Ripplebrook Series — tract guide to Livermore homes (1971)

Part of Sunset Homes’ “Sunsetown” collection

In March of 1971, Sunset Homes launched a housing concept that turned heads and challenged norms: the Ripplebrook series. Designed with first-time buyers in mind, Ripplebrook offered stylish, starter-friendly homes—but not on the outskirts of town. Instead, they were placed right in the heart of Livermore’s more affluent neighborhoods, alongside homes nearly twice their price.

That meant if you bought a Ripplebrook home starting at just 20,950, you could be living next to a $35,000+ executive-level Wildwood home. And that was the point: inclusion by design, decades before it became a buzzword.

April 1971 advertisement for the grand opening of Ripplebrook model homes in Livermore, featuring the homes priced from $20,950. The ad highlights the “Grand Opening” tagline, with bold retro type and a clean layout showcasing the homes.
Vintage April 1971 ad for the grand opening of the model homes at Ripplebrook in Livermore. The ad promotes homes starting at $20,950, with the label “Grand Opening.”

Where is Ripplebrook in Livermore?

Ripplebrook homes were sprinkled across Sunset East, Three Fountains, and Whispering Pines—giving buyers the freedom to choose not only a floor plan but also a lifestyle.

Annotated aerial map showing the boundaries of the Sunset East, Three Fountains, and Whispering Pines neighborhoods in Livermore.
Annotated aerial map of the Sunset East, Three Fountains, and Whispering Pines neighborhoods in Livermore, California, where Ripplebrook homes were built. Base imagery from Google Maps.

Selling the series

The Ripplebrook series offered four models, each tailored for livability with a splash of 1970s style. Sunset’s hallmark signature fireplace anchored many living rooms, while timbered ceilings, open layouts, and stylish built-ins gave each home a touch of architectural flair.

1971 Oakland Tribune ad for Sunset Homes' starter homes
From a 1971 Oakland Tribune ad—quality, style, and a sky high ceiling you can afford at Ripplebrook in Sunsetown.

1971 Oakland Tribune ad for Ripplebrook’s Taku model, featuring vaulted timber ceilings and a signature Sunset fireplace
From a 1971 Oakland Tribune ad—the grooviest ceiling you've ever seen with a signature fireplace inside the Taku model.

1971 Ripplebrook Hacienda model ad showcasing wall-to-wall carpet and Sunset fireplace, from the Contra Costa Times
From a 1971 Contra Costa Times ad—signature Sunset fireplace, wall-to-wall carpeting, and hip wall treatments inside the Hacienda model.

1973 Ripplebrook ad highlighting the Maison model’s unique ceiling design and compact layout
From a 1973 Oakland Tribune ad—Local schools organized field trips to view this metallic wallpapered ceiling inside the Maison model.

Pricing history of Ripplebrook homes

  • 1971: $20,950 - $25,600
  • 1972: $23,450 - $29,450
  • 1973: $24,600 - $30,950

The homes of Ripplebrook

When Ripplebrook opened, buyers toured a carefully staged collection of Sunset model homes showcasing the neighborhood’s mix of architecture, indoor-outdoor living, and family-oriented floor plans. Though individual elevations varied, these original models helped define much of the neighborhood’s visual identity.

The four original models opened in 1971 on Heidelberg Drive. By mid-1973 the original model homes had been sold off as the neighborhood neared completion.

Site map showing Ripplebrook model home complex on Heidelberg Drive in Livermore, 1971
Annotated aerial map of the Ripplebrook model home complex on Heidelberg Drive. Base imagery from Google Maps.

Model homes of Ripplebrook

1. The Taku - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,330 sq. ft.

2. The Hacienda - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,239 sq. ft.

3. The Maison - 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, 1,026 sq. ft.

4. The Colbeh - 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,1,575 or 1,584 sq. ft.

Current appearance of the original Taku home in Livermore's Ripplebrook.
Original Taku model today via Google Street View.

Current appearance of the original Hacienda home in Livermore's Ripplebrook.
Original Hacienda model today via Google Street View. The sales office was in this home.

Current appearance of the original Maison home in Livermore's Ripplebrook.
Original Maison model today via Google Street View.

Current appearance of the original Colbeh home in Livermore's Ripplebrook.
Original Colbeh model today (with added front gable) via Google Street View.

Legacy of Ripplebrook

At a time when housing was increasingly segmented by income, Ripplebrook broke the mold. Sunset Homes didn’t just build houses—they challenged the unspoken rules of suburbia by inviting starter homes into upscale neighborhoods.

That kind of integration wasn’t just bold—it was rare. And it gave buyers a chance to belong somewhere they might not have otherwise.

The series officially wrapped in mid-1973 with the sale of the model homes, but its legacy lives on—in floorplans that were ahead of their time, and a vision of housing that welcomed more people to the table.

In today’s housing market, the Ripplebrook story feels surprisingly modern. It’s a reminder that good design, smart planning, and inclusive thinking can still shape great communities. And sometimes, the most revolutionary ideas come with shag carpet and an all-electric kitchen.

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