All 12 floor plans feature single level living and range from about 1,444 square feet to 2,800 square feet with two to three bedrooms and two baths. Plantation shutters, granite countertops, and tile or wood floors are common. Some home collections have a side entrance, an ample great room, extra storage space, or rooms for out of town guests. Most homes feature Mediterranean architecture or a variation of it. All properties have an attached two or three car garage. Streets have sidewalks, and lawns are nicely manicured.

Prices begin in the high-$300,000s. The HOA ranges from roughly mid-$100s to mid-$200s per month for most homes. Please verify this price with a Realtor as it may change over time.

The community has a beautiful 18,500 square foot clubhouse in the center of a 10-acre compound. It features a ballroom, a bistro, an arts and crafts studio, a card room, a movie theater, a fitness center, a covered patio, an outdoor swimming pool, and courts for bocce ball and pickle ball.

An activities director manages 24 or so clubs, as well as periodic outings and holiday parties.

The 18-hole Hemet Golf Club is within Four Seasons' borders. Enjoyed by veterans and novices alike, the club also offers a pro shop, a putting green and a driving range.

Hemet's main street runs by the community and offers a wealth of restaurants and big box retail. Southern California's newest reservoir, Diamond Valley Lake, is minutes away and allows light boating and fishing. Lake Perris State Recreation Area and the San Bernardino National Forest are nearby hiking and biking options. Hemet also has two museums, a historic movie theater, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Hemet Valley Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission.

Summer temperatures are in the 90s and low-100s. Winter temperatures are in the 40s and 50s. On average, the city receives 10 inches of rain each year.

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California

California is the most populous state in the United States, and it is the sixth largest economy in the world.

Because it is so long, the climate varies greatly. Everything from deserts, forests and snow covered mountains to the world famous moderate temperatures of Southern California are here. Record temperatures have included a low of minus 35 degrees and a high of 134 degrees.

A string of missions, each built within a day's walking distance of another, runs the length of the state and started appearing in 1769. Juan Cabrillo first sighted California in 1542 and inspired the missions. A few of the most famous ones are San Juan Capistrano (the swallows return every year at the same time), and San Diego (the first one).

A few of California's natural resources include petroleum, timber and natural gas. Industries are manufacturing (machinery, transportation equipment, electronics), aerospace and defense, biotechnology, and tourism. Of course, Hollywood and Disneyland are known around the world. Other famous attractions are Yosemite National Park, the Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco), Point Reyes National Seashore, Sequoia National Park and San Simeon State Park (Hearst Castle).

The lowest point in the U.S. is California's Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level, and the highest point in the Lower 48 is its Mt. Whitney at 14,491 feet above sea level. Outside of Hawaii and Alaska, the state's Lassen Peak is one of the two active volcanoes in the U.S. It last erupted in 1917.

More immigrants settle down in California than in any other state.

Are 55+ Communities Really "Retirement" Communities?

Many people who live in age-restricted communities (usually for people age 55+) are still gainfully employed. So why would they live in what is considered a "retirement" community? Why not continue to live in a standard neighborhood? People still employed choose age-restricted communities for the same reasons as people who are retired do: the safety, amenities and sense of community that one can provide. And whether employed or not, once the kids are grown, it is sometimes nice to live in a neighborhood where small children do not congregate.