June 1, 2020
Quote of the Day
Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.
– William Barclay
This Day in History
June 1, 1990: Bush and Gorbachev agree to end production of chemical weapons. At a superpowers summit meeting in Washington, D.C., U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sign a historic agreement to end production of chemical weapons and begin the destruction of both nations’ sizable reserves of them. According to the agreement, on-site inspectors from both countries would observe the destruction process.
The treaty, which called for an 80 percent reduction of their chemical weapon arsenals, was part of an effort to create a climate of change that would discourage smaller nations from stockpiling and using the lethal weapons. First developed during World War I, most countries in the world were in possession of the technology needed to build chemical weapons by 1990, and some, such as Iraq, had engaged in chemical warfare in preceding years. The United States and Russia began destroying their chemical weapons arsenals in the early 1990s. In 1993, the U.S., Russia, and 150 other nations signed a comprehensive treaty banning chemical weapons. The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty in 1997.
Ojai Weather
Partly sunny – High 81 / Low 54
Total rainfall for the season – 18.96 inches
Lake Casitas Water Capacity – 44.4%
Monday, June 1, 2020
5:05 p.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 616 Palomar Road – $1,698,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1273 S. Rice Road #74 – reduced from $279,000 to $269,000.
- 109 N. Fulton Street – sale pending.
- 12980 Ojai Santa Paula Road – sale pending.
12:20 p.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 402 Shady Lane – $789,000. Note that this listing’s status shows as “hold.” This is a new category that will be used from here forward for properties that are coming soon. However, it is important to note that under California Association of Realtor rules the property, though “new” on the market, cannot be shown under any circumstances by the listing agent or any other agent. Think of it as a “teaser!”
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 403 N. Montgomery Street – back on the market (had been a cancelled listing).
- 109 Don Carlos – back on the market (had been a pending sale).
- 221 N. Poli Street – reduced from $786,000 to $749,000.
- 2385 Burnham Road – sale pending.
- 11790 Silver Spur Street – sale pending.
- 610 Fernando Street – sale pending.
- 404 E. Topa Topa Street – sold for $524,844 (originally listed for $585,000).
- 204 N. Lomita Avenue – this listing has expired (the Ventura/Flex MLS link will show as “unavailable”).
Pic of the Day
Friday, May 29, 2020
3:20 p.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 301 N. Signal Street – $4,000,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 260 E. Ojai Avenue – back on the market (had been pending) and reduced from $950,000 to $799,000.
- 1176 Ventura Avenue – sale pending.
Have a blissful weekend!
10:35 a.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
- 203 N. Ventura Street – $1,496,000.
- 950 Woodland Avenue #3 – $119,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1317 Foothill Road – back on the market (had been withdrawn).
- 250 Verde Oak Drive – back on the market (had been a pending sale).
- 403 N. Fulton Street – sale pending.
- 95 Andrus Street – sale pending.
- 1102 N. Montgomery Street – sold for $1,234,500 (originally listed for $1,295,000).
- 608 Park Road – sold for $1,300,000 (originally listed for $1,395,000).
Here’s the list of things to do in Ojai!
Pic of the Day
Thursday, May 28, 2020
11:50 a.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 3584 Calle Moreno Lane – sale pending.
- 669 Brier Street – sold for $780,000 (originally listed for $839,000).
- 440 Larmier Avenue – sold for $507,000 (originally listed for $519,000).
- 1615 Orchard Drive – withdrawn from the market (the Ventura/Flex MLS link with show this as “unavailable”).
Pic of the Day
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
1:30 p.m.
There are four new listings on the market:
- 246 Valley Road – $1,050,000.
- 95 Andrus Street – $535,000.
- 214 Descanso Avenue – $725,000.
- 605 Grand Avenue – $669,900 (this is new, but it was already pending before it was listed in any MLS).
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 209 S. Ventura Street – sale pending.
- 12449 MacDonald Drive – sale pending.
Not only are there four new listings on the market thus far today – plus two listings that are now pending sales – but we’ve had requests for three listing presentations in Ojai and Oak View over the last two weeks. The Ojai Valley real estate market might be a tad slower, but there are multitudes of people eager to buy and sell, waiting in the wings for Covid-19 restrictions to ease. Additionally, our team has a pool of about 10 buyers who are looking to buy right now in the Ojai area – so bring it on, people!
Pic of the Day
Title: “The Lazy Plumber” – 2014
Artist: Szymon Zielinksi
Medium: Galvanized pipe over rock on asphalt
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
2:35 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 88 Mountain View Street – sale pending.
- 107 Willey Street – sold for $665,000 (originally listed for $669,000).
11:20 a.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
- 413 Vallerio Avenue – $659,000.
