“Buy this home,” said the computer: a Vintage Hills tale (1965—1970)

When Pleasanton's pastures met prophecy—and got a pool with it

Between 1965 and 1970, on the rolling hills of what was once Kottinger Ranch, a curious thing happened: a neighborhood grew. Not just any neighborhood, but Vintage Hills—a place where suburban dreams bloomed under the watchful eyes of Perma-Built Enterprises and, later, Boise-Cascade Corporation.

Back then, Pleasanton was still shaking off its agricultural roots. Cows still outnumbered commuters, and downtown was more country store than culinary destination. But Vintage Hills promised something new: a return to gracious living—as the brochures so confidently declared.

Location of the Vintage Hills neighborhood in Pleasanton, California.

A prophetic beginning

When the first models opened in November 1965, the homes weren’t just pitched with patios and pantries. No, they came with a promise foretold—by a computer. A prophetic computer, to be exact.

In what might have been one of the earliest mashups of real estate and marketing tech, ads claimed a machine could predict your financial happiness. According to its binary wisdom, you’d save money—and find joy—by buying a home in Vintage Hills.

Of course, nobody remembers exactly what kind of computer it was. Maybe it whirred behind punch cards in a downtown Oakland office. Maybe it didn’t exist at all. But that didn’t matter. In the mid-60s, the idea of a machine telling you to buy a house wasn’t science fiction. It was the future—and it was stylish.

Living the dream (with custom options)

And once the homes were built? They lived up to the buzz. Streets lined with names like Del Sol and Mirador boasted a blend of Mediterranean flair and ranch-style ease. Some blocks featured only two or three floor plans—but each was customized just enough to give a feeling of originality.

Buyers chose from spacious four-bedroom layouts, cozy three-bedroom homes, and—eventually—some five-bedroom plans that felt downright palatial for the time. They got open kitchens, built-in bookshelves, and backyards perfect for barbecues and birthday parties. Some even had in-ground pools—a luxury that practically whispered, “You’ve made it.”

Vintage Hills model homes (1965-1968)

The first model complex was on Del Sol Avenue at the corner of Mirador Drive and ran until 1968.

Site of the first Vintage Hills model homes.

Pricing history
Dec 1965: $23,500 +
Sep 1966 (Unit 2): $23,950 + 
Sep 1967: $26,500 +
Sep 1968: $28,950 - $32,650

1. Plan 1 - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,786 sq. ft.

The original Plan 1 model today.

2. Plan 2 - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,543 sq. ft.

The original Plan 2 model today.

3. Plan 3 - 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1,825 sq. ft.

The original Plan 3 model today.

4. The Malaga - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,428 sq. ft.

The original Malaga model today.

5. The Isabella - 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,940 sq. ft.

The original Isabella model today.

6. Plan 6 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,609 sq. ft.

The original Plan 6 model today.

Boise-Cascade arrives

In 1968, the big players moved in. Boise-Cascade Corporation took over development and brought with them a new model complex on Neal Place. The floor plans got bigger. The finishes got fancier. And the homes—some nearing 2,200 square feet—started attracting growing families and young professionals looking to settle in style.

With the 1969 expansion to Bonita Avenue, the third and final model complex was introduced, along with a new name for the area: Pleasanton Heights. But to the locals—and to future real estate brochures—it was still all Vintage Hills.

A preview opening ad for the new model complex in April 1968.

Vintage Hills model homes (1968-1969)

The second model complex opened on Neal Place in 1968 and ran until 1969.

Site of the second Vintage Hills model homes.

Pricing history
Sep 1968: $28,950 - $32,650
Aug 1969: $30,750 +

1. Plan 1 - 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2,220 sq. ft.

The original Plan 1 model today.

2. Plan 2 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,522 sq. ft.

The original Plan 2 model today.

3. Plan 3 - 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1,951 sq. ft.

The original Plan 3 model today.

4. Plan 4 - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,956 sq. ft.

The original Plan 4 model today.

5. Plan 5 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,803 sq. ft.

The original Plan 5 model today.

6. Plan 6 - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,938 sq. ft.

The original Plan 6 model today.

Vintage Hills model homes (1969-1970)

The third model complex opened in 1969 on the east side of Bonita Avenue. Three homes from the older complex and one new model entered the mix. By this point, Boise Cascade had started using the neighborhood name of Pleasanton Heights as the location for their Vintage Hills homes.

Pricing history
Aug 1969: $30,750 +
Feb 1970: $30,750 - $36,700

A look at the price tag

Let’s talk dollars. In 1965, you could pick up a brand-new home here starting at $23,500. By 1970, prices had climbed to around $36,700—a small fortune at the time, but worth every penny for hillside charm, good schools, and sidewalks buzzing with Big Wheels and trick-or-treaters.

Vintage Hills wasn’t just a place to live. It was a place to grow. A place to stretch out. A place to believe in the future—especially when a computer told you it was the right thing to do.

A lasting legacy

Today, Vintage Hills still carries the air of optimism it was built on. The trees are taller, the kitchens are remodeled, but the heart of the neighborhood beats the same. Families stroll beneath oaks. Kids race scooters down the same sloping sidewalks. And somewhere, in the amber glow of memory, that “prophetic computer” is still humming away—happy to know you took its advice.