Located in California’s Silicon Valley, Sunnyvale bringd together industry, business and residential living along the San Francisco Bay just west of San Jose. Many technology companies have headquarters and offices located in Sunnyvale. “It has been an up-and-coming city in the last seven to ten years due to being the epicenter of the tech industry,” says local real estate agent Mini Kalkat, who has specialized in the Sunnyvale market for more than a dozen years. As the fifth-most populated city in the Bay Area, Sunnyvale is home to world-renowned schools, growing suburban neighborhoods and one-of-a-kind parks anchored by a historic downtown district, making it a highly sought-after place to live. “Development has really taken off in the last few years, creating a vibrant, multicultural city with lots of energy,” Kalkat says.
Each neighborhood offers a distinct experience. Heritage District is Sunnyvale’s vibrant downtown, where palm-tree-studded residential streets are interwoven with trendy boutiques and eclectic restaurants. Bucolic fences framing well-kept front lawns pair with wide-open streets leading into cul-de-sacs in the Ponderosa Parks neighborhood, giving it a sense of seclusion. A quiet atmosphere and well-established, spacious homes attract homebuyers to Morse Park, while the charming bird-themed, tree-lined streets of Birdland Neighbors are close to parks and top-rated schools.
Sunnyvale brings together industry, business, and residential living in the Bay Area.
Many technology companies have headquarters and offices located in Sunnyvale.
Historic Murphy Avenue is a charming town center bustling with restaurants in Sunnyvale.
Beautiful palm tree-studded in Sunnyvale residential streets.
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A strong housing market of California Modernism
Many suburban homes in Sunnyvale were designed by Joseph Eichler, a well-known real estate developer in the postwar United States. Pillars of Modernist architecture, these subdivisions mostly consist of tract housing with a midcentury flair that came to be known as California Modern. Eichler homes typically feature post-and-beam construction, glass walls and open floor plans. Styled ranches and new traditional Craftsman homes, many with Mediterranean influences, are also common in Sunnyvale. A slew of contemporary townhouses and luxury condominiums round out the housing options here; many of them are close to the city’s trendy shops and restaurants. Though home prices can range from $109,000 to $3 million, the median price in January 2024 was $1.8 million, up 4.8% from the same month the year before. “The city has a very strong, very hot market,” Kalkat says. “Inventory is low, so homes that come on the market may sell within a week.” The housing pressure has moved south from Palo Alto as Sunnyvale becomes more popular, Kalkat says, and demand is especially saturated around high-performing schools in the area.
As Sunnyvale’s population grows, the city is looking to accommodate expansion through several plans and initiatives, some of which have already broken ground. The Cityline project in Sunnyvale’s urban core will house a mix of entertainment venues, restaurants, apartment buildings and commercial spaces within its six blocks, spanning a total of 36 acres. Shaded by redwood trees and peppered with public art installations, the square is expected to have 1,066 residential units and approximately 670,000 square feet of retail space and amenities. As of October 2024, Phase 1 of the project has been completed and Phase 2 remains under construction. The project also foresees a Phase 3 slated for future development.
California Modern Home uses contrast colors to improve curb appeal in Sunnyvale.
Mediterranean-inspired homes are plentiful in Sunnyvale.
Ranch-style home in Sunnyvale uses mixed materials to stand out from neighboring homes.
Luxury condominiums are close to the city’s trendy shops and restaurants in Sunnyvale.
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Silicon Valley's thriving tech industry
It’s no surprise that the top four largest employers for Sunnyvale residents are the globally recognized tech brands Google, Apple, Amazon and Meta. Google’s sprawling Mountain View campus is 6 miles from Sunnyvale, while Apple’s corporate headquarters is approximately 3 miles away in nearby Cupertino. LinkedIn is another major tech employer headquartered within the Sunnyvale city limits.
Valley Health Center Sunnyvale is one of many regional hospitals operated underneath the Santa Clara Valley Healthcare system. Valley Health Center Sunnyvale doesn’t have an emergency room, but it offers various healthcare departments, including radiology imaging, on-site pharmaceuticals, internal medicine and pediatric care services. The nearby El Camino Health – Mountain View Hospital has 24-hour emergency services and is located less than 1 mile from Sunnyvale.