- 213 Bald Street – $649,000 (this is new, but it was already pending before it was listed in any MLS).
Pic of the Day
Monday, May 25, 2020
9:35 a.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 89 Willey Street – $650,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1202 Loma Drive #40 – sale pending.
Have a safe and happy Memorial Day. From one grateful American who will never take our freedoms for granted, I give thanks to those still living among us, whose countless books I’ve read over the years – who still continue to serve while telling their stories, inspiring and helping others: Jocko Willink, David Goggins, Kyle Carpenter, Dakota Meyer, Dan Crenshaw, Leif babin, Travis Mills, Sean Parnell, Kevin Lacz, Jason Redman, William H. McRaven, Robert O’Neill, Marcus and Morgan Luttrell, and others.
I give thanks to those who risked and gave their lives not simply for America, but especially for their brothers that stood next to them in the fight: Chris Kyle, Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson, Michael Murphy, Shane Patton, Erik Kristensen, Dan Healy, E.B. Sledge, Paul Fussell, Quentin Aanenson, Burt Wilson, Daniel Inouye, Glenn Frazier, Sidney Phillips, Robert Kashiwagi, Ray Leopold, Tom Galloway…and many others.
And finally, thank you to their families – wives, parents, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters – who’ve had to face daily difficulties and uncertainties I can barely imagine, not knowing if they would ever see their loved ones again.
~ Ray
Pic of the Day
Friday, May 22, 2020
4:30 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1975 Maricopa Highway #32 – back on the market (had been expired) and increased from $237,000 to $239,000.
- 1440 Daly Road – reduced from $569,000 to $549,000.
- 1009 Drown Avenue – this Best Buy sold for $750,000 (originally listed for $849,000). Congrats to our clients/buyers, who closed on their new Ojai home today!
- 1054 Bath Lane – not Ojai-related, but congrats to our clients/sellers who closed on the sale of their property today!
Have a great weekend!
10:00 a.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 1203 Rains Court – $1,275,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 562 Thomas Street – sale pending.
- 601 Canada Street – sale pending.
- 902 Park Road – sale pending.
- 1975 Maricopa Highway #32 – this listing has expired.
Here’s the list of things to do in Ojai.
Yes, now is a good time to list your home! During our Ojai realtor Zoom meeting yesterday we had three different lenders that were part of the discussion. We asked what they were seeing out there as far as loan activity and how the real estate market is from their side of things. The overall feeling is that there are plenty of buyers out there and as far as Ojai goes – although we have seen fewer new listings on the market – prices in Ojai haven’t noticeably decreased during this crisis, nor are appraisals coming in low. The average listing-to-sales price percentage for homes sold in the Ojai Valley thus far in May has averaged 96.6% of the original asking price.
The wild card in all of this is keeping the Covid-19 pandemic at bay. If we experience a sudden surge in cases and have to revert back to “shelter in place” status, we could see a sudden decline in home pricing. For bargain hunters out there, it’s possible that we’ll see an influx of homes coming to the market in the next few months. Unfortunately, these could be people that need to sell their homes ASAP, whether it be a normal sale, a short-sale, or foreclosure.
Pic of the Day
Thursday, May 21, 2020
2:45 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 950 Woodland Avenue #53 – reduced from $239,000 to $229,000.
- 1005 N. Signal Street – sale pending.
- 617 Country Drive – sold for $710,000 (originally listed for $710,000).
Pic of the Day
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
4:15 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 411 Foothill Road – sale pending.
10:05 a.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 215 Burnham Road – back on the market (had been expired) and reduced from $825,000 to $819,000.
- 1801 McNell Road – sale pending.
Pic of the Day
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
5:05 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 950 Woodland Avenue #81 – sale pending.
- 810 Sunset Place – sold for $670,000 (originally listed for $669,000).
10:45 a.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 0 La Luna Avenue (land parcel) – $1,295,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1075 Loma Drive #1 – back on the market (had been a pending sale).
Pic of the Day
Monday, May 18, 2020
12:40 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1024 N. Ventura Avenue – back on the market (had been cancelled).
- 1203 N. Signal Street – reduced from $3,100,000 to $2,945,000.
- 511 Burnham Road – reduced from $674,995 to $639,000.
- 1075 Loma Drive #1 – sale pending.
- 404 E. Topa Topa Street – sale pending.
- 275 S. Montgomery Street – sale pending.
- 250 Verde Oak Drive – sale pending.
- 612 Larmier Avenue – sale pending.
- 1417 Foothill Road – sold for $1,410,000 (originally listed for $1,399,000).
- 12081 Linda Flora Drive – sold for $1,450,000 (originally listed for $1,495,000).
- 210 Monte Via – sold for $515,000 (originally listed for $525,000).
