight into how transactions came together. Homes sold for 88.37% of their original asking prices and 92.68% of their asking prices at the time of sale. Those figures suggest that pricing adjustments and negotiations played a meaningful role in September's closed transactions. For comparison, August's original list to sale percentage was 86.70%, while the final-list-to-sale percentage was 96.92%. The September results are a reminder that asking price and market value aren't always the same thing.
Buyers have become more deliberate about comparing available properties, particularly when homes represent a substantial financial commitment. That doesn't mean sellers can't achieve excellent results. It means understanding the competition and positioning a property appropriately from the beginning can make a significant difference. A home with desirable features, thoughtful updates and an asking price that reflects current market conditions has a better opportunity to connect with the right buyer.
For buyers, September's figures suggest there may be opportunities to negotiate, depending on the property and circumstances.
Every transaction is different and the neighborhood averages don't tell the whole story.
A Little Negotiating Room Without a Lot of Concessions
September included $10,000 in sellerconcessions on one transaction. That's relatively modest considering the neighborhood recorded more than $7.1 million in total sales volume. Seller concessions can take several forms, including contributions toward closing costs, repairs or other negotiated expenses. In Century West, September's numbers suggest that negotiations were reflected more broadly in the relationship between asking prices and final selling prices than in reported concessions. It's an important distinction. A buyer may negotiate a lower purchase price without requesting concessions, while another may prefer different terms that help complete the transaction. The best approach depends on the individual property and the priorities of everyone involved.
Financing Remains Part of the Picture
Of September's seven sales, six involved financing and one was a cash purchase. That's a notable shift from July, when the neighborhood recorded an even split of five cash and five financed transactions. Through September, the spreadsheet records 23 cash sales and 35 financed purchases. In other words, approximately 60% of Century West's buyers have used financing during the first nine months of the year. Even at higher price points, financing remains an important part of the neighborhood's real estate activity. For buyers, mortgage rates, monthly payments, and overall purchasing costs can influence the properties they consider. For sellers, understanding how financing affects buyer decisions can be helpful when evaluating offers and negotiating terms.
Century West: More Than Just a Collection of Homes
Here's where the neighborhood really shines. Century West offers a blend of established residential character and access to some of the outdoor experiences that make living in Bend so enjoyable. Mature Ponderosa pines, a variety of home styles, and properties with their own individual character give the neighborhood a different feel from newer developments. The location is another major attraction. Depending on where you live within Century West, you're conveniently positioned for outings along the Deschutes River, nearby trails, parks, and Bend's westside recreation opportunities. For people who enjoy getting outside, that access can become part of everyday life.
There's also something appealing about a neighborhood that has evolved over time. Some homes retain their original character, others have been extensively remodeled, and newer custom properties add another dimension to the housing mix. That diversity gives buyers a chance to find something that fits their own style rather than choosing from a collection of nearly identical homes. It's one of the reasons Century West remains such an appealing part of Bend.
What Does September Tell Us About the Months Ahead?
Century West heads into the final quarter of 2026 with a market that continues to offer opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Sales activity remained steady from August to September, homes sold faster and the median sale price edged slightly higher. Inventory increased to 19 active listings, giving buyers additional choices. At the same time, September's selling price percentages suggest that pricing strategy and negotiations continue to play an important role.
For sellers, this is a good time to evaluate how a property compares with other available homes. For buyers, the combination of increased inventory and a more measured selling pace may provide opportunities to explore properties carefully and negotiate terms.
Watch the Century West neighborhood to see if it maintains the recent sales pace as we move deeper into fall, along with any further changes in inventory and marketing times. Those trends will help tell us how the neighborhood is transitioning into the traditionally quieter winter months.
Century West Continues to Offer Its Own Version of Bend Living
There's a reason Century West has such lasting appeal. The neighborhood combines established surroundings, diverse architecture, and convenient access to the outdoor lifestyle that draws so many people to Central Oregon. September's market results reflect a neighborhood where homes are still changing hands, buyers have choices, and sellers can find success with a thoughtful approach. With 58 homes sold and nearly $78 million in sales volume through September, Century West has had a productive first nine months of 2026.
The numbers are useful, but they're only part of what makes the neighborhood special. Sometimes it's the mature trees, the character of an individual home or simply being close to the places you enjoy spending your time. That's the kind of appeal that doesn't fit neatly into a spreadsheet.
Curious about buying or selling in Century West?
Whether you're wondering what your home might be worth or looking for the right property in this part of Bend, I'm always happy to help sort through the market information and take a closer look.
After all, every home has its own story, and understanding that story is just as important as understanding the numbers.
