October 29, 2026
Quote of the Day
Without this playing with fantasy no creative work has ever yet come to birth. The debt we owe to the play of imagination is incalculable.
~ Carl Jung
This Day in History
October 29, 2015: China announces the end of its controversial one-child policy. On this day in 2015, the Chinese government officially announces the end of its one-child policy, ending the most extreme state birth control project in history after 35 years. Adapted from a two-child policy instituted in 1970, these extreme measures were deemed necessary due to concerns over the rapidly expanding Chinese population, which had ballooned from 540 million in 1949 to 940 million by 1976. Amid global fears of overpopulation, the Chinese government decided to limit families to one child each, although exceptions allowing for two children were common.
The government mandated intrauterine devices for women after giving birth to their first child, and women who had multiple children were frequently subject to forced sterilization. Families were fined for having more than one child. Enforcement of the rule was uneven across China, with exceptions commonly granted for couples whose first child was a girl or a boy who suffered from a disability. As such, by 2007 China Daily reported that less than 40 percent of the Chinese population was actually limited to one child. Still, the policy succeeded in dramatically decreasing the birth rate, which fell from 2.8 births per woman in 1979 to 1.5 in 2010.
The abolition of the policy in 2015 was not the end of state birth control programs in China – the government simply returned to the two-child policy that was in place before 1980. In addition to major criticisms of the state’s forced IUD and sterilization programs, critics also point to statistics that suggest the one-child policy led to sex-selective abortion, usually of girls in rural China, and of the abandonment of many children, also predominately girls. Overcrowding in orphanages became common, and families also complained of the “4-2-1” problem – for every four elders, there could now legally be only two children and one grandchild to support them in their old age.
The government’s reason for abandoning the one-child policy, “to improve the balanced development of population,” hints at the gender discrimination and subsequent gender imbalance that resulted from the policy. Nevertheless, many Chinese, especially women, remain bitter at the state’s treatment of families and its refusal to apologize for the one-child policy.
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Ojai Weather
Partly sunny – High 73 / Low 48
Total rainfall for the season – 2.16 inches
Lake Casitas water capacity – 94.6%
Thursday, October 29, 2026
10:45 a.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
908 Tico Road – $1,395,000
410 Church Road #23 – $920,000
Pic of the Day
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
11:05 a.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
159 La Plaza Way – $215,000
Pic of the Day
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
9:45 a.m.
One new listing has come to the market since Saturday:
12271 Sisar Road – $1,095,000
Recently cancelled, withdrawn or expired listings – back on the market as “new:”
- 883 Moreno Drive – $1,375,000 (this had been recently cancelled on 10/24).
Pic of the Day
Saturday, October 24, 2026
8:25 a.m.
There are four new listings on the market:
190 Fairway Lane – $1,550,000
189 Grapevine Road – $1,200,000
166 Feliz Drive – $1,125,000
309 Grand Avenue – $850,000
Recently cancelled, withdrawn, or expired listings – back on the market as “new:”
- 10681 Encino Drive – $1,900,000 (this had recently expired on 9/30).
Have a great weekend!
Pic of the Day
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
11:25 a.m.
There are no new listings for today.
Pic of the Day
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
10:15 a.m.
Two new listings have come to the market since Friday:
190 Fairway Lane – $1,550,000
1 Barbara Street (land parcel) – $249,900
Recently cancelled, withdrawn, or expired listings – back on the market as “new:”
- 305 S. Ventura Street – $1,650,000 (this had recently been cancelled on 10/2).
Pic of the Day
Friday, October 16, 2026
8:10 a.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
1420 Arundale Access – $2,999,000
205 Verde Oak Drive – $850,000
Recently cancelled, withdrawn, or expired listings – back on the market as “new:”
- 10681 Encino Drive – $1,900,000 (this had recently expired on 9/30).
Have a great weekend!
Pic of the Day
♫ She’s got Betty Davis vibes… ♫
Thursday, October 15, 2026
9:30 a.m.