- 25 Santa Ana Way – sold for $690,000 (originally listed for $750,000).
- N. Ventura Avenue land parcel – this listing has expired (the Ventura/Flex MLS link will show as “unavailable.”)
Pic of the Day
Friday, May 15, 2020
11:05 a.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
- 1801 McNell Road – $1,895,000.
- 1075 Loma Drive #1 – $199,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 2444 Maricopa Highway – reduced from $2,499,000 to $2,200,000.
- 1121 Capello Way – sale pending.
- 937 El Camino Corto – sale pending.
Here’s the list of things to do in Ojai. Also, here’s an article from Bloomberg that discusses how mortgage “forbearance” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be (yet).
Pic of the Day
Thursday, May 14, 2020
3:35 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 612 Larmier Avenue – back on the market (had been cancelled) and reduced from $569,000 to $558,000.
- 109 N. Fulton Street – reduced from $859,000 to $849,000.
- 1615 Orchard Drive – reduced from $700,000 to $687,000.
- 1202 Loma Drive #84 – this listing has been withdrawn from the market.
- 1024 N. Ventura Avenue – this listing has been cancelled.
9:55 a.m.
There are three new listings on the market:
- 601 Canada Street – $774,000.
- 3584 Calle Moreno – $3,150,000.
- 1024 N. Ventura Avenue – $399,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- Grand Avenue land parcel – sale pending.
Pic of the Day
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
4:05 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 10808 Creek Road – sale pending.
- 925 Mountain View Avenue – sale pending. Congrats to our clients/buyers and to teammate Rob Perron for getting this home into escrow!
10:25 a.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1190 El Toro Road – sale pending.
Pic of the Day
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
3:30 p.m.
- No other changes for today.
10:15 a.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 412 Drown Avenue – reduced from $819,000 to $799,000.
This just in: We didn’t quite hit the BBIO predicted high temperature yesterday, but starting today we’ll see a significant cooling trend. (I need to brush up on my proofreading skills.)
Pic of the Day
Monday, May 11, 2020
3:55 p.m.
Apologies for the late update; lots going on today! Just a heads up that we won’t be posting any new Best Buys or Honorable Mentions for a while, due to the fact that we are currently unable to see properties in person. As anyone who’s seriously looked at homes can tell you, no matter how good the photos make a property look, it’s not the same as seeing it in person. Once the Ojai valley starts holding Friday broker previews in person, we’ll get back at it.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 250 Verde Oak Drive – $1,199,900.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 12768 Blue Heron Circle – back on the market (had been withdrawn and last listed on 3/23/20).
- 937 El Camino Corto – reduced from $530,000 to $525,000.
- 522-544 Good Hope Street – reduced from $810,000 to $799,500.
- 179 Baldwin Road – reduced from $1,075,000 to $1,049,000.
- 950 Woodland Avenue #81 – reduced from $184,900 to $167,000.
- 1975 Maricopa Highway #32 – reduced from $245,000 to $237,000.
- 1615 Orchard Drive – reduced from $739,000 to $700,000.
- 256 N. Encinal Avenue – sale pending.
- 1565 Loma Drive – sale pending.
- 12841 Treeranch Road – sale pending.
Pic of the Day
Friday, May 8, 2020
1:50 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 617 Country Drive – sale pending. (Note: This was a new listing that was incorrectly entered into the MLS with no designated city, thus it didn’t show up in our search for new listings in Ojai and Oak View. It was corrected by the listing agent today, but in the meantime the listing received an accepted offer.)
Finally for today, we have a bit of a bummer announcement to make: Our partner, teammate, and friend – Maria DePaola – is leaving the team. Maria has decided to step away from real estate for a while to do a little traveling, visit family, etc. She has been a huge part of our lives for the last 5+ years, professional and personally, and we will miss her terribly. The team will be doing some re-organizing and re-branding over the next month, but we’re excited to move on to the next chapter of this endeavor.
Have a wonderful weekend!
8:00 a.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 608 Park Road – sale pending.
Here’s the updated list of things to do in Ojai. Also, don’t forget to check out and vote on our Poll of the Month!
Pic of the Day
Thursday, May 7, 2020
4:30 p.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
- 1207 Foothill Road – $1,839,000.
- 608 Park Road – $1,395,000.
9:10 a.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 275 S. Montgomery Street – reduced from $1,150,000 to $995,000.
- 12412 Linda Flora Drive – reduced from $549,000 to $499,000.
- 300 Running Ridge Trail – sold for $1,699,000 (originally listed for $1,750,000).
- 1202 Loma Drive #116 – this listing has been cancelled.
Pic of the Day
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
3:35 p.m.
