News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Well wishers visited Sisters Real Estate to say so long.
After 23 years under various names, Sisters Real Estate is closing its doors. Principals Dave and Sam Goodwin are going to retire.
Long-time friends and business associates gathered at the Sisters Real Estate offices on Monday, April 29, to mark what one person referred to as "the end of an era."
Dave Goodwin has seen a lot of changes in Sisters since he and another, John, opened their agency as Goodwin Brothers Real Estate in 1979.
"I look down this street," Goodwin said, gesturing down Cascade Avenue, "and I see nothing but change."
A thriving commercial core has developed in Sisters and new subdivisions have sprung up all around the town. Real estate prices have rocketed from $5,000 to $100,000 for a Tollgate lot.
Goodwin has weathered some tough times, such as the high interest days of the early 1980s when real estate sales virtually shut down in Sisters. It was then that his brother and partner, John, decided to go back to teaching. Dave hung in there, changing the agency's name to Sisters Real Estate.
Years later, in 1992, his brother Sam turned from a career as an investment broker to join Sisters Real Estate. After a stint on his own, Sam rejoined Dave at Sisters Real Estate in 2000 to round out the agency's long run.
Dave marks the 1980s development of Cascade Meadow Ranch and of Aspen Lakes as highlights of his career.
"It's been kind of fun to be on the ground floor of some of these projects," he said.
Goodwin spent his youth in Tumalo and returned to Central Oregon for ranch work during the summer when his family relocated to Southern California, where he lived for many years.
When he was ready to make a change in his life, he headed north.
"I've been here ever since and I've loved every minute of it," he said.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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