Amazon offices in Sunnyvale focused on developing Alexa and the cloud-based voice service.
Apple is one of the top four largest employers for Sunnyvale residents.
Valley Health Center offers various healthcare departments in Sunnyvale.
El Camino Health – Mountain View Hospital is located less than 1 mile from Sunnyvale.
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Education from prekindergarten to postgraduate
Top-rated education in Sunnyvale spans from prekindergarten to doctorate programs, with highly ranked public and private schools and universities. Students can start their academic journey within the Sunnyvale Elementary School District, which earns a B overall rating on Niche. The district’s ten schools serve prekindergarten through eighth grade and feed into the Fremont Union High School District. With a Niche score of A-plus, Fremont ranks as the third-best school district in the San Francisco Bay area and the eighth-best school district in California out of more than 500. Serving about 10,000 high schoolers, the district’s five schools have garnered national accolades for their high-achieving students and top-rated programs, including college preparation and technical career education.
Sunnyvale’s central Silicon Valley location offers proximity to dozens of private and public colleges and universities offering certifications and two- and four-year degrees. Located in Sunnyvale, Cogswell College is a private four-year institution with a student body of 434. Additional nearby schools include Mission College, Santa Clara University and San Jose State University. Most notably, the highly-ranked Stanford University is less than 15 miles from Sunnyvale. With its world-renowned academics and competitive admissions, the elite institution is ranked the second-best college in America.
Murphy Avenue restaurants, local attractions and sporting events
Sunnyvale’s range of attractions include local theaters and historic and tech-focused museums. Locals can learn about the city’s past at the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum or delve into aviation and aircraft history at the expansive Moffett Field Historical Society Museum. Tech enthusiasts can check out the Computer History Museum’s exhibitions on the growth of the internet and journey through decades of innovation at the nearby Intel Museum in Santa Clara. The Sunnyvale Community Center hosts performances and cultural events by the Sunnyvale Theatre, as well as more than 45 productions by the Sunnyvale Community Players, drawing hundreds of theatergoers annually. “The Community Center is very strong, which not many other cities have,” Kalkat says. “They have hundreds of activities catered to all walks of life, from seniors to family-friendly programs for kids.”
Thrill seekers can visit California’s Great America. Every week, visitors flock to the vast theme park, for its rollercoasters, water park, live entertainment and extensive dining options. Football fans congregate at Levi’s Stadium, the region’s premiere sports facility and the home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. The stadium also hosts several college and professional sporting events and major concerts.
Mostly clustered in the recently redeveloped downtown area, a diverse collection of restaurants and interesting shops attracts locals and visitors alike. Many flock to historic Murphy Avenue, Sunnyvale’s town center lined with bustling bars and lively eateries, some housed in revitalized historic buildings, set along a pedestrian-friendly cobblestone street. “The restaurants and nightlife on Murphy are vibrant because of the diversity,” Kalkat notes. “It’s an intermingling of cultures, from Persian to Moroccan and everything in between.” Murphy Avenue is also the epicenter of the city’s events, hosting community staples like the Sunnyvale Farmers Market, and musical events like the Sunnyvale Music and Market Summer Series, and the Sunnyvale Jazz and Beyond concert series. Sunnyvale’s annual Art and Wine Festival also takes place along Murphy Avenue, featuring a weekend of local vendors, live art installations, and wine and dining experiences.
Convenient shopping centers are found along El Camino Real, an arterial road that runs east-west through Sunnyvale. Cherry Orchard Shopping Center has a mix of retailers in a modern outdoor setting, while Pavlina Plaza and Cherry Chase Shopping Center offer shopping essentials like grocery stores, pharmacies and additional eateries.
Locals can learn about the city’s past at the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum.
Levi’s Stadium is the home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers near Sunnyvale.
Sunnyvale’s town center lined with bustling bars and lively eateries.
Sunnyvale Farmers Market is the local hot spot every Saturday.
