March 18, 2019
Quote of the Day
It is not what life brings us, but the manner in which we receive it, that shapes our destiny.
– Marie Dubsky
This Day in History
March 18, 1911: Irving Berlin copyrights the biggest pop song of the early 20th century. A century ago, even before the phonograph had become a common household item, there was already a burgeoning music industry in the United States based not on the sale of recorded musical performances, but on the sale of sheet music. It was in the medium of printed paper, and not grooved lacquer or vinyl discs, that songs gained popularity in the first two decades of the 20th century, and no song gained greater popularity in that era than Irving Berlin’s “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” Copyrighted on March 18, 1911, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” was the multimillion-selling smash hit that helped turn American popular music into a major international phenomenon, both culturally and economically.
It may seem like a rather grand claim to make about a simple, catchy tune, but then as now, simple and catchy were great virtues in the realm of pop music. Most people first encountered “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” when it was played on the piano by a friend or family member. This was the way that songs caught on in the era before radio, and part of what helped “Alexander” catch on was its relative lack of complexity. Though nominally a ragtime tune, anyone who plays the piano would quickly recognize the differences between it and a true rag like Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer,” which places some fairly significant demands on both the left and right hand. “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” is a vastly simpler piece for an amateur to master, and this greatly encouraged sheet music sales, which topped 1.5 million copies in the first 18 months after its publication.
Though it gained worldwide popularity purely as a piece of printed sheet music, innumerable recorded versions of “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” would soon follow, particularly after lyrics were added to what was originally an instrumental tune. Those lyrics – ”Come on and hear, Come on and hear…” – and that tune are still familiar a century after they were written. Some of Irving Berlin’s later contributions to the American popular music canon – songs like “White Christmas,” “God Bless America” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business” – eclipsed even the massive success of “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” It’s entirely possible, however, that those 20th-century classics would never have been written were it not for the commercial success that Irving Berlin achieved with the song he copyrighted on this day in 1911.
Ojai Weather
Sunny – High 77 / Low 45
~
Total rainfall for the season – 24.95
Monday, March 18, 2018
4:20 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 720 Alomar Street – reduced from $789,000 to $749,000.
- 250 N. Donna Street – reduced from $565,000 to $545,000.
- 2261 Los Encinos Road – sale pending.
- 429 Vallerio Avenue – sale pending.
- 1694 S. Rice Road – sale pending.
- 1296 Foothill Road – sold for $1,755,000 (originally listed for $1,795,000).
~ Ray
10:35 a.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 215 N. Arnaz Street – $725,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 209 S. Montgomery Street – back on the market (had been a pending sale).
- 1202 Loma Drive #17 – reduced from $172,000 to $158,000.
- 1202 Loma Drive #18 – sale pending.
- 55 Feliz Drive – this Honorable Mention is now a pending sale.
- 929 Mountain View Avenue – sale pending.
- Sulphur Mountain Road land parcel – this listing has expired.
On Saturday we attended the wedding of local business owner and mortgage broker with Heritage Financial, Emily Wilson. It could not have been a more perfect day for a wedding (other than the fact that someone passed out very early in the proceedings, necessitating an ambulance – but we hear they’re fine). Not only do we consider Emily a dear friend, but she is an absolute ace at what she does. No matter how difficult a transaction may become she is always happy and smiling, ready to help. Congratulations to Emily and Alex; many years of happiness to you both!
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Saturday, March 16, 2019
11:05 a.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
- 87 Don Antonio Way – $156,000.
- 1202 Loma Drive #43 – $219,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 422 Descanso Avenue – sale pending.
The open house list has been updated! We’ll be holding our listing at 1003 N. Drown Avenue open tomorrow from 1:00 to 4:00.
I knew it had been a while since we had seen a 70 degree day in Ojai; this excerpt from Perry Van Houten at the Ojai Valley News clinches it: “The mercury hit 70 degrees in Ojai on March 12, ending the area’s record-setting cold streak at 40 straight days below 70. Though not a record, it was the fifth-longest string of days below 70 since record taking began in 1906. The record was set in 1949 with 61 straight days below 70. That streak ran from Dec. 10, 1948, to Feb. 9, 1949. Last month did set a record, however, for the lowest daily high temperature in February ever recorded, only 67 degrees. The next lowest maximum was 70 degrees, in February 1969.”
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Friday, March 15, 2019
3:05 p.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 1202 Loma Drive #18 – $239,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1005 Mercer Avenue – sale pending.
- 669 Telsa Street – sold for $645,000 (originally listed for $675,000).
