LORIKEETS carolling amongst the bright red flowers of a bank of flame trees, sunshine pouring in to a private little garden—and all seemed quite right with the world, at Foley Village, Hilton.

We’d arrived at the two-bedroom/one-bathroom unit down a brick-paved, mini “street”.

The neat row of homes, each with a well-tended front garden and an avenue of Manchurian pear trees, are reminiscent of a Hollywood set.

It’s rare to see one of these 86 units for sale, but coincidentally three have come onto the market at the same time.

Foley is a pet-friendly village and, as the previous owner had a pooch, unit 2 has a fenced front garden. Makes for a nice little private escape too.

The spacious open-plan living/dining/kitchen wraps around a covered alfresco area, and swathe of lawn, where flame trees add colour to a winter’s day, and welcome shade in summer.

Unit 47 is tucked behind a cute weatherboard facade–bull nosing adding to the quaint old-world look.

Inside is a thoroughly modern, two-bedroom/two-bathroom abode, with a sleek kitchen with heaps of bench space and a large pull-out pantry. A window set in the cathedral ceiling pours natural light onto kitchen benches.

Largest of the trio with three bedrooms and two bathrooms is unit 21.

It’s so spacious it has three courtyards, including a covered internal one for year-round alfresco enjoyment.

The main bedroom has an ensuite and a generous walk-in robe, and the second bedroom is semi-ensuite, also with a walk-in robe.

Part of Southern Cross Care retirement village, residents moving in to downsize are finding a sense of community, a place where neighbours look out for each other, the agent tells me.

And when holidays beckon, they can lock the door with peace of mind. There’s a heap of activities on offer and when the Herald arrives a line-dancing class is in full swing.

For the less energetic there’s weekly mahjong, book club (a small library is serviced by Fremantle library), social knitting, bingo and pool, along with weekly shopping and occasional casino trips on the village bus.

An upper level dining room, with sweeping ocean views, is a huge space for the weekly (optional) community meal—and is free to residents for hire.

The units are leased for life, which means no stamp duty, and when owners move on they get back the market value, less exit fees.

by JENNY D’ANGER

84 Collick Street, Hilton
unit 47 $530,000, 2 $420,000 and 21 $580,000
Alan Legge | 1800 777 796