Hello Bend! We have BIG news that we are excited to share! We are in the process of expanding the blog, community, and real estate business to Austin, Texas!
As many of you may know, I am originally from Austin Texas. We have family and friends there that we are excited to spend more time with. Fun fact, it is also where I started my professional real estate career in 1994. Back when the internet was new and Realtor photos were either Glamour Shots or a proud pose with one’s cell phone! For those of you who really want to know, mine was a Glamour Shot…with a perm!
Bend: Austin’s cool, hip, kid sister…that lives outside!
From the moment my family arrived in Bend in March of 2015, we instantly felt a deep connection to the community. The town, the people, and the vibe in Central Oregon felt comforting and familiar. I’ve often compared Bend to my hometown as there are so many similarities between the two. Obviously, the biggest difference is the size of the city. I like to say Austin is like Bend on steroids. With the seasons reversed, you trade in snow skiing for water skiing (lakes and boating are huge there!) and the mountains for the rolling Texas hill country.
From Bend Oregon to Austin Texas…and Back to Bend!
My husband, Jeff, recently transitioned into a new role with his company that led us down this exciting new path giving us the opportunity to expand. Since we’ve grown to love Bend so much, it took a lot of consideration, but in the end this change made a lot of sense! We moved away from Austin 11 years ago when my daughter was just 3 weeks old, and we decided it was a great time to be closer to the family we left behind in 2010. I have an older son that lives here and a 4-year-old granddaughter that has come along since we’ve left. I’m also close to my sister and brother, and we are excited that our kids will now grow up close to their aunts, uncles and cousins! Being close to them will bring so many memories and special moments to our family and our children.
Since Bend is near and dear to our hearts, we will continue to travel back and forth and enjoy the little mountain town we’ve come to love over the years. Texas will be our home base as my husband needs to be located in the central part of the country to focus on his company’s growth in the area and have easier access to air travel.
Hello Bend Blog: YOUR Central Oregon Resource 
As you can imagine, I’ve invested years of time and energy into building the Hello Bend Oregon blog into what it is today. I originally started the blog when we were new to Bend as a way to embrace the lifestyle. During that time, I discovered there is a lot of information out there, but it takes time to find it across multiple platforms and websites, and I wanted to compile it in one place. Once the blog was launched, I quickly realized we were providing value to our community! Our number one goal is to continue to be YOUR resource for all things Central Oregon. Even with our expansion to Austin, we will remain just as active in Bend. (I’ll introduce my new partner in a minute!)
Hello Bend Mom’s Facebook Group: Connecting Moms
If you are new to Central Oregon, or you are thinking about a move to our area, the Hello Bend Mom’s Facebook group is here to help! Designed to be a way for you to connect with other mom’s in the area, it is also a great place to ask all your Bend related questions and seek out mommy advice. I originally started this mom’s group through Meetup.com in the summer of 2015. It was how my kids and I met some of our best friends when we were new to the area, and we hope it will be a valuable resource for you as well.
Hello Bend Home Team: Your Trusted Real Estate Advisors
As a career real estate professional with over 20 years of residential resale and new construction experience, I plan to continue to build my Bend real estate business and assist my clients while also expanding into the Austin Texas real estate market. Though we will be traveling back and forth frequently, I knew it was vital for me to partner with a trusted Real Estate Broker who could be there to physically assist my clients when I am in Texas. Through the pandemic, we have actually realized how much of our business is conducted on the phone, via email, and through Zoom meetings. It helped us to realize my presence in Bend isn’t required on a daily basis. Bringing on a business partner allows me to have “boots on the ground” for my clients to view homes and prepare for listing consultations. Plus, having a partner to consult with helps to ensure my customers are receiving the best service possible. Now instead of one person…you get two!
Meet my New Partner: Kimberly Hooper
I am excited to introduce my new partner, Kimberly Hooper. She is my friend and trusted Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty colleague. By partnering, we’ve created the Hello Bend Home Team to continue to assist you with all your real estate needs. As an Oregon native with strong ties to Bend, Kimberly’s entrepreneurial drive combined with a family background in real estate has helped her business thrive. Kimberly’s love for exploring the outdoors and trying out new, local restaurants make her the perfect addition to the Hello Bend blog, and she is excited to start contributing content and provide even more valuable resources to our readers!
Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere and will continue to curate information and share our experiences on the blog in an effort to make your life easier! From a real estate perspective, I will remain the main contact to my clients and will stay heavily involved in every step of each listing and transaction. Kimberly will be our team’s boots on the ground, ensuring great execution of the day-to-day operations from Bend! I am so excited to have her on board and can’t wait for you all to personally meet Kimberly.
Hello Austin Texas: Blog Launch and Real Estate Expansion
Stay tuned for exciting news and developments regarding our expansion of the brand, blog, and real estate business into the Austin market. If you know anyone that is considering a move to the Austin area, or if you’ve been intrigued by the area and would like more information about this fabulous town that originally coined the phrase “Keep Austin Weird” please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to help you every step of the way…in BOTH cities!
Interested in more from Hello Bend? Read more about our adventures HERE, SUBSCRIBE to the Hello Bend Blog, and follow along on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know in Central Oregon.
Brenda Menzel + Kimberly Hooper
Licensed Brokers
Hello Bend Home Team at
Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty
Brenda: 541.640.2125 l Kimberly: 541.601.3806
HelloBendHomeTeam@Gmail.com
