Age-Qualified Living in Southwest Riverside County
55+ Communities in Murrieta, Temecula & Menifee
A 55+ community is an age-qualified community where residency is limited by age, usually requiring at least one resident to be 55 or older, with homes, HOA fees, gated access, golf courses and amenities that differ from one community to the next. This guide compares the Murrieta, Temecula and Menifee 55+ communities side by side, so you can see which one fits your lifestyle, your budget and your next chapter, with honest guidance from Laura Holbert and Cheryl Shadden of Team Integrity Realty.
What Is a 55+ Community?
A 55+ community is an age-qualified community where residency is limited by age, usually requiring at least one resident to be 55 or older. The exact rules, including how many occupants must meet the qualifying age and how family members or caregivers are treated, are set in each community's governing documents.
In exchange, these communities typically offer clubhouses, pools, social clubs and lower-maintenance living, all supported by a monthly HOA fee. Because the fee, the rules and the amenities vary from one association to the next, we recommend comparing the numbers side by side and then touring the communities that fit your priorities.
55+ Communities in Murrieta
Murrieta has three well-known 55+ communities: The Colony at California Oaks, Four Seasons at Murrieta and The Knolls. They are very different places, so the right choice depends on what matters most to you, from guard-gated access and golf to a lodge-style clubhouse to resident-owned homes with no space rent.
| Community | Homes in community | Home sizes | Bedrooms / stories | HOA (monthly) | Gated | Golf | Key amenities | Year(s) built | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,586 homes | About 947 to 2,100 sq ft | Mostly single-story with some two-story; 60+ floor plans | $333/month as published by the HOA (last reviewed on our guide) | Guard-gated with 24-hour access control | California Oaks Golf Club, 18 holes, public play; fees separate from the HOA | Clubhouse, fitness center, pool and spa, auditorium, tennis, pickleball, bocce | 1989 to 2005 | Gated access, golf-course or greenbelt settings, and many floor plan options | |
| 524 homes | 1,772 to 2,773 sq ft | Nine floor plans; primarily single-story | Dues not published on our guide; verify current dues with the HOA | No | No golf course | 13,000 sq ft Lodge clubhouse, 75-ft pool, 50+ clubs | Early 2000s, built by K. Hovnanian | Resort-style lodge lifestyle with a large clubhouse, pool and clubs | |
| About 1,116 lots across three associations | Mostly single-level homes on owned lots | Mostly single-level layouts | Dues vary by association; verify current dues with the HOA | Not guard-gated | Adjacent to The Golf Club at Rancho California, a separate public course | Three clubhouses, one per association | Several decades of development; verify by association | Resident-owned homes with no space rent: you own the home and the land |
HOA dues, rules, and amenities change; always confirm current details with the association before buying. Community names link to our detailed guides.
55+ Communities in Temecula
Temecula's best-known 55+ community is Esplanade at Sommers Bend, a newer, resort-style active adult community in the Sommers Bend master plan near wine country.
Esplanade at Sommers Bend
55+ Active Adult Community in Temecula, CA 92591
Homes
About 259, according to the community homeowners association
Builder
Taylor Morrison; the community is sold out, so resale only
Home sizes
About 1,787 to 2,574 sq ft
Bedrooms
Two to four; seven principal floor plans, most focused on single-level living
Amenity center
About 11,160 sq ft with resort-style pool and spa, pickleball and bocce
Gated
Gated residential sections; verify access for the specific property
HOA
Yes; verify current dues with the HOA
Built
Launched around 2021, built through the early 2020s
55+ Communities in Menifee
Menifee has the largest collection of 55+ communities in Southwest Riverside County, from the original Sun City Core to the newest development, Trellis and Arbor at Cimarron Ridge. The table below compares the communities we cover in depth; where our guides do not publish a figure, we say so instead of guessing.
