Hills in overdrive

Figures released by RP Data this month have shown that units in the Perth Hills suburb were lasting only 22 days on the market, making them the fastest selling units in Perth.

Only houses in Craigie were being purchased faster, just 18 days after hitting the market.

Audrey Boon, who has lived in Kalamunda for 25 years, just signed the papers for her unit on Canning Road this week.

Ms Boon will downsize from her house on a 0.2ha property to a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home on 310sq m of land.

‘I am getting older and so I knew that eventually I would not be able to maintain half an acre,’ she said.

‘I had been looking to downsize to a unit for about six weeks when this one came up.

‘I also wanted to be close to the shops and there is a park nearby.’

The popular units that are selling fast range from two-bedroom, one-bathroom to three-bedroom, two-bathroom properties and from 70sq m to 150sq m in size.

Provincial Real Estate principal Ben Ciocca said it was no surprise that these units were selling quickly.

‘There has always been great demand for homes and units close to the Kalamunda township due to our ageing and growing population who have brought up families in the Hills,’ he said.

‘They love the Hills lifestyle and don’t want to leave the area, but now want the convenience of being within walking distance to all amenities including shopping, transport and medical centres, whilst still being part of our close- knit community.

‘In my opinion, this trend will last, as there are only so many homes or units within walking distance to the Kalamunda township and our ageing population is forever growing.’

Ray White Kalamunda principal Nigel Aldridge said another block of units was underway.

‘Kalamunda was developed in the 1970s and there aren’t a lot of units in the area, so people are moving towards them now,’ he said.

In a move to make accommodation more affordable, the Shire of Kalamunda last year approved two blocks of units on Heath Road.