milpitas neighborhood guide · property nerds® at compass
Sunnyhills, Milpitas Homes for sale, recent sales and a Property Nerd’s guide
North Milpitas between N. Milpitas Blvd and I-680, from Jacklin Rd to the Fremont line: a 1954-58 tract of one-story houses at the core, ringed by 1960s to 1980s streets and four school campuses.
Sunnyhills by the numbers
sunnyhills by the numbers · live from the mls
- for sale now…
- median list price…
- homes sold, last 12 months…
- median sale price, 12 mo…
- median price per sq ft, sold…
- sale price vs. list…
Calculated in your browser from MLS data for Sunnyhills (approximate outline traced from the boundary streets). Sales are single-family homes, townhomes and condos.
homes in sunnyhills · live from the mls
Homes for sale, for rent and recently sold in Sunnyhills
Every active listing, rental and closed sale in Sunnyhills from the MLS, updated automatically, with a map of the neighborhood outline.
Loading listings…
Listings come from MLSListings and other MLSs through IDX and show their listing brokerage; confirm details with the listing agent. The map outline is the neighborhood boundary used by our listing search (Sunnyhills (approximate outline traced from the boundary streets)); it may not match every local definition.
the story
How Sunnyhills came to be
Sunnyhills started as a 1950s subdivision on part of the old Rancho Agua Caliente land grant. The county's index of recorded maps lists Tract 1352, Sunnyhills Unit No. 2, recorded on February 15, 1955, with San Lorenzo Homes Company as owner and J. Y. Long Co. Engineers as surveyors; Hazen, Valmy and Rand streets are on it. County year-built records in the city's parcel data tie the original neighborhood to three tracts, numbers 1226, 1352 and 1422, with the first houses dated 1954 and the last of the original blocks dated 1958. Milpitas itself had incorporated on January 26, 1954.
Building then spread east and south for three decades. Gross, Gosser, Murray, Oliver and Levin streets, Greathouse Dr and Conway St date to about 1960-61; the courts off Washington Dr and Curtner Dr (Duarte, Pashote, Vargas and Garcia), Rose Dr, Taylor Dr and Diel Dr to 1963-65. The Walnut Green Acres streets near N. Hillview Dr (Columbus Dr, Madalen Dr, Nieves St, Founders Ln) went in from 1966 to 1971, along with the Kizer, Tice, Rivera and Heflin block by Russell Ln. Vienna Dr, Midwick Dr, Belbrook Way and the Greenbrae streets (Berrendo Dr, Sudbury Dr, Kovanda Way) followed in 1977-79, then a run of small-lot subdivisions in the 1980s: Jacklin Corners (1982-83), Jason Dr and Homme Way (1985), Lindenwood (1987) and the Sandalwood Ln, Grayson Way, Altamont Dr and Oregon Way streets (1987-89). The last new street of houses, La Palma Pl, is dated 1995.
The city's neighborhood map draws Sunnyhills as the whole block between N. Milpitas Blvd, Jacklin Rd and I-680, and outlines several named subdivisions inside it: the original Sunnyhills tract, Lindenwood, Greenbrae, Walnut Green Acres, Lindmuir and Jacklin Corners. You'll see those names on listings and HOA paperwork, but they all sit inside this guide.
streets and homes
The streets and the houses
The 1950s core is a compact grid in the northwest quarter. Arizona Ave runs through it, with short streets such as Callan, Mazey, Autrey, Tiny and Manferd to the north and Boulder, Boyd, Hazen, Cortez, Valmy and Rand to the south, plus Vegas Ave and Dixon Rd. Almost every house there is recorded as one story, on lots of about 6,000 to 6,200 sq ft, and only a few carry a recent year built in county records.
Around it, the street pattern loosens into longer blocks, curves and cul-de-sacs. The 1960s streets are still mostly one-story houses on lots near 6,000 sq ft; the 1970s streets split about evenly between one and two stories; and nearly all of the 1980s houses are two-story homes on lots closer to 3,800 sq ft, zoned R1-3, R1-4 or R1-5. About 430 parcels, mainly the 1982-95 subdivisions and the 1990-92 complexes, sit in planned unit developments on the city's zoning map.
Attached housing is limited to about 100 units in three complexes built from 1990 to 1992 on Arbor Way, Washington Square Dr and Sunnyhills Ct, zoned R3 for multi-family use. Small shopping strips sit at N. Milpitas Blvd and Dixon Rd and on Jacklin Rd just west of Escuela Pkwy. Escuela Pkwy cuts diagonally through the middle, past the high school and middle school, and the Hetch Hetchy pipeline right of way runs north-south as a linear park.
streets in sunnyhills
- Arizona Ave
- Dixon Rd
- Boyd St
- Hazen St
- Valmy St
- Callan St
- Coelho St
- Conway St
- Greathouse Dr
- Washington Dr
- Curtner Dr
- Columbus Dr
- Russell Ln
- Escuela Pkwy
- N. Hillview Dr
- Vienna Dr
- Midwick Dr
- Berrendo Dr
- Sandalwood Ln
- Linden Ln
- Jacklin Cir
parks and places
Parks, shops and landmarks near Sunnyhills
- park
Sunnyhills Albert Augustine Jr. Memorial Park
A large neighborhood park on the Hetch Hetchy pipeline trail, which runs north-south through Milpitas, with playgrounds, public art, picnic areas, restrooms and parking (city parks page). The Milpitas Community Garden is just north along the same trail.
- park
Pecot Park
A 3-acre city park on Manferd St in the northern blocks of the original tract (city parks page).
- park
Sandalwood Park
A 3.5-acre neighborhood park at Escuela Pkwy and Russell Ln with three barbecues, picnic tables and play equipment (city parks page).
