home stylesplate 08 of 09built c. 1970s–todayboyenga team at compass
Modern & contemporary homes 1970s to now
Flat and shed roofs, big glass, clean planes and, on anything new, rooftop solar. From 1970s contemporaries to new architect-designed houses in the hill towns, here is how to read one, where they're built, what to check, and every one listed for sale now.
- for sale now · live…
- most listed in…
- median year built, listed now…
- selling silicon valley since1996
how to spot one
How to spot a modern house from the sidewalk
Simple volumes and lots of glass instead of ornament. Hover or tap a number on the drawing to match it to the list.
Flat or low-slope roof
Flat or nearly flat roofs with a thin edge or parapet.
Offset roof planes
Flat or shed roofs at different heights, stepping with the plan.
Large fixed glazing
Floor-to-ceiling glass and wide sliding or folding doors, especially toward the garden.
Clerestory bands
Strips of high windows that bring in daylight while limiting views in.
Flat cladding, little trim
Smooth plaster, wood boards or panels in large planes, with almost no ornament.
Rooftop solar
California has required solar on most new low-rise homes since January 1, 2020.
on the market
Modern and contemporary homes for sale now
Every active listing in our service area that the MLS tags Contemporary or Modern, or whose description says modern architecture, contemporary design, architect-designed or minimalist (built 1965 or later). It's the biggest board in the field guide, so filter by city.
Loading live listings from the MLS…
How homes land here: we read each active listing’s MLS style field and its description, then check the year built. “MLS-tagged only” keeps the homes whose listing agent picked this style. Orange pins are MLS-tagged. Some listings record a style only in fields this search can’t filter on, so a few may not appear here; ask us for a full search. Listing data comes from the MLS and is shown with the listing brokerage; confirm details with the listing agent.
where to find them
Where modern houses stand
Neighborhoods where our guides record modern houses, from the 1930s Bay Area modernists to new construction. Each name opens the full guide.
San Francisco
- Telegraph Hill1930s–50s modern houses, including work by Richard Neutra, William Wurster and Gardner Dailey.
- Presidio HeightsInfill modern houses by Gardner Dailey, Joseph Esherick, Erich Mendelsohn and William Wurster.
- Sea CliffAfter World War II the last lots went to modern designs, including houses by Wurster and Esherick.
- Twin PeaksA small group of Second Bay Tradition houses (1937–1964) on Palo Alto Avenue.
Silicon Valley
- Monta Vista, CupertinoThe Cupertino Historical Society sums it up as large modern homes filling the little lots.
- Fallen Leaf Park, Los Altos37 late Eichlers by Claude Oakland, built in 1968 and 1969.
- Community Center, Palo AltoEichlers from 1973 and 1974 with Claude Oakland's later roof forms.
- Lindenwood, AthertonIn 1953 Eichler Homes began a high-end tract of about a dozen modern houses here.
inside
What you find inside
- plan
Open plan
Living, dining and kitchen share one space that opens to outdoor rooms through big glass doors.
- volume
Tall or sloped ceilings
Ceilings follow the roof or step up under clerestories.
- systems
Heat pumps
Under the 2022 energy code, the standard path for new homes uses heat pumps for space or water heating, depending on climate zone.
- systems
Electric-ready and battery-ready
New homes built with gas appliances must include 240V circuits and panel space for future electric equipment, and must be ready for a battery.
by city
Modern homes city by city
Live boards sorted by contemporary, modern, mid-century and modern farmhouse, for each city.
the nerd check
Buying or selling one
What we check when you buy
- Flat-roof membrane and drainageGet the membrane's age, type and warranty, and the location of drains, scuppers and overflows.
- Glass and heat gainLarge west- and south-facing glass drives cooling. Ask about window specs, shading and the energy-compliance documents filed with the permit.
- Permits and final inspectionsConfirm every permit was finaled. In Los Altos the signed final inspection record serves as the certificate of occupancy.
- Solar ownershipOwned, financed with a lien, leased or on a power purchase agreement. A lease or PPA has to be assumed, kept or bought out at sale.
- HVAC zones and equipmentEach zone, the age and type of heat pump or furnace, and any radiant or mini-split systems.
- Smart-home systemsWhich devices convey, and how accounts and admin access transfer at closing.
- Conditions of approvalHillside approvals can carry conditions such as landscape screening or open space easements. Ask for the approval letter and recorded easements.
- 1970s housesCircuits installed from 1965 to the mid-1970s may include aluminum branch wiring, and paid work on pre-1978 paint falls under EPA's lead renovation rule.
How we market one when you sell
- Lead with the design recordThe architect, the approval date and the permit finals. Buyers of custom modern homes ask for them.
- One folder for the systemsRoof warranties, solar contracts, energy certificates and HVAC zone maps together.
- Photograph the lightSchedule photos and showings when the glass isn't in direct glare, and show any shading systems.
- Explain the solar arrangementOwned or leased, and what a buyer would need to assume.
- Plan the smart-home handoffA device list and a reset or transfer plan.
New houses in the hill towns go through local review: Los Altos Hills scores new residences on a points system (height limit 27 feet), Portola Valley's Architectural & Site Control Commission reviews new buildings and larger additions, Woodside's Architectural and Site Review Board applies its 2012 Residential Design Guidelines, and Saratoga requires design review for any new house. Los Altos requires design review for new two-story homes.
questions
Questions we hear
Do new homes have to include solar?
Yes, for most new low-rise homes permitted under the 2019 and later energy codes, effective January 1, 2020. Additions and alterations aren't covered, and exceptions exist.
Can a modern house be built in a hill town?
Yes, through local review. Los Altos Hills scores new residences, Portola Valley reviews against its design guidelines, and Woodside reviews against its 2012 Residential Design Guidelines.
What is the height limit in Los Altos Hills?
The town's Fast Track guide lists a maximum building height of 27 feet, plus a separate 35-foot limit from the lowest point to the highest roof.
What does electric-ready mean?
Under the 2022 code, new homes built with gas appliances must include 240V circuits and space for future heat pump and electric cooking equipment.
What happens to leased solar when the house sells?
The buyer can assume the lease, the seller can keep paying, or the seller can buy it out.
further reading
all home styles
Every style in the field guide, by era
Bars show the years each style was mostly built here. See the full field guide.
- 01Victorian & Edwardian1870s–1910s
- 02Craftsman & bungalow1905–1930
- 03Spanish & Mediterranean1915–1940
- 04Tudor, storybook & traditional1920s–1940s
- 05California ranchlate 1930s–1970s
- 06Mid-century modern1945–1975
- 07Eichler1949–1974
- 08Modern & contemporary1970s–today
- 09Modern farmhouse & new construction2005–today
talk to a property nerd
Own a modern house, or want one?
Call us for a value, a systems-and-documents prep plan, or a tour of modern homes on the market. Commissions are negotiable, and we offer bundled services, so ask us what’s included.
CONTACT THE BOYENGA TEAM