There are four new listings on the market:
- 256 N. Encinal Avenue – $650,000.
- 10065 Ojai Santa Paula Road – $3,200,000.
- 230 Burnham Road – $1,100,000.
- 1420 S. Rice Road – $1,115,000.
The Ojai Market Data update is here!
10:35 a.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
- 216 E. Matilija Street – $950,000.
- 1273 S. Rice Road #74 – $279,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 815 Canada Street – back on the market (had been withdrawn). Last listed on 3/18/20.
- 1420 Cuyama Road – sold for $1,350,000 (originally listed for $1,599,000).
I’ll have the Ojai Market Data update for you later today, so be on the lookout!
Pic of the day
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
4:15 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 108 S. Montgomery Street – reduced from $2,200,000 to $2,099,000.
- 241 Valley Road – sale pending.
- 1972 Country Place – sold for $725,000 (originally listed for $735,000).
10:40 a.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 403 N. Fulton Street – reduced from $739,000 to $719,000.
- 10580 Ojai Santa Paula Road – reduced from $3,925,000 to $3,750,000.
- 457 E. Ojai Avenue – reduced from $2,975,000 to $2,450,000.
- 511 Burnham Road – reduced from $749,995 to $674,995.
- 10901 Creek Road – this listing has expired. (The Ventura/Flex MLS link will show as “unavailable.”)
Pic of the Day
Monday, May 4, 2020
3:55 p.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 925 Mountain View Avenue – back on the market (had been a pending sale).
- 612 Larmier Avenue – this listing has been cancelled. (The Ventura/Flex MLS link will show this as “unavailable.”)
10:55 a.m.
There is a new listing on the market:
- 1005 N. Signal Street – $2,795,000.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1202 Loma Drive #40 – reduced from $82,000 to $76,500.
- 1250 Meyers Road – sale pending.
- 109 Don Carlos – sale pending.
- 107 Portal Street – sale pending.
- 923 Santa Ana Blvd. – sold for $672,000 (originally listed for $689,000).
Pic of the Day
Saturday, May 2, 2020
10:00 a.m.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 1202 Loma Drive #36 – reduced from $135,000 to $132,500.
- 0 N. Ventura Avenue – this listing has expired.
A couple of nights ago, at around 9:00 p.m., I was lounging in our family room reading and listening to music, when quite casually – a bat flew into the room and puttered around in circles around the lighting fixture. At first I thought it was a bird, but I quickly recognized the flying pattern was that crazy, jerky flight – completely unrepresentative of bird flight. I was impressed with how silent it was as it moved through the air…I heard nothing.
My first response was to grab a large beach towel and try to catch it in there, but that quickly proved futile, as it darted around me with ease – and I realized this technique might actually injure the creature. So I quickly hopped on YouTube, to discover there are really only two techniques to removing a bat from your house; sequestering it in a room and opening a door or window, waiting for it to fly out on its own – or, waiting for it to tire out and land on something, taking a bucket or other container and setting it over the bat, then gently wedging a piece of cardboard underneath it until it’s captured.
Well, the bat turned the corner and flew down the hallway, then upstairs. Okay then. I’m not chasing this thing around all night. So I went back to reading. Two or three more times, it made its way into the family room, circled the light, then exited and went away for 10 or 15 minutes. I probably waited a good hour until it finally landed on the window blinds. I grabbed a Tupperware container and gently placed it over the bat. It was very calm as I wedged the lid underneath it’s feet, then took it outside. No problem!
I wonder if the bat wrote on his blog about his experience touring a tudor-style home with the benevolent human…
Don’t forget to vote on our Poll of the Month!
Pic of the Day
Friday, May 1, 2020
3:40 p.m.
- No other changes for today. I’ll probably pop in tomorrow morning with a quick update to see if there are any new listings on the market. In the meantime, you can vote on our Poll of the Month, where the subject is “Once we’re rid of Covid-19, what’s the first thing you’d like to do?”
Have a great weekend; it looks like it’s going to be beautiful…
11:15 a.m.
There are three new listings on the market:
- 11790 Silver Spur Street – $765,000.
- 10650-10652 Ojai Santa Paula Road – $6,490,000.
- 82 Don Antonio Way – $129,999.
Changes to the All Listings page:
- 404 E. Topa Topa Street – reduced from $585,000 to $579,000.
- 403 N. Fulton Street – reduced from $784,000 to $739,000.
- 810 El Toro Road – sold for $2,100,000 (originally listed for $2,750,000).
- 2117 Los Encinos Road – sold for $350,000 (originally listed for $350,000).
- 1320 Carne Road – this listing has expired.
- 2680 E. Ojai Avenue – this listing has been cancelled.
Here’s the list of things to do in Ojai!
Pic of the Day