There is one new listing on the market:
1303 Sunset Place – $1,325,000
Recently cancelled, withdrawn, or expired listings – back on the market as “new:”
- 561 Saddle Lane – $9,850,000 (this had recently expired on 10/2).
- 741 Saddle Lane – $8,230,000 (this had recently expired on 10/13).
Pic of the Day
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
9:55 a.m.
There is one new listing on the market:
11195 N. Ventura Avenue #24 – $339,000
Pic of the Day
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
11:15 a.m.
Six new or “coming soon” listings have come to the market since last Friday:
1303 Cruzero Street – $949,000
950 Woodland Avenue #38 – $299,000
0 Barbara Street (land) – $300,000
1273 S. Rice Road #11 – $330,000
412 N. Fulton Street – $1,398,000 (coming soon, 10/31)
610 W. Eucalyptus Street – $3,300,000 (coming soon, 10/15)
Recently cancelled, withdrawn, or expired listings – back on the market as “new:”
- 96 Kunkle Street – $1,195,000 (this was recently cancelled on 10/7).
- 205 S. Lomita Avenue – $3,350,000 (this had recently expired on 9/19).
Pic of the Day
Friday, October 9, 2026
10:20 a.m.
There are seven new or “coming soon” listings on the market:
402 S. Montgomery Street – $3,100,000
242 Prospect Street – $995,000
484 S. Rice Road – $1,695,000
1202 Loma Drive #107 – $250,000
1125 Spring Street – $2,295,000
950 Woodland Avenue #34 – $322,000
309 Grand Avenue – $850,000 (coming soon, 10/10)
I’d like to take a moment to recognize one of my most respected “go-to” people in this industry. At times, Brokers and Realtors – in addition to the duties involved in helping people buy or sell homes – also dabble in other professions while in the course of a sale: Marriage counselor, referee, landscaper, septic location service, escrow officer, loan consultant, interior decorator, stager, koi pond maintenance, document delivery service, security service, all are amongst the many “services” I’ve rendered in my 20 years in business.
Obviously, we can’t be all things to all people. When the time comes that we need to lean on someone who possesses skills that we aren’t experts in (that is, something we do 40-50 hours a week) – these people help people on my side of the business shine.
I can think of no other person who deserves more accolades than Emily Wilson with Heritage Financial – right here in Ojai. I’ve often reached out to Emily for assistance, and she’s always been there for me. In the middle of a recent escrow where we had some loan issues, specifically with lender requirements which made the parties in the contract extremely nervous – Emily took the time to spend a half-hour on the phone with my clients – even though she isn’t procuring the loan for the buyers herself (the buyers went with their own lender). She patiently explained their options, as well as the thought-process behind why and what their lender was asking for.
In her authoritative, knowledgeable, yet calm and gentle way – she walked my clients through the issues they were experiencing. She eased their fears and concerns in a way that only a true knowledgeable professional – and more importantly – someone who absolutely cares about the people they service AND the people they work with in the real estate industry – can accomplish. Thank you, Em – you are a true gem!
Enjoy the cooler weekend – looks like rain’s a comin’!
Pic of the Day
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
10:00 a.m.
One new listing has come to the market since last Friday:
501 N. Montgomery Street – $1,300,000
Pic of the Day
Friday, October 2, 2026
11:00 a.m.
There are three new listings on the market:
1108 McNell Road – $4,250,000
1708 Orchard Drive – $1,479,000
11020 Rodeo Road – $4,300,000
Recently cancelled, withdrawn, or expired listings – back on the market as “new:”
- 386 Larmier Avenue – $989,000 (this had recently expired on 9/30).
Have a great weekend!
Pic of the Day
Thursday, October 1, 2026
10:55 a.m.
There are no new listings for today. Here are a couple of market updates, one of which is depressing:
MORTGAGE RATES
30-yr fixed: 7.54%
15-yr fixed: 7.18%
30-yr Jumbo: 7.66%
30-yr FHA: 7.15%
30-yr VA: 7.17%
We’ve seen interest rates increase more than 1% since this time last year. On the other hand, the Ojai housing market has been decent and still seems to be a level playing field between seller and buyers:
Pic of the Day
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