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Down the El Camino Real
Four of the South Bay’s main freeways and expressways converge in Sunnyvale. State Route 85, U.S. 101 Freeway, State Route 237 and Interstate 280 offer easy access to neighboring communities like Santa Clara and San Jose. A section of State Route 82 follows the historic El Camino Real through the heart of the city. Still, Sunnyvale’s neighborhoods are relatively quiet, Kalkat says. “There’s not a lot of through traffic, so streets remain quiet,” she says. Sunnyvale’s inner city is also quite walkable and has received bronze-level recognition as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.
Two public transit systems also serve the community: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority provides 69 light rail and bus routes, and the Caltrain commuter rail services travels between San Francisco, San Jose and Gilroy. Frequent flyers can catch a flight from the nearby San Jose Mineta International Airport or Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, both 10 miles or less from Sunnyvale. Additional routes are found at San Francisco International Airport 30 miles away.
Though crime is a reality in Sunnyvale, according to the California Department of Justice, the crime rate in November of 2023 was 267.41 incidents per 100,000 people, which is 1.42% below the national average. Total offenses that month trended down 27.18% from 2022.
Dry summers and mild winters
Sunnyvale has a Mediterranean climate with hot, arid summers and clement winters with a steep increase in average monthly rainfall. Snowstorms and freezing temperatures are exceedingly rare in this region. Major environmental concerns include a high risk of drought and heat waves; however, Sunnyvale only has a minor risk of being affected by wildfires. Approximately 30% of all properties in the city are at a minor risk of flooding. To combat flooding risks, the city has implemented flood-safe construction requirements for any properties located in at-risk flood zones. The municipal water supply in this area is considered generally safe to drink from, but in order to improve Sunnyvale’s water supply reliability, the city is currently working on the installation of a new 56,000-gallon water tank.
Recreation along the San Francisco Bay
Sunnyvale’s location along the nape of the San Francisco Bay and its proximity to several state parks and natural preserves provides residents with plenty of opportunities to take advantage of California’s natural surroundings. Sunnyvale’s park system includes nearly 800 acres of parks and open spaces, with access to playgrounds, sporting facilities and multi-use trails. A destination for locals of all ages, Baylands Park spans more than 70 acres, with an additional 105 acres of protected wetlands preserve. A scenic pier offers panoramic views of far-off mountains across miles of marshes, and it links to the San Francisco Bay Trail, which connects 300 miles of trails along the bay shoreline. The park is also home to the Twin Creeks Sports Complex and the Grover Amphitheater, which hosts a variety of events in its 300-seat venue, including musical and theatrical performances.
Neighborhood parks scattered throughout the city offer inspired playscapes for kids with themed playgrounds. Structures plastered with stars, astronauts and rocket ships await children at outer-space-themed Lakewood Park, while the tiki-influenced playground and picnic areas of Las Palmas Park transport kids to Easter Island.
Farther from the city, residents can take in the towering redwood trees and stunning mountain terrain of state parks and national forests like Yosemite National Park or visit the shores of Monterey Bay and Lake Tahoe.
Baylands Park spans more than 70 acres of land and trails in Sunnyvale.
Twin Creeks Sports Complex hosts musical and theatrical performances in Sunnyvale.
Your kids will love the rocket ships playground at Lakewood Park in Sunnyvale.
Las Palmas Park transports kids to Easter Island in Sunnyvale.
Hello! I'm Betzahire Pelayo, an agent with Keller Williams. Originally a Central Valley Native who moved out to the Bay Area after being enchanted with the area's true charm. Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to experience the warmth and beauty of all of the many communities in the Bay Area.
I am no stranger to the difficulties people can encounter while dealing with Real Estate and I am here to facilitate the process for you whether it's buying, selling, or investing! I have spent a vast amount of my career learning the ins and outs of the business to ensure my clients' demands are met and satisfied. I have a profound passion for Real Estate and ensuring that every need is met when buying, selling, or investing. In a business where knowledge is power, I am here to commit my services to help you make an educated decision on opportunities that best serve your goals.
I am looking forward to working alongside you. Let's schedule a consultation to learn more about your wants and needs and turn that dream into reality!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
