November 4, 2026
Quote of the Day
We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.
~ J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter)
This Day in History
November 4, 1960: Jane Goodall observes a chimpanzee making and using tools. In a groundbreaking discovery, primatologist Jane Goodall witnesses a chimpanzee in the act of making and using tools on this day in 1960 – an ability previously believed to be exclusive to humans.
At the time of the observation, Goodall, a 26-year-old English primatologist, was conducting research at Gombe Stream National Park in Northern Tanzania, where she closely studied a group of approximately 150 chimpanzees in their natural habitat. She spotted one of the chimps, whom she had named David Greybeard, engaging in tool-use by stripping leaves from a straw stick and then inserting it into a termite mound to extract the insects.
“By the termite hill were two chimps, both male,” she wrote in her field notebook, describing the scene. “I could see a little better the use of the piece of straw. It was held in the left hand, poked onto the ground, and then removed coated with termites. The straw was then raised to the mouth and the insects picked off with the lips, along the length of the straw, starting in the middle.” Upon receiving a telegraphed message about the observation, Goodall’s boss, esteemed paleoanthropologist Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey, responded, “Now we must redefine ‘tool,’ redefine ‘man’ or accept chimpanzees as human.”
The pivotal discovery, along with Goodall’s meticulous documentation of chimpanzees’ cognitive abilities and capacity for problem-solving, shattered long-held assumptions about animal intelligence. Subsequent studies also revealed that chimps soaked up water with leaves for drinking and cleaning and they cracked open nuts by using stones among other tool uses.
Goodall’s early fieldwork has spurred the publication of 200-plus scientific papers about the chimps at Gombe, revealing notable discoveries about the primates, including their capacity for compassion, the formation of maternal bonds, their omnivorous diet and even their engagement in “warfare.” Goodall received a Ph.D. from Cambridge University in 1965 and continued research and conservation work in Gombe for decades, later through the Jane Goodall Institute, established in 1977. She wrote a number of books and articles about her work, including In the Shadow of Man, published in 1971.
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Ojai Weather
Mostly sunny – High 75 / Low 45
Total rainfall for the season – 2.79 inches
Lake Casitas water capacity – 94.6%
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
9:20 a.m.
There is one new listing on the market:
818 N. Signal Street – $2,100,000
Pic of the Day
(And in accordance with today’s “This Day in History…”)
There was a bit of controversy involving this cartoon. In this 1987 depiction, Gary Larson (of “The Far Side” fame) referred to Jane Goodall as a ‘tramp’ – but all in good fun – and while Goodall’s institution took offense, she went ahead and made friends with the artist:
“The controversy between Goodall and Larson garnered a national response. The cartoon depicted a chimpanzee couple, and while they were grooming each other, the female found a single blonde strand of hair on the male and probed, ‘Conducting a little more ‘research’ with that Jane Goodall tramp?’”
“Larson, however, had never meant for it to express any malice towards Goodall. With Goodall out of the country, the Jane Goodall Institute let Gary know that it was not amused. In his ‘The Prehistory of The Far Side: A 10th Anniversary Collection’, Larson wrote: ‘I was horrified. Not so much from a fear of being sued… but because of my deep respect for Jane Goodall and her well-known contributions to primatology. The last thing in the world I would have intentionally done was offend Dr Goodall in any way.’ When Jane finally saw the cartoon, she loved it. Gary was relieved. And that was ‘the beginning of a beautiful friendship.’ A friendship that saw the cartoon printed for the benefit of The Institute.”
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
11:05 a.m.
One new listing has come to the market since Friday:
640 Lark Street – $1,395,000
Recently cancelled, withdrawn, or expired listings – back on the market as “new:”
- 10920 Ventura Avenue – $1,595,000 (this had recently expired on 8/31).
Pic of the Day
Friday, October 30, 2026
9:45 a.m.
There are five new or “coming soon” listings on the market:
2030 Sumac Drive – $1,095,000
1008 Creekside Way #D – $829,000
1273 S. Rice Road #85 – $320,000
138 Christopher Lane – $1,350,000
11951 Mustang Court – $869,000 (coming soon, 11/4)
Have a good weekend, and enjoy the rain!
Pic of the Day
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
Click here for archived September, 2026 posts
