A Guide to the Los Altos Neighborhood - Rancho

The Rancho neighborhood in Los Altos is a prime example of the rural-style that this town is known for.  With Hale Creek winding behind the homes on Parma to set the standard, the streets have a gentle, flowing curve that add character to the mix of traditional ranch-style homes and luxurious mansions.  The residents are a mix of new and old owners, many with a long history in the area.  One of the past residents is responsible for building many of the luxury homes in the neighborhood.  I myself actually spent many of my growing up years on Parma and remember fondly watching the neighborhood change over the years.

In the 70s and 80s, there was very little new construction but that all changed in the 80s as developers started coming in to knock down old ranch-style homes in favor of new mini-estates.  Those first few new homes were updated ranch style homes, some with 2 levels, and most much larger than the originals.  After a while, the trend in homes evolved into more contemporary style homes with stucco exteriors, grand entrances, and a proliferation of luxurious Mediterranean homes. Landscaping became a noticable change as well with larger, paver driveways, and professionally designed plantings.  The typical grass front lawn with a few trees disappeared.

The Rancho neighborhood is bound by Covington Road, Campbell Avenue, Springer Road, and Fremont Avenue.  The neighborhood and immediately adjacent streets (Covington, Parma, and Campbell extended well beyond the bounds of the neighborhood) is considered one of the most desirable areas in Los Altos.  Many would consider the bounds of the Rancho neighborhood to extend to Rosita Avenue on the north side and the area along Berry Avenue on the other side of Springer.

At the corner of Springer Road and Fremont Avenue is Rancho Shopping Center, which offers excellent services including Andronico's Market, Starbucks, a bakery, a pizza place, and many nice shops.  It is also the site of the new, year around Rancho Farmer's Market which is offered on Saturdays from 9AM-1PM.  Rancho Shopping Center has been a centerpiece for decades.  At one point in time, they offered a "pancake breakfast" in the early summer to raise funds for local charities.  While they don't do that any more, the site is still the focus on many other events including "Rock Back the Clock" (50s centered event) in September and Santa Claus during the winter months.

Children in the Rancho neighborhood attend Loyola Elementary School, Blach Middle School, and Los Altos High School.  Loyola Elementary is within walking distance or a couple of minutes drive.

The video tour of the Rancho neighborhood shows select photos of a few homes to give you a perspective of the neighborhood.  There are pictures on homes on Campbell Avenue, Echo Drive, Parma Way, and Riverside Drive.  There are pictures that show the style of Rancho Shopping Center, its signs, and the largest business.  The brief tour gives viewers a good feel for the area without actually having to visit.

FAST HOME FACTS
AVERAGE 2011 HOME PRICE: $1,417,500 (RANGE: $1,220,000-$1,615,000) 1 PENDING AT $4,495,000
SIZE OF AVERAGE HOME SOLD:  2298 square feet
AVERAGE PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $616.84
AVERAGE AGE OF HOMES SOLD:  61 Years
HOMES SOLD: 2


NEARBY SERVICES
PRESCHOOLS: Children's House of Los Altos, 770 Berry Ave
PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Loyola Elementary, Blach Intermediate Schoo, Los Altos High School
PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Pinewood School Lower Campus at 327 & 477 Fremont Ave, Los Altos Christian School at 625 Magdalena Ave
CLOSEST FIRE STATION: 765 Fremont Ave.
CLOSEST HOSPITAL: El Camino Hospital, 2500 Grant Road, Mountain View
LIBRARY: Los Altos Library, Main Branch, 13 S. San Antonio Road
PARKS NEARBY: Rosita Park at 401 Rosita Ave and McKenzie Park at 707 Fremont Ave
POST OFFICE: Loyola Corners, 1525 Miramonte Ave
SHOPPING: Rancho Shopping Center, Downtown Los Altos, Loyola Corners