Follow along as best friends Kiarn and Flynn build their first home in a co-ownership arrangement.
At 21, life is full of big decisions. For best friends Kiarn and Flynn, the biggest was choosing between building a home or travelling the world. They chose to invest in their future and build a two storey house they could co-own. Follow along as they take on the exciting journey of creating their very first home - ready for them to move in on 30th October 2025.
Please note: the blog is in chronological order, with the newest post last.
BLOG POST ONE - 26 MAY 2025: THE VISION
When you are 21, deciding whether to buy a home or spend your money on travel is a big decision. There are a lot of pros and cons for each decision.
For Kiarn and Flynn, the answer was clear: invest in their future. They saw it as an opportunity to get a foot on the property ladder through joint-ownership - pooling their resources, sharing the mortgage and backing themselves early. Having grown up together, these two best friends are building their first home together and it is all designed around meeting their needs.
PLANNING THE DREAM
The home is based off our popular Motiti plan, but has been customised to suit them. It features two equal primary suites, each with its own ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, so there’s no debate about who gets the better room.
Downstairs the focus is on entertaining, while the extra bedrooms on this level give them the option to have flatmates or friends to stay.
Before the build began, Kiarn and Flynn received full 3D renders of their home, giving them a clear picture of what they were creating from day one (check them out below 👇).
Over the coming months, we’ll be following their journey from bare site to finished home, with regular updates all the way through to their handover on 30 October 2025.
Congratulation guys, we are excited to be on this journey with you.
If you are looking to buy your first home, take a look through our First Home Buyer Hub - click here.
BLOG POST TWO - 9 JUNE 2025: OUT OF THE GROUND
As Week 3 wrapped up on Kiarn and Flynn’s 24-week build schedule, things are progressing beautifully on site. While the boys celebrated breaking ground on their new home in Papamoa, our team got to work - excavating the site, setting levels, boxing up, and preparing for drainage and the RibRaft foundation system.
Fast-forward to Week 4, and the concrete has been poured - an exciting milestone we call "out of the ground." From here, the framing will begin to rise, bringing the home’s structure to life.
This is the point where first-time homeowners often get their first real sense of how the house will sit on the site. A fun fact? Throughout the build, the home might seem to shrink and grow visually - but once complete, this 180m² layout will feel spacious, well-designed, and totally worth the wait.
Wondering what happens in what order when you build? Watch this 14 Step Build video.
BLOG POST THREE - 24 JUNE 2025: FRAMES ARE UP
Just six weeks ago, Kiarn and Flynn were camping on-site with nothing but a couple of pop-up tents, two utes, a box of beers, and some big dreams. Now, as Week 6 wraps up, their first-floor frames are up, the steel is in, and we’re ready for the mid-floor construction.
In the photos below, you’ll spot the start of the second floor taking shape - right where the stairwell will be. This gives a sense of the internal volume and wall heights. The roof trusses are still to go up, once all the framing is complete.
The steel beams are now in position, forming the backbone for the upper level. Once finished, the upstairs spaces will offer views across Papamoa and the surrounding landscape - making all those early camping nights totally worth it...
BLOG POST FOUR - 7 JULY 2025: TRUSSES IN, NEXT STOP ROOF
Just eight weeks ago, this was a bare site. Now, Kiarn and Flynn’s home is rising from the ground - framed, scaffolded, and already turning heads in the neighbourhood.
Big moves on site this week as the roof trusses were delivered and installed, marking a major structural milestone for Kiarn and Flynn’s build.
With the trusses going in, it's now clearly two-storeys high - giving the home its full height and structure.
So, what exactly are trusses?
Roof trusses are the pre-fabricated timber frameworks that form the backbone of the roof. They’re designed to distribute weight of the roof load evenly. The triangular shape of trusses is inherently strong and provides stability to the overall structure.
Before any roofing can go on, a pre-roof inspection must be completed by a Council Building Inspector. They check that the roof bracing and structural members are in place. This ensures the framing and trusses are correctly in place, securely fixed down, and ready to bear the load of the roof. Even though long-run steel roofing is relatively lightweight, precision matters.
These inspections are booked well in advance because hitting this milestone on time is critical to keeping the build on schedule.
BLOG POST FIVE - 14 JULY 2025: BRING ON THE ROOF SHOUT!
With the pre-roof inspection successfully signed off last week, the team wasted no time getting started on the long-run steel roofing, which is now being laid over the upper level. We’re one step closer to “closing in” the build – which protects everything inside from the elements.
Excitement is building (literally) as Kiarn and Flynn’s home hits another key stage: roofing installation is underway.
“Seeing the second story come to life is an exhilarating moment for us! It reflects our vision and hard work coming together, and we can’t wait to see the next stages of our home", say Flynn and Kiarn.
The top level of the Motiti plan, has a mono-pitch roof line (also known as a skillion roof) adding a modern, contemporary feel to the home. And check out the views from the top storey overlooking the Papamoa Hills – a bonus neither of them expected.
With progress tracking right on schedule, the next update will bring even more visual transformation as exterior cladding starts to wrap around the frame.
Thinking about your own first home?
Explore our First Home Buyer Hub for tips, tools, and inspiration to get you started.