| Community | Homes in community | Home sizes | Bedrooms / stories | HOA (monthly) | Gated | Golf | Key amenities | Year(s) built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| About 4,762 homes | Roughly 1,000 to 1,600 sq ft | 2 to 3; primarily single-level | Managed by the Sun City Civic Association; verify current dues with the HOA | Open and golf-cart friendly; not gated | Built around Cherry Hills Golf Course | Recreation centers, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, lawn bowling, woodworking shop, social clubs | Approximately 1962 to 1981 | |
| About 1,158 single-family homes | Not published on our guide; verify with the HOA | Not published on our guide; verify with the HOA | Verify current dues with the HOA | Yes | Not stated on our guide | Gated 55+ community of single-family homes; verify current amenities with the HOA | About 1999 to 2005 | |
| About 259 homes | Not published on our guide; verify with the HOA | Not published on our guide; verify with the HOA | Verify current dues with the HOA | Not stated on our guide | Not stated on our guide | Single-family homes in a compact, intimate setting; verify amenities with the HOA | About 1994 to 2000 | |
| About 387 homes | Not published on our guide; verify with the HOA | Not published on our guide; verify with the HOA | Verify current dues with the HOA | Not stated on our guide | Not stated on our guide | Established single-family 55+ setting; verify amenities with the HOA | About 1990 to 1995 | |
| About 305 homes | Not published on our guide; verify with the HOA | Not published on our guide; verify with the HOA | Verify current dues with the HOA | Not stated on our guide | Golf-adjacent setting | Single-family homes in a golf-adjacent setting; verify amenities with the HOA | About 1989 to 1993 | |
| Trellis about 93; Arbor about 151 planned | New construction; verify current plans with the sales team | New construction; verify with the sales team | Verify current dues and community fees with the sales team | Not stated on our guide | Not stated on our guide | Newest 55+ development in Menifee, including the Del Webb Trellis community | Construction beginning around 2024 |
HOA dues, rules, and amenities change; always confirm current details with the association before buying. Community names link to our detailed guides.
Which 55+ Community Fits You?
Each Murrieta community has a distinct character. Here is an honest summary of who tends to love each one.
The Colony
If gated access, a golf-course setting and plenty of choice matter most, The Colony is hard to beat. With 1,586 homes and more than 60 floor plans, you can compare many styles and sizes, and the guard gate plus California Oaks Golf Club give it a resort feel every day.
Four Seasons at Murrieta
Four Seasons is for buyers who want the lodge lifestyle: a 13,000-square-foot clubhouse, a 75-foot pool and more than 50 clubs make it easy to stay active and social. Homes are primarily single-story, which suits many owners planning for the years ahead.
The Knolls
The Knolls stands apart because you own both the home and the land, with no space rent, and most homes sit on a single level. If keeping housing costs predictable and owning your ground matters more than gated entry, it deserves a close look.
Touring more than one community is the best way to decide how a place actually feels; the amenities on paper and the day-to-day reality can differ. We are happy to arrange tours of any of these communities, with no pressure and no obligation.
Thinking About Selling in a 55+ Community?
Selling a home in a 55+ community works like any other sale, but three things deserve extra attention before you list:
- A smaller buyer pool. Your buyer pool is limited by the community's age rules, so pricing and marketing matter even more than in the general market.
- HOA documents play a larger role. Age-qualification paperwork, CC&Rs, dues, reserves and transfer fees all come into play, and buyers will review them carefully before making an offer.
- Location within the community drives price. A golf-course or greenbelt view, a quieter cul-de-sac, or proximity to the clubhouse can move your value in either direction.
Start with a free home valuation, then review what you are likely to walk away with after the sale. Both give you a clear picture before you make any decisions.
Proposition 19 and Your Property Tax Base
Qualifying homeowners age 55 or older may be able to transfer their property tax base value to a replacement home anywhere in California, subject to eligibility, timing and valuation rules. That can be valuable when moving into a 55+ community, where even a smaller home can have a much higher market value than your current tax base.
