‘Coolest house on the market’: Sacramento home with timeless modern flair for $1.35M

Architect Eugene Hoover built his stunning Fair Oaks Village home in 1977, but its modern style is timeless. The residence, which hit the market for $1.35 million, could definitely have been designed today.

Walls of glass let in an abundance of natural light, while angles and curves give the structure a dramatic flair not often found in single-family homes built 45 years ago. An offer on the property is pending less than a week after listing on April 10.

“(Hoover) believed that timeless architecture would stand the test of time, and this seems to be definitely true as it feels like something that could have been built yesterday,” listing agent Angela Gitt of Lyon Real Estate said.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home spans 1,963 square feet. It may not be the biggest house on the block, but it carries a huge wow factor.

“The coolest house on the market right now,” Sacramento Mid Century Homes wrote on its Instagram account.

The residence sits on a hill on one of the highest lots in Fair Oaks Village, a community 15 miles northeast of Sacramento, California, and overlooks a lush canopy of trees. It’s set back from the street (8080 Capitola Ave.) on a private, 0.73-acre setting near the American River.

“The property is unique in its modern design,” Ryan Lundquist, a Sacramento appraiser and housing market analyst, said in an email. “It’s the type of property that feels like an art piece, and the buyer will have bragging rights for having something that nobody else has. This unit also sits on a hill, which gives it a private feel.”

The home, which is for sale for the first time, was a source of pride and joy for Hoover, according to Gitt. The architect and owner, who died at age 82 in November 2022, was a fascinating figure, according to published accounts.

He came to Sacramento after graduating from Montana State University in 1963 with a degree in architecture, according to his obituary in the Sacramento Bee.

“Gene was a talented architect with a deep appreciation for modernism and the contemporary designs of Richard Meier,” the obituary said. Meier designed the Getty Center in Los Angeles.

Hoover worked with former Sacramento architectural firm Cox, Liske, Lionakis & Beaumont, according to Sacramento Modern, a website dedicated to preserving modern art, architecture and design.

In the 1960s and 1970s, he was involved in projects that included the Mira Loma High School Science Building, the PG&E Administration Building, Woodridge Elementary School in Rio Linda and Rideout Memorial Hospital in Marysville, according to the Sacramento Modern Facebook page. He also helped design Cosumnes River College and the former R.A. Herold Wing at the Crocker Art Museum.

Ten years into his job as chief designer at the large architectural firm, Hoover was asked to become a partner, but declined, according to his obituary. He instead decided to retire and focus on his hobbies. It was 1977, and he was only 37 years old.

A self-taught computer programmer, he developed a software program in the early 1980s that automated an algorithm for accurate stock market predictions.

“This enabled him to achieve even greater success post-retirement,” according to the obituary.

The Fair Oaks home he designed in 1977 is entered through the original and unique steel and glass front door and then flows into a living room with large windows and a fireplace.

“(Hoover) really wanted to capture the natural beauty of the site,” Gitt said.

The kitchen, which has butcher-block counters, an eating area and a walk-in pantry, looks out onto the resort-like pool. Next to the kitchen is a separate, dramatic, curved dining room offering incredible tree-top views.

“The butcher-block counters, the lower eating area, the original cabinets ... have a real modern feel to them,” Gitt said. “And then, while you’re cooking in here, you have this great view out to the pool area where you can watch the kids play, or just enjoy the view as you’re cooking. I think that’s a real plus.”

The house has been upgraded where needed — new heating and air systems, for example — but the basic design of the house is true to what Hoover intended.

“All the flooring is original, the walls, the color of the walls. He was very intentional in how he used color and the design. It makes it very fun, because it’s like walking into a timepiece, and a real work of art,” Gitt said.

Upstairs, there’s the primary bedroom and bathroom, and a family-room loft that opens onto a balcony with panoramic views.

Outside, there are grassy areas, lush landscaping, the pool and decking and several outdoor entertaining spaces with substantial parking in the front.

“The larger garage with RV parking is also an uncommon feature to see in Fair Oaks Village,” Lundquist added.

The original 3D scale model of the home is displayed in one of the rooms, too.

The pool envelops the modern concept that Hoover envisioned in 1977.

“I love the design of the pool,” Gitt said. “It really feels like something that you see in homes being built today, because it’s rectangular, and it’s got the cool slate tile, the dark bottom. The palm trees, and the whole vibe of it, is almost like a Miami feel.”

There’s a sitting area and planter with bright red accent tile by the pool. The splash of red tile is found in the primary bathroom’s shower, as well.

“It’s kind of neat, because the rest of the house is very neutral and you’ve got these natural wood tones and the white, and then the red just gives it a great pop of color,” Gitt said.