- park
Dixon Landing Park
Just west across N. Milpitas Blvd at Dixon Landing Rd: 11 acres with a cricket pitch, baseball diamonds, three tennis courts, a basketball court and playgrounds (city parks page). It sits in the Milpitas Manor & Curtner guide area.
- shopping
Neighborhood shopping
Small commercial strips sit at N. Milpitas Blvd and Dixon Rd and on Jacklin Rd just west of Escuela Pkwy (commercial zoning in the city's parcel data). The larger Town Center shopping area on E. Calaveras Blvd is about 1.4 miles south, straight-line.
- landmark
Fire Station 3
The city's Fire Station 3 is at 45 Midwick Dr, inside the neighborhood (city facilities page).
schools and commute
School districts and getting around
School districts
Sunnyhills is in the Milpitas Unified School District. Four district campuses sit inside these lines on the city's school-site map: Milpitas High School, Russell Middle School, Pomeroy Elementary and Weller Elementary. Attendance boundaries change, so check the exact address with the district (its website has a Find Your School tool) before counting on any particular school.
Getting around
- VTA Route 66, a frequent route, starts at Dixon Rd and N. Milpitas Blvd and has stops on Arizona Ave, Washington Dr, Escuela Pkwy and Jacklin Rd before heading down Abel and Main streets to Milpitas BART and on to Santa Teresa Station in San Jose (VTA route page).
- AC Transit Line 231 runs on Milpitas Blvd between Fremont BART and Milpitas BART by way of Warm Springs/South Fremont BART (AC Transit line page).
- Milpitas BART (the Milpitas Transit Center, with VTA light rail) is about 3.1 miles straight-line from the middle of Sunnyhills; Warm Springs/South Fremont BART is about 3.9 miles straight-line to the north.
- I-680 runs along the east edge with an interchange at Jacklin Rd; I-880 is about 1.1 miles west (straight-line), reached by Dixon Landing Rd.
- The Hetch Hetchy pipeline trail runs north-south through the neighborhood past Augustine Park and the community garden.
nerd notes
Buying or selling in Sunnyhills: what we check
Buying here
- Flood: on FEMA's maps (panels effective February 19, 2014) about 92 percent of the home parcels here are in shaded zone X (0.2 percent annual chance), outside the special flood hazard area. The exception is a pocket around Sandalwood Ln, Altamont Dr, Sandalridge Ct and Idaho Ct mapped as zone AO (1-foot depth), plus a few lots near La Palma Pl in zone AH; federally backed loans require flood insurance there. Check the FEMA map for the exact parcel.
- Earthquake zones: about two-thirds of the home parcels sit inside the state's liquefaction zone (California Geological Survey, Milpitas quadrangle, 2004); the streets nearest I-680, such as Conway St, Greathouse Dr and Curtner Dr, are outside it. The Alquist-Priolo fault zone lies just east of I-680, and no home parcel inside these lines falls in it. Read the natural hazard disclosure for the address.
- 1950s houses: in the original tract, ask about the electrical panel, plumbing, roof and sewer lateral, and pull the city's permit history for additions and garage conversions.
- HOA check: about 430 parcels, mostly the 1982-95 subdivisions and the 1990-92 complexes, are in planned unit developments on the city map. Ask whether the property has an HOA, then read the CC&Rs, budget and reserve study and check current dues.
- ADU room: most lots are zoned R1-6 at around 6,000 sq ft. The city runs a pre-approved detached ADU plan program; lots in a FEMA special flood hazard area qualify only with a flood-resistant design option, and planning staff can confirm setbacks and easements.
Selling here
- Say which part of Sunnyhills the house is in (the 1954-58 core, a 1960s or 1970s street, or a 1980s subdivision). Year built, lot size and floor plans differ a lot from one tract to the next, and buyers compare like with like.
- Pull the city permit history before listing so additions, conversions and electrical upgrades are documented.
- Have the FEMA zone ready. Most parcels are shaded zone X; if the house is in the AO pocket near Sandalwood Ln, an elevation certificate helps buyers price flood insurance.
- For planned-development homes, order the HOA resale documents early so buyers see dues, reserves and any special assessments up front.
nerd noteCommissions are always negotiable, and we offer bundled services, so ask us what's included.
faq
Sunnyhills questions, answered
Where is Sunnyhills in Milpitas?
In north Milpitas, between N. Milpitas Blvd and I-680, from Jacklin Rd up to the Fremont city line. The city's neighborhood map uses the same lines.
When were Sunnyhills homes built?
The original tract went up from 1954 to 1958. County records then show steady building through the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, with a last street of houses in 1995 and three small multi-family complexes in 1990-92.
Is Sunnyhills in a flood zone?
Mostly no: FEMA's 2014 maps put about 92 percent of the home parcels in shaded zone X, outside the special flood hazard area. A pocket around Sandalwood Ln is zone AO, where federally backed loans require flood insurance. Check the exact address on the FEMA map.
Which schools serve Sunnyhills?
It's in the Milpitas Unified School District, and Milpitas High, Russell Middle, Pomeroy Elementary and Weller Elementary are all inside the neighborhood. Boundaries change, so check the address with the district.
How far is BART from Sunnyhills?
Milpitas BART is about 3.1 miles south and Warm Springs/South Fremont BART about 3.9 miles north, both straight-line. VTA Route 66 runs to Milpitas BART, and AC Transit Line 231 runs on Milpitas Blvd between the two stations.
talk to a property nerd
Thinking about Sunnyhills? Let's run your numbers.
Eric, Janelle and the Boyenga Team have sold more than 2,520 Silicon Valley homes, $2.6+ billion in all, since 1996. Get a value, a plan, or a straight answer about a street.
Questions about Sunnyhills? Send us a note.
