77 Hours to a Forever Home: A First-Time Buyer's Bend Story
"Donnie, my name's Adam. I didn't know when I woke up this morning that I would need to buy a house, but I need your help."
That's how it started. On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Adam, the craftsman behind the YouTube channel NOURiSH Workshop, called Nexus 360 facing a fresh start he hadn't planned for. He had 30 days to move out, a tight budget, and one goal: "a house with a workshop I can call mine."
He documented the whole thing in "Finding a Forever Home," an honest, 11-minute look at what it really takes to buy a home in Bend today.
The question every buyer asks
Before he made the call, Adam asked the question most first-time buyers wrestle with: "How does one choose a real estate agent? How do you know if they're the right fit? And what if you get it wrong?"
His timeline didn't leave room to get it wrong. Even if everything went perfectly, closing would take all 30 days. To make it work, he needed an accepted offer by Friday.
Day one: financing first
The first step wasn't touring homes. It was the loan. Donnie connected Adam with Tim Booher at SELCO Community Credit Union, who met with him that same day. Adam came prepared with taxes, W-2s, bank statements, pay stubs and ID.
"I'm going to expedite your paperwork today and get your loan all approved," Tim told him.
That meeting also showed Adam what buying a home really costs. Beyond the down payment, there's an earnest money deposit, closing costs, inspection and appraisal fees, title fees, and prepaid insurance, taxes and interest in escrow. By midnight, Adam had his down payment in hand.
Day two: four houses, three chances lost
On Wednesday morning, Adam and Donnie set out to see the four homes in his budget that had a garage big enough for a workshop.
The first one wasn't a fit. The second and third sold to all-cash buyers before Adam could make an offer. That's the reality of Bend's entry-level market: good homes go fast, and buyers are often competing with cash.
Then came house number four: new roof with solar, new furnace, new water heater, maple hardwood floors and solid pine doors. It had been listed for just 12 hours, and six people had already seen it. Donnie knew the offer had to stand out.
"Let's get your forever home," Donnie said. "I'll do the paperwork right now."
77 hours later
Then came the call Adam was waiting for. Offer accepted.
"It's been 77 hours since I called Donnie asking for help," Adam says in the video. "I can't believe we pulled this off. It's a testament to his hard work and the team he recommended to me."
No house is perfect
The seller's disclosure came with a surprise: past mold in the attic, caused by a bath fan that had been venting moist air into the attic. The cause had been fixed and the mold professionally remediated. The home inspector said everything looked great, and Adam climbed into the attic to see for himself.
"No house is going to be perfect, even a forever one," he says. He signed the papers and secured his home.
What first-time buyers can learn from Adam
- Start with a lender. Adam's loan was in motion on day one. Without that, there's no 77-hour story.
- Budget for cash to close, not just the down payment. Deposits, closing costs, fees and escrow prepaids add up fast.
- Talk to a tax professional before tapping retirement. Early 401(k) withdrawals can carry steep penalties.
- Expect competition. In Bend, entry-level homes often draw cash offers. Be ready to move when the right one appears.
- Read the disclosure and get an inspection. An issue that's been fixed and documented doesn't have to be a dealbreaker.
- Pick an agent who will move with you. Local knowledge, a trusted lender network and fast paperwork made the difference here.
Ready to find your forever home?
Whether you're on a tight timeline or just starting to look, Donnie Eggers, Jesse Buckley and the Nexus 360 team are here to help you find your place in Bend, Sisters or Redmond. Call us at 541-610-5063 or contact us online.
Thank you, Adam, for letting us be part of your fresh start.
Follow Adam's next chapter, turning an empty house into a home and workshop, on the NOURiSH Workshop YouTube channel.
