Temelec

Independent Assessment

Temelec is confirmed as a genuine, well-established 55+ community with a distinctive, historically documented clubhouse, with strong multi-source agreement on the 325-home count, 1964-1974 construction span, and Temelec Hall's 1858 origin, 1906 earthquake damage, Coblentz-family restoration, and 1961 sale to the community's developers with the preservation proviso — details corroborated by both real estate sources and Sonoma County's own historic landmark records and Wikipedia's article on Temelec Hall. The specific developer/builder name, current HOA fees beyond a general reported range, current pricing, and the community's specific recorded CC&R age-restriction percentage against California's Unruh Act 100%-occupied-unit standard remain unconfirmed; buyers should confirm all of these directly with the Temelec Resident Homeowners Association.

Who May Find This Community Appealing

Buyers drawn to a smaller-scale, historically distinctive 55+ community — centered on a genuinely historic 1858 mansion clubhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places — who want low-maintenance single-family living in the town of Sonoma are a strong fit for Temelec. Its Sonoma Valley wine-country location, near downtown Sonoma's shops, restaurants, and historic plaza, also suits buyers who want an established, walkable-adjacent community without the scale of nearby Oakmont Village.

Homes, Builders & Development History

Temelec's developers acquired the historic Temelec Hall property and surrounding land in 1961, with the proviso from the sellers (the Coblentz family) that the Hall be preserved as the community's centerpiece. Homes were built from 1964 to 1974, ultimately totaling 325 single-family residences ranging from approximately 1,000 square feet (two bedrooms, one bathroom) to 1,550 square feet (three bedrooms, two bathrooms). The specific developer or builder was not independently confirmed by name. The community is now fully built out, and current purchases are resale.

Current Pricing & Market Positioning

A current, confirmed community-wide price range for Temelec homes was not found. Given the community's smaller home sizes (roughly 1,000-1,550 square feet) and 1964-1974 construction span, pricing is likely positioned below larger, newer-construction 55+ communities in the same Sonoma County market; buyers should request current comparables from a local agent familiar with the town of Sonoma's resale market.

New Construction vs. Resale Considerations

Temelec has been fully built out since the mid-1970s, so all current purchases are resale; no active builder new-construction inventory was found. Buyers should budget for a full independent inspection given the community's age and should request the HOA's current financials, reserve study, and CC&R documentation before purchasing.

Taxes, Insurance & Special Assessments

Homes in Temelec are subject to Sonoma County property tax at the county's current rate. California's Proposition 19 allows qualifying homeowners 55 or older to transfer their existing assessed property value to a replacement home, separate from this community's own 55+ age-qualification threshold; buyers should confirm current eligibility and exact rates directly with the Sonoma County Assessor's Office.

Community Layout & Lifestyle

Temelec offers a smaller-scale, historically distinctive 55+ lifestyle centered entirely on Temelec Hall, its 1858 clubhouse with a pool, pond, fitness room, and library, set within a community of 325 single-family homes built between 1964 and 1974. The community's compact, single-clubhouse structure and low-maintenance home sizes suit buyers who want an intimate, historically rooted community in the town of Sonoma without the scale of golf-centered or multi-recreation-center developments nearby.

Shopping, Healthcare & Airport Access

Temelec is located along Temelec Circle in the town of Sonoma, Sonoma County, California, zip code 95476, with Temelec Hall itself at 220 Temelec Circle. The community sits within reach of downtown Sonoma's historic plaza, shops, and restaurants, with access to State Route 12 for regional Sonoma Valley and Sonoma County travel.

Age Qualification & Material Ownership Restrictions

Temelec is described across multiple secondary sources as an established 55+ retirement community. The community's recorded CC&R language has not been independently reviewed, and its current exact age-restriction percentage remains unconfirmed. Buyers should be aware that California's Unruh Civil Rights Act (Civil Code §51.3) generally requires a 100%-occupied-unit standard, stricter than the federal HOPA 80% minimum, and should confirm the community's actual current, recorded age-restriction language and occupancy-verification procedures directly with the Temelec Resident Homeowners Association before purchasing.

Tradeoffs & Limitations

Given Temelec's 1964-1974 construction span, buyers should expect an older housing stock with a range of renovation histories and should budget for a full independent inspection. Temelec does not offer golf or the large multi-recreation-center amenity base found at nearby Oakmont Village, reflecting its smaller, more historically focused scale centered on its single clubhouse, Temelec Hall. Current HOA fees (reported roughly $135-$215/month across recent individual listings, which may reflect different times or unit types rather than a single current rate) and current pricing were not precisely confirmed; buyers should confirm both directly with the HOA or a local agent.

Comparison With Nearby Communities

Temelec is considerably smaller in scale than nearby Oakmont Village (325 homes versus 3,300+), and lacks Oakmont's golf courses and multi-recreation-center amenity base, instead offering a single, historically significant clubhouse in Temelec Hall, a National Register of Historic Places landmark predating the community itself by more than a century. Located in the town of Sonoma rather than Santa Rosa, Temelec also offers a more walkable-to-downtown setting than Oakmont's position between the two cities.

Current Listings

A connected local agent familiar with Temelec can provide current available resale inventory, recent closed comparables, and current HOA fee figures.

What is Temelec Hall?

A historic mansion built in 1858 by frontiersman and Bear Flag revolutionary Granville Swift, later restored by the Coblentz family, sold in 1961 to Temelec's developers with the condition it be preserved as the community's clubhouse. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated Sonoma County Historic Landmark 50.

How many homes are in Temelec, and when were they built?

325 single-family homes, built between 1964 and 1974, ranging from roughly 1,000 to 1,550 square feet.

Is Temelec legally age-restricted?

Sources describe it as an established 55+ retirement community. The recorded CC&R age-restriction percentage against California's Unruh Act has not been independently confirmed; confirm directly with the HOA before purchasing.

Does Temelec have golf or multiple recreation centers?

No. Temelec's amenities center on its single historic clubhouse, Temelec Hall, with a pool, pond, fitness room, and library, rather than golf courses or multiple recreation centers.