Of the 1,759 residences within Seven Oaks, 400 are attached ground-floor units and 1,349 are single family, single story houses. The attached homes have roughly 900 square-feet to more than 1,400 square-feet. Many have no-step entries and usually include two bedrooms, two baths and a carport. Single-family homes have more than 2,000 square-feet and a minimum of two bedrooms, two baths, and a one car garage. All have mature landscaping as well as hillside and canyon views. A large number of the homes available for resale have been remodeled to include a enclosed patio, a modern kitchen, skylights, and a golf cart recharging station.

Prices begin in the high-$500,000s. A handful of HOAs manage the community, and fees range from about $25 to $375 per month, depending on the type of property. Please check with a Realtor to verify this as prices may change.

The community center has an exercise room, meeting rooms, a woodworking shop, library, a theater, and an arts studio. Outdoor facilities include an outdoor pool, tennis courts, trails, and a putting green. Seven Oaks' grounds are peppered with bushes and mature trees. Hills loom in the near distance, creating a pretty tableau.

Interstate 15 runs through Rancho Bernardo, giving Seven Oaks residents easy access to downtown San Diego and downtown Escondido. Homeowners are also within a few miles of the Bernardo Winery, San Diego's oldest operating vineyard.

The nearest hospital is Pomerado Hospital, just three miles away in Poway. Accredited by the Joint Comisssion, it is also a Primary Stroke Center.

The climate is nearly perfect, with summer temperatures in the 70s and 80s and winter temperatures in the 50s and 60s. On average, the area receives 10 inches of rain each year.

Visit www.7oaksrb.com for more information. Go to www.dreamwellhomes.com/seven-oaks for listings.

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.

Is Everyone in a 55+ Community Really 55+?

Not everyone who lives in a 55+ community is age 55 or better. Generally, at least 80% of residents must be at least age 55 (and at least one occupant of each housing unit must be age 55), while the remaining 20% are allowed to be younger (but usually at least age 45). Children are allowed to visit but generally cannot stay more than two weeks at a time. It is also usually the case that older, more established 55+ communities have an older residential demographic.