203/15-21 Harrow Street, Box Hill, Vic 3128

The appeal of this pocket lies in what surrounds it. High rises and market halls a few streets away, tree-lined blocks and low-rise buildings at the door, and a precinct that puts the whole lot within reach. This two bedroom apartment takes the quieter position of the two, offering an easy, low maintenance base for first home buyers, downsizers and investors alike.

Inside, the apartment unfolds without the tightness the format usually implies. A full height wall of cabinetry beside the entry takes the everyday clutter out of sight, while the kitchen sits neatly alongside it, with an open plan living and dining zone beyond, stretching the length of the home and leaving room for a dining table, a lounge setting and a desk. Sliding doors extend it all out to the covered balcony. The bedrooms sit either side of the two bathrooms, the main taking its own ensuite.

The everyday details are covered: gas cooking, a stainless steel dishwasher, split system air conditioning, built in robes to both bedrooms, intercom entry, lift access from a well kept ground floor foyer, and a carspace.

Families and students are well placed, with the home zoned for Laburnum Primary School and Box Hill High School, and Box Hill Institute close at hand. Box Hill Central sits a short walk away, bringing supermarkets, fresh food markets and one of Melbourne's great Asian dining precincts. The commute is just as simple, with the centre connecting directly through to Box Hill Station, the Route 109 tram terminus and the bus interchange. Box Hill Gardens and Combarton Park handle the green space for a weekend reset.