Because every situation is different, confirm your details with the county assessor or a qualified tax professional before you rely on a potential transfer.
Learn More About Proposition 19Frequently Asked Questions
Short, honest answers to the questions buyers ask us most about 55+ communities.
What are the 55+ communities in Murrieta, Temecula, and Menifee?
In Murrieta: The Colony at California Oaks, Four Seasons at Murrieta, and The Knolls (Spring Knolls, Golf Knolls and Warm Spring Knolls). In Temecula: Esplanade at Sommers Bend. In Menifee: Sun City Core, The Oasis, The Club, Casa Blanca Villas, Palmilla on the Greens, and the newest, Trellis and Arbor at Cimarron Ridge. Each is an age-qualified community, and the exact rules vary by association.
How much are HOA fees in 55+ communities?
Monthly dues vary widely by community and change over time. The Colony at California Oaks is the only community in our guides whose HOA publishes an amount, currently $333 per month as last reviewed. Four Seasons, The Knolls and the Menifee communities do not publish dues on our guides, so we mark those as "verify current dues with the HOA" rather than listing a number that may be outdated.
Do I have to be 55 to buy in a 55+ community?
In most cases yes, at least one resident must be 55 or older, but the exact requirement is set in each community's governing documents. Rules differ on how many occupants must meet the qualifying age and how family members or caregivers are treated, so review the current CC&Rs for the specific community before you commit.
Which 55+ communities are gated?
The Colony is guard-gated with 24-hour access control, and The Oasis in Menifee is gated. Esplanade at Sommers Bend includes gated residential sections, which should be verified for the specific property. Four Seasons is not gated, The Knolls is not guard-gated, and Sun City Core is open and golf-cart friendly. Gated status for the remaining Menifee communities is not stated on our guides, so verify with each association.
Which 55+ communities have a golf course?
The Colony has the California Oaks Golf Club, 18 holes with public play and fees separate from the HOA. The Knolls sits adjacent to The Golf Club at Rancho California, a separate public course. Sun City Core is built around Cherry Hills Golf Course, and Palmilla on the Greens has a golf-adjacent setting. Four Seasons has no golf course. Golf access is typically arranged separately from the HOA.
Can I use Proposition 19 when moving to a 55+ community?
Potentially. Qualifying homeowners age 55 or older may be able to transfer their property tax base value to a replacement home anywhere in California, subject to eligibility, timing and valuation rules. Because every situation is different, confirm your eligibility with the county assessor or a qualified tax professional before relying on a transfer.
Which 55+ community is best?
There is no single best community; it depends on what you value. The Colony suits buyers who want gated access, golf and many floor plans. Four Seasons appeals to those drawn to a lodge-style clubhouse, a 75-foot pool and more than 50 clubs. The Knolls offers resident-owned, single-level homes with no space rent. Esplanade is newer and resort-style, and Sun City Core is the large original community. Touring more than one community is the best way to decide.
Can I sell my home in a 55+ community, and how is it different?
Yes. Homes in 55+ communities sell through the normal process, but three things are different: the buyer pool is limited by the age rules, HOA documents play a larger role in the transaction, and pricing depends heavily on location within the community. Start with a free home valuation and an estimate of your likely net proceeds before you plan the sale.
Can grandchildren visit or stay?
Age rules generally apply to residents rather than short-term visitors, and most communities welcome family visits. Many associations set limits on how long guests can stay or whether the resident must be present during the visit, so check the specific community's governing documents before planning extended stays.
Last reviewed and updated: October 2026. HOA figures, rules and amenities change; always confirm current details with the association.
Explore Each Community Guide
Every community on this page has a detailed guide with homes, HOA considerations, age qualification and what to verify before buying.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Call (951) 704-4635 or book a consultation, and we will listen to your goals, answer your questions and help you compare communities at your own pace.
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