where to look in Los Altos

where to look in Saratoga

The thirty-five Eichlers of Eichler Homes of Saratoga (a subdivision that also includes a number of non-Eichlers) could easily be candidates for "best Eichler neighborhood". They have much going for them. This part of Saratoga isn't the Saratoga of "everyone gets an acre and a mansion", but it's a very attractive area that reminds me of the better Los Altos neighborhoods. Eichler Homes is one of Joe's later developments, dating from 1964 and 1965, which usually means handsome upscale homes—and sure enough, atrium gallery models are common here. These homes are big, too, especially for their time, most offering four bedrooms and about 2000 sq.ft. or more. Lots are big too, generally around 12,000 sq.ft. And the local schools are highly regarded.

So far, so good.

But the level of maintenance in this Eichler development is surprisingly variable, with more unpainted houses and dead lawns than you'd expect for the area and price range. Often this happens in a neighborhood with a location problem, and sure enough, Highway 85 is close enough to be heard in the background. But the pampered homes and manicured yards of the adjoining, non-Eichler, development, much of it even closer to 85 than the Eichlers, suggests that freeway noise isn't the problem.

What is? I've long suspected that some Eichler owners don't care for the design of their homes, and that this distaste is reflected in a reluctance to maintain them. I further suspect that this is particularly true of upper-middle class neighborhoods such as this one, where the preponderance of unadventurous architecture strongly suggests that contemporary is anathema to 99% of buyers in that price range.

Whatever the reason, this is still a great neighborhood, and one that might be said to have the potential for even greater things. Proximity to 85, 280 and 17 makes it a convenient location for commuters.

Feel free to contact me at jfyten@cbnorcal.com.