Hidden Eichlers: Overlooked Silicon Valley Neighborhoods | Boyenga Team Compass

Introduction: The Eichler Legacy Lives On

Few architectural movements have left as deep a mark on Silicon Valley as the mid-century modern homes of Joseph Eichler. With their clean lines, open floor plans and walls of glass, Eichlers remain a distinct part of the Bay Area housing market. Everyone knows the big Eichler areas in Palo Alto and Sunnyvale, but smaller tracts across the South Bay and Peninsula get far less attention.

This post looks at some of those less-talked-about Eichler neighborhoods, with the facts from our Silicon Valley and Peninsula and San Francisco tract indexes. Eric and Janelle Boyenga of the Boyenga Team at Compass have sold Silicon Valley homes since 1996 and can help you find the right one.

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Part I: Why Eichlers Still Matter

Eichler homes aren’t just houses. Built from 1949 to 1974, their post-and-beam construction, radiant heating and connection between indoor and outdoor spaces still resonate with buyers. Walls of glass and, in many later models, central atriums define a California way of living.

Eichlers also come with a sense of place: many were built as whole tracts, so a street of them reads as one design. For buyers who want that style, the smaller tracts below are worth knowing.

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Part II: Eichler Neighborhoods of the South Bay

1. Rancho Verde – Sunnyvale

• Built: 1962, about 70 homes, according to our tract index.
• Learn more: our Rancho Verde guide and Sunnyvale’s single-story districts.

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2. Fairbrae – Sunnyvale

• Built: Fairbrae Unit 1 was recorded with 79 lots.
• Learn more: our Fairbrae guide covers the streets and live listings.

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3. Fairglen – San Jose

• Built: Fairglen (Tract 1818), 30 homes from 1957 to 1959, and the Fairglen Additions, 218 homes from 1959 to 1961, designed by Anshen & Allen and Jones & Emmons and completed by Claude Oakland.
• Historic status: the Fairglen Additions were listed on the National Register in 2019.
• Learn more: our Fairglen guide.

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Part III: Peninsula Eichler Pockets

4. Charleston Gardens – Palo Alto

• Built: 1954, 79 homes designed by Jones & Emmons.
• Learn more: our Charleston Gardens page and which Palo Alto tracts have a single-story overlay.

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5. Ladera – Portola Valley area

• Built: Ladera’s Eichler phase, about 25 homes from 1951, designed by Jones & Emmons. Ladera is unincorporated San Mateo County land next to Portola Valley.
• Learn more: our Ladera guide.

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6. Oakdell Park – Menlo Park

• Built: 1952, 16 homes designed by Jones & Emmons and Anshen & Allen, on Olive Street, Oakdell Drive, Middle Court and Magnolia Court.
• Learn more: our Peninsula Eichler tract index.

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7. Atherwood – Redwood City

• Built: 1950, designed by Anshen & Allen; sources give 64 to about 100 homes.
• Learn more: our Horgan Ranch guide.

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Part IV: Living in a Smaller Eichler Tract

• Rules vary by city. Some tracts have single-story overlays or design guidelines; see overlays by city and Remodeling an Eichler.
• School districts. These areas fall in several districts; check the district’s boundary lookup for any address.
• Getting around. See Homes Near Tech Campuses and Homes Near Caltrain for commute options.

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Part V: Prices, Live

Eichler prices vary a lot by tract, size and condition, so we don’t quote one average. Our live Eichler Market Report shows 12 months of Eichler sales by city, and each tract page lists the recent sales on its own streets.

For sellers, marketing an Eichler well means staging, pre-listing updates and telling the house’s design story. According to Compass, its Concierge program can pay for eligible pre-listing work with nothing due until closing; Compass says fees or interest may apply depending on the state.

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Part VI: The Boyenga Team Advantage

• Track record: 2,520+ Silicon Valley homes sold since 1996, including Eichlers and mid-century modern homes across Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Los Altos and beyond.
• Compass tools: Compass Coming Soon and Private Exclusives, and Compass Concierge for pre-listing updates.
• Property Nerd research: tract-by-tract indexes, live market data and street-level guides.

For buyers, we watch for Compass Private Exclusives and Coming Soon Eichlers. For sellers, we build the marketing around the home’s design.

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Conclusion: Finding Your Eichler

Smaller Eichler tracts offer the same architecture in places many buyers overlook, from Sunnyvale’s Rancho Verde and San Jose’s Fairglen to Ladera and Redwood City’s Atherwood. Start with the tract index, then look at the live listings.

Ready to find your Eichler? Call the Boyenga Team at (408) 373-1660 or (650) 383-8606. Commissions are negotiable, and we offer bundled services, so ask us what’s included.