Have a great weekend; looks like we’ll see temps in the mid-70’s, so let’s all get out there and really enjoy it! I’ll update the open house list for you tomorrow morning.
~ Ray
9:30 a.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 330 S. Padre Juan Avenue – $649,000.
Here’s the list of things to do in Ojai. There’s a whole slew of new listings to see today on broker caravan (when agents and brokers get to preview the newest properties on the market). There’s been a lot of activity over the last month and we expect more as spring rolls forward!
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Thursday, March 14, 2019
6:25 p.m.
There are three more new listings on the market:
- 2261 Los Encinos Road – $917,500.
- 920 Loma Drive – $1,250,000.
- 929 Mountain View Avenue – $569,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 150 S. La Luna Avenue – back on the market (had been expired) and reduced from $639,000 to $625,000.
- 10976 Alto Court – reduced from $1,895,999 to $1,895,000.
- 950 Woodland Avenue #102 – sale pending.
- 94 Don Antonio Way – sale pending.
- 580 Riverside Road – this listing has been withdrawn from the market.
~ Ray
11:15 a.m.
There are three new listings on the market:
- 507 Gridley Road – $1,585,000.
- 108 Farnham Road – $1,585,000.
- 1075 Loma Drive #20 – $155,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 202 N. Ventura Street – back on the market (had been expired) and reduced from $495,000 to $469,000.
- 10976 Alto Court – reduced from $1,999,999 to $1,895,999.
- 915 Santa Ana Blvd. – reduced from $749,000 to $699,000.
- 12221 Topa Lane – sale pending.
- 149 La Plaza Way – sale pending.
- 950 Woodland Avenue #31 – sale pending.
- 2431 Burnham Road – sold for $660,000 (originally listed for $675,000).
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Let’s see…Garfield coffee table, dead Snoopy, Keanu Reeves pillow,
and a lipstick-motif chair…how long have you been single?
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
2:40 p.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
- 155 N. Encinal Avenue – $969,000.
- 10976 Alto Court – $1,999,999.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 930 Hackamore Street – sale pending.
- 11827 Mirror Lake Avenue – sale pending.
- 234-236 N. La Luna Avenue – sold for $585,000 (originally listed for $600,000).
I got this update in a bit earlier than normal, as we’ll be showing property in Camarillo this afternoon. Have a great evening!
~ Ray
10:20 a.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 2065 Los Encinos Road – reduced from $1,495,000 to $1,425,000.
- 410 Church Road #55 – sale pending.
- 250 N. Arnaz Street – sale pending.
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
4:50 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 304 El Conejo Drive – reduced from $679,000 to $659,000.
- 715 Sunset Place – sale pending.
- 1885 Maricopa Highway #5 – this listing has been cancelled.
- 16026 Maricopa Highway – this listing has been cancelled.
~ Ray
9:50 a.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 10710 Encino Drive – $1,988,000. (This was recently on the market in December, but did not sell.)
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Monday, March 11, 2019
4:50 p.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 608 E. Ojai Avenue – $475,000. (This was last on the market 11/30/18, but did not sell.)
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1103 N. Montgomery Street – reduced from $1,395,000 to $1,349,500.
- 12252 Ojai Santa Paula Road – reduced from $899,000 to $879,000.
- 825 Azure Court – sale pending.
- 957 Tico Road – sold for $675,000 (originally listed for $675,000).
~ Ray
10:00 a.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 48 Don Antonio Way – back on the market (had been a withdrawn listing).
- 257 N. Encinal Avenue – sold for $620,000 (originally listed for $725,000).
- 209 S. Carrillo Road – sold for $550,000 (originally listed for $670,000).
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Saturday, March 9, 2019
11:05 a.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- Valley View Drive land parcel – $159,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1250 Foothill Road – sold for $3,750,000 (originally listed for $4,750,000).
The open house list has been updated!
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Friday, March 8, 2019
3:45 p.m.
There is a new listing on the market (but):
- 399 N. La Luna Avenue – $679,000. This was already a pending sale before it was listed in the MLS.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1116 Mariano Drive – back on the market (had been an expired listing).
- 1885 Maricopa Highway #2 – sale pending.
- 370 Prospect Street – sale pending.
- 950 Woodland Avenue #9 – sold for $197,000 (originally listed for $215,000).
Have a great weekend and we’ll see you tomorrow with the updated open house list. Meanwhile, take a look at the new BBIO video that teammate Paul Johnsen submitted. Paul interviews the owner of Agave Maria’s, Tracy Pouba.
~ Ray
10:20 a.m.
There are three new listings on the market:
- 11235 N. Ventura Avenue – $600,000.
- 1473 Baldwin Road – $850,000.
