Oregon Public Broadcasting

One of Bend’s top real estate brokerage firms -- RE/MAX -- is closing at the end of the month.  As Pete Springer reports, the firm is a victim of the housing downturn.

Just a few years ago, Bend was one of the hottest housing markets in the nation.

But Jim Homolka says that market has been struggling for a while.

Homolka's the president of RE/MAX Equity Group Incorporated, which is based in Portland.

Jim Homolka: “That was very similar to the Las Vegas, Phoenix, southern California and Florida markets.  Bend was very much a destination market, flying high but it has not been flying high for the last year and half.”

Homolka says there are no plans to close other RE/MAX offices in the state.

Closing the Bend office means 55 employees will lose their jobs.

But Homolka says they could find work with other independently-owned RE/MAX offices that are still open in Redmond, Sunriver, and La Pine.