A Savvy young couple’s smart approach to building their dream home in the Irish countryside has seen them €175,000 better off.

Newlyweds Jodi and Philip Kerr were “first time buyers and builders all in one” when they started their new home project on a tight budget.

But thanks to tight cost control and smart budgeting the young couple are just weeks away from living happily ever after in their dream pad – and it’s already worth €175,000 more it cost them.

As house prices continuing to skyrocket in Ireland, self-building can be a practical way to cut costs and have complete control over the design decisions.

Statistics show that the average price of a 3-bed semi in Ireland was over €397,000 in 2024 – the most expensive at any point in Irish history.

And the number of self-build mortgage approvals has also grown steadily, with over 1,300 approved in Ireland last year alone.

Many of these are young couples choosing to build their own pads from the ground up.

And one such savvy couple is Jodi and Philip who are in the final weeks of building a breathtaking home in the Northern Irish countryside.

and after 2 years of building, the couple, who are only in their 20s, have revealed how they went about their bargain dream build.

Jodie said: “We got engaged in February 2023, and we went straight to an architect.

“My husband had a plot of land near where we were living and that’s what we wanted to start working on.

“We had no experiance at all. both of us were only 24 when we first started the process and we were just thrown in there – first time buyers and builders all in one.”

Now only weeks until it is finished,building the pad cost the couple €408,000 – but it will have a market value of a whopping €584,000.

The couple chose to build near Philip’s family land that was inherited from his grandfather, which helped reduce the overall cost of the project.

Since teenagers, Jodi and Philip also saved money in a Help to Buy ISA.

And while this did not directly apply to funding their self-build project, it still gave them a strong start and helped them build good savings habits early on.

The pair also secured a self-build mortgage through Ecology Building Society in the UK.

Eco Cost-Saving

To qualify for this mortgage, their home had to meet environmental standards such as installing solar panels and an air source heat pump – both of which will also save them money in the long run on utility bills.

However, despite being their last resort, it turned out to be a suitable option for their stunning pad.

Jodi said: “So we had a lot of savings to start off, and then we got a self-build mortgage with Ecology Building Society based over in England.

“When going with them we had to have an ecological house – heat pump, solar panels, and a different septic tank to make sure that everything’s economical.

“We had to prove all of that on our plans and that they were going ahead, and then they accepted us.”

Cash Back

At the time they began their project, there were no government grants available specifically for self-builders in Northern Ireland.

However, they now will be eligible for a £500 (€584) eco-amiable home grant once the build is complete and the house is signed off due to their choice in mortgage.

“We had no