- 150 S. Arnaz Street – $849,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 410 Church Road #57 – back on the market (had been withdrawn).
- 211 Fox Street – reduced from $699,000 to $679,000.
- 950 Woodland Avenue #102 – increased from $109,900 to $114,900.
- 261-263 E. Villanova Road – sale pending.
Here’s the list of things to do in Ojai.
Just an FYI – Lake Casitas is now at 41.8% capacity as of this writing. There was an article last week in the Ojai Valley News that stated the drought for Ventura County is “officially over.” To further quote the paper, “According to the U.S. Drought Monitor on Feb. 21, 67 percent of the state is completely free of any level of dryness or drought. That includes all of Ventura County. It’s a dramatic turnaround from one month ago, when most of the county was experiencing an extreme drought.”
Obviously, this doesn’t mean we should shy away from continuing water conservation, especially as the lake level is still lower than we’d like to see.
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
New Faux-Vent! ™ Impress your friends and family with your high vent-to-wall ratio! No messy duct installation required!
Thursday, March 7, 2019
3:45 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 514 Vista Hermosa Drive – back on the market (had been cancelled) and reduced from $1,695,000 to $1,395,000.
~ Ray
11:25 a.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
- 213 Grand Avenue – $699,000.
- 1885 Maricopa Highway #21 – $234,500.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 810 El Toro Road – back on the market (had been a pending sale).
- 429 Vallerio Avenue – reduced from $699,000 to $685,000.
- 2231 Maricopa Highway – sold for $514,000 (originally listed for $542,000).
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
11:40 a.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
- 233 S. Montgomery Street – $1,179,000.
- 1005 Mercer Avenue – $780,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 2330 Ladera Road – back on the market (had been an expired listing).
- 11827 Mirror Lake Avenue – reduced from $549,900 to $539,900.
- 514 Vista Hermosa Drive – this listing has been cancelled (and oddly, the price was increased from $1,595,000 to $1,695,000).
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
3:20 p.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 000 Maricopa Highway land parcel – $14,000,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1210 Gregory Street – sale pending.
- 11999 Ojai Santa Paula Road – sold for $790,000 (originally listed for $849,500).
~ Ray
9:55 a.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 1101 Mercer Avenue – $659,000.
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Monday, March 4, 2019
5:10 p.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 1117 Del Prado Court – $759,500.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 929 Devereux Drive – sale pending.
- 12140 Old Walnut Road – sale pending.
- 957 Tico Road – sale pending.
~ Ray
9:50 a.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1885 Maricopa Highway #5 – back on the market (had been a pending sale) and reduced from $235,000 to $228,000.
- 310 E. Aliso Street – back on the market (had been a pending sale).
- 704 Daly Road – back on the market (had been a withdrawn listing – this was last on the market 1/15/19).
- 10464 Santa Ana Road – sale pending.
- 710 Mercer Avenue – this listing (and Honorable Mention) has been cancelled.
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Saturday, March 2, 2019
2:25 p.m.
The Ojai Market Data update has been completed. Click here to check it out!
~ Ray
12:05 p.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 45 Kunkle Street – $797,500.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1370 Cuyama Road – reduced from $1,850,000 to $1,700,000.
The open house list has been updated! Some homeowners cancel their open houses when it’s raining, so you may want to check in with the listing agents (their contact info is on the MLS links) to make sure they’re still holding their respective houses open. Our open house at 1003 N. Drown Avenue will be held tomorrow (Sunday) from 1:30 to 4:00, rain or shine.
I’ll be working on the Ojai Market Data update as you read this. Check back in around 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. to see what happened in Ojai real estate during the month of February!
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Friday, March 1, 2019
2:40 p.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 957 Tico Road – $675,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 474 N. Arnaz Street #10 – sold for $80,000 (originally listed for $89,000).
We saw a lot of nice new properties today on the weekly Friday agent/broker caravan. As such, we’ve added four new Honorable Mentions to the list. You’ll find write-ups for each of these on the Honorable Mentions page:
Have a great weekend! I’ll be updating the open house list tomorrow, as well as providing you with the latest Ojai Market Data update.
~ Ray
9:55 a.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 94 Don Antonio Way – back on the market (had been cancelled) and reduced from $134,000 to $125,900.
- 514 Vista Hermosa Drive – reduced from $1,595,000 to $1,575,000.
- 1142 N. Ventura Avenue – sold for $465,000 (originally listed for $499,000).
- 150 S. La Luna Avenue – this listing has expired.
- 15450 Maricopa Highway – this listing has expired.
Here’s the list of things to do in Ojai.
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
