October 16, 2026
Quote of the Day
Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.
~ William James
This Day in History
October 16, 1958: Chevrolet introduces the El Camino. On this day in 1958, Chevrolet begins to sell a car-truck hybrid that it calls the El Camino. Inspired by the Ford Ranchero, which had already been on the market for two years, the El Camino was a combination sedan-pickup truck built on the Impala body, with the same “cat’s eye” taillights and dramatic rear fins. It was, ads trilled, “the most beautiful thing that ever shouldered a load!” “It rides and handles like a convertible,” Chevy said, “yet hauls and hustles like the workingest thing on wheels.”
Ford’s Ranchero was the first “car-truck” sold in the United States, but it was not a new idea. Since the 1930s, Australian farmers had been driving what they called “utes” – short for “coupé utility” – all around the outback. Legend has it that a farmer’s wife from rural Victoria had written a letter to Ford Australia, asking the company to build a car that could carry her to church on Sundays and her husband’s pigs to market on Mondays. In response, Ford engineer Lewis Brandt designed a low-slung sedan-based vehicle that was a ritzy passenger car in the front, with wind-up windows and comfortable seats and a rough-and-tumble pickup in back. The ute was a huge hit; eventually, virtually every company that sold cars Down Under made its own version.
In the United States, however, ute-type vehicles were slower to catch on. Though the Ranchero was a steady seller, the first incarnation of the El Camino was not and Chevy discontinued it after just two years. In 1964, the company introduced a new version, this one built on the brawnier Chevelle platform. In 1968, the more powerful SS engine made the El Camino into one of the iconic muscle cars of the late 1960s and 1970s. In 1987, Chevrolet dropped the El Camino from its lineup for good. Today, the car is a cult classic.
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Ojai Weather
Sunny – High 96 / Low 66
Total precipitation for the season – .04 inches
Lake Casitas water capacity – 94.7%
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Recently cancelled, withdrawn, or expired listings – back on the market as “new:”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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