It could be helpful to know what part of Pennsylvania that you're currently living in.

Eichler for rent in Sunnyvale:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/apa/174771357.html

A friend used to live in this tract.

mlgb: That's an awesome rental! Love that style of house architecture.

You might not want to own one, but renting would be okay. Nice starter homes. Birds on the roof make a heck of a racket though (no attic).

I understand this form of research, the best word of mouth!

Cupertino and Sunnyvale are very, very expensive due to the excellent schools. I have a friend who trying to buy a house there (she lives in San Mateo) and she has been looking for over 6 months now.

Try Evergreen in San Jose. It is very diverse, in a good way, and has sections of older homes you might be able to afford. Also very family friendly. Traffic in that area is a bear going North towards downtown, though.

Apparently the OP has moved on - she is now asking about Merced and Los Banos . . . . .

I think I'd rather be in Pa than Los Banos

To all: What areas of CA do you or have you lived in?

Hey janisj:

OK - I give??

You register today and have posted exactly two times on Fodors and somehow I've earned a thumbs down from you? whatever . . . . . . .

I think the thumbs down was for the two towns you mentioned - not you.

Starrsville: That's what I thought at first too - but then I looked at his other thread and don't think he knows from Los Banos or Merced . . . . .

oh well - maybe (hopefully) you're right.

I'm new on this site but just have to say...

It's soo expensive in CA! Come for a couple weeks...drive from SoCal up North and see what you think. It has all changed SO much even in the past two years. The people, the prices, everything. As far as I know our gasoline prices are close to the highest in the country even. Traffic is horrid almost everyplace you go, stay out of OC and LA if you hate traffic!!

Have fun and good luck with your move!! Funny thing? So many people want to move here...and I can't wait to move out and be able to have a house AND a nice-big yard and trees!

mlgb, I live in a Sunnyvale Eichler, and your photo definitely is not an Eichler! Here's a photo of an Eichler not far from where I live. It's in abominable shape, but note the selling price; I passed by recently and it's in the process of being sold, though I don't know the selling price.

http://tinyurl.com/gezg9

Betsy, thanks, I was going to mention the same thing, that first house is not an eichler!

I noticed that too - but since the OP probably couldn't afford (nor could most of the rest of us) an eichler, didn't bother w/ it

Betsy - lucky you. Up here in Sacramento we had a local builder who designed/built "eichler - lite's" in the late 50's early 60's and they are almost cult worthy. Get a real premium on the re-sale market.

Starrsville: Look at YoungExplorer's latest post on his other thread. Seems he has some sort of vendetta against me. Oh - well, school is out.

Janis, little did we know when we bought our house a zillion years ago. Seems as if people either love or hate Eichlers. I could go on and on about why I love ours--the zen quality, the radiant heat, the huge windows that lend a sense of living outside....

I rented one of the "eichler-like" places up here for a few years and I know what you mean. My decor is VERY traditional - having lived in the UK for several years mostly british/european period pieces, oriental carpets, etc - and one would think totally incompatible w/ that design.

But it was terrific - w/ the outdoors/in and the airy rooms. I miss that place. Even though I live w/ 18th/19th c. things I'm a BIG fan of mid-century modern and a real Eichler must be just this side of perfect.