{"id":78293,"date":"2022-09-15T12:09:17","date_gmt":"2022-09-15T19:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=78293"},"modified":"2023-01-04T11:40:28","modified_gmt":"2023-01-04T19:40:28","slug":"what-are-eichler-homes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/what-are-eichler-homes\/","title":{"rendered":"Eichler Homes: Bringing Mid-Century Modern to the Masses"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the 1950s and 1960s, real estate developer Joseph Eichler built thousands of homes in California that were designed to bring modern architecture to the masses. These postwar homes are known for open interior spaces, modern design, and access to the outdoors. They were innovative homes that introduced open floor plans, large windows, indoor-outdoor living spaces, and carports, all at a very affordable price. Today, these homes define the mid-century modern style and attract buyers from around the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re looking for a starter <\/span>home in Oakland, CA,<\/span><\/a> or a forever <\/span>house in Sacramento, CA,<\/span><\/a> an Eichler home is worth considering. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about these houses, from their history and unique features to their lasting design and social impacts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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An original Eichler in Palo Alto, CA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is an Eichler home?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Eichler homes are perfect examples of <\/span>mid-century modern<\/span><\/a> architecture. Usually featuring exposed wood, large windows, open floor plans, and an organic connection to the landscape, these houses standardized a new quality of living that was previously only available to the wealthy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEichler homes redefined suburban design and lifestyle and let a growing middle class enjoy functional, stylish homes.\u201d – MacKenzie Cain from <\/span>Stratagem Construction<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The homes were generally part of a larger development full of trees, parks, and community spaces. Unlike other developments at the time, each home had a unique charm and didn\u2019t look identical to the house next door. \u201cThey were architectural masterpieces that helped define how we live today,\u201d says Natalie Alchadeff from <\/span>Hero Brokers of Real Estate<\/span><\/a>. \u201cArchitecturally, they feature post and beam construction and use the same materials inside and out for a cohesive look.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Eichlers are often considered art pieces. As such, many owners have kept their homes untouched, while others have entirely updated them with modern amenities and appliances.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where were Eichler homes built?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Joseph Eichler built about 11,000 homes throughout Central and Southern California \u2013 over 10,000 homes in the San Francisco Bay area and nearly 1,000 more around Los Angeles, Orange County, Thousand Oaks, and Granada Hills. He capitalized on the booming post-war economy, building high-quality homes for thousands of new middle-class home buyers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nowadays, most remaining homes are in the Bay Area. Further south, \u201cThe Balboa Highlands neighborhood of Granada Hills is the last remaining development in Los Angeles County,\u201d says Sue Kline from <\/span>Santa Clarita Home Source<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Balboa Highlands<\/span><\/a>. \u201cIt features 108 houses built between 1963-64. The homes are protected by the Los Angeles Conservancy to maintain the original architecture.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEichler homes weren\u2019t just a home, but were a way of living,\u201d says Dave Schuster from the <\/span>Schuster Real Estate Group<\/span><\/a>. \u201cThey brought communities together and created a new ease of living. Nowadays, you can build Eichlers anywhere as long as you have imagination.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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History of Eichler homes<\/span><\/h2>\n

From the first prefabricated home in 1947 to filing for bankruptcy in 1966, let\u2019s learn more about the history of these influential houses.<\/span><\/p>\n

History of 1950s suburbs\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

As suburbia sprawled out in the 1950s due to low-cost housing and construction along with GI bill benefits for returning service members (primarily available to white veterans), many people were suddenly able to buy a home. Many cities and towns encouraged people to move to suburbs, creating planned communities and constructing highways to connect them to the city.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of the high demand and low cost during the postwar boom, houses needed to be mass-produced. The most common choice among developers (notably Levitt and Sons) was the suburban <\/span>ranch-style house<\/span><\/a>, which quickly became the norm for 1950s families. They had an open floor plan, were low to the ground, and had plenty of yard space. However, because of their assembly-line production, they generally lacked quality and were often identical to neighboring homes. Also, they were usually zoned, built for, and sold to exclusively white communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first Eichlers<\/span><\/h3>\n

After living in a <\/span>San Francisco home<\/span><\/a> built by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Joseph Eichler fell in love with modern design. He also saw the benefits of low-cost, easy-to-build housing and wanted to improve the design and building quality while keeping it accessible to everyone. Eichler founded the Eichler Homes company and worked with Modernist architect Robert Anshen to design the first Eichlers. <\/span>The first homes<\/span><\/a> were prefabricated for owners to build on their lots, but he wasn\u2019t satisfied with that approach and decided on planned, affordable communities instead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Between 1949 and 1966, he developed over 11,000 homes as part of planned developments across the San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles suburbs. A central part of his developments were socially-integrated community spaces, including parks and community centers. He was the first large-scale builder to sell to minoritized folks, even building a home on his private lot for an NAACP leader. His social views, especially his non-discrimination policy, led to his resignation from the National Association of Realtors after they refused to support him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reception<\/span><\/h3>\n

Eichler homes looked fairly strange to people at the time. Eventually, however, they became cornerstones of Modernist architecture. They were also remarkably affordable at only <\/span>$10,000<\/span><\/a> – <\/span>$46,500<\/span><\/a>, roughly $110,000 – $509,000 in today\u2019s currency. In reaction to his success, other developers sprang on the opportunity to build low-cost, modern homes (called \u201cLikelers\u201d). While not as popular, they helped define the well-known <\/span>California Modern<\/span><\/a> style.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The final years<\/span><\/h3>\n

Following the success of his homes, Eichler expanded into both luxurious and subsidized multi-family housing. Unfortunately, this gamble didn\u2019t attract an already small amount of renters. That, along with <\/span>delayed returns on investments<\/span><\/a>, longer completion schedules, and complicated permitting processes, led his company to file for bankruptcy in 1966.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Eichler\u2019s are still considered quality homes and attract buyers who want to live the mid-century lifestyle.<\/span><\/p>\n

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An Eichler home in Granada Hills, CA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What do Eichler homes look like?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Eichler homes have open living spaces, large windows, skylights, and modern, nature-inspired architecture. They always use \u201cclean lines, muted curves, small windows usually facing the entrance, and large windows facing an outdoor space in the back,\u201d notes <\/span>Linda Green<\/span><\/a>, REALTOR with <\/span>United Real Estate<\/span><\/a>. \u201cThey feature a front-to-back design, with public spaces in front and living spaces in the back.\u201d To separate space without adding walls, they feature front-to-back planning that puts living spaces in the back of the home.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re wondering whether a home is a <\/span>true Eichler<\/span><\/a> (and not a \u201cLikeler\u201d), look for these features:<\/span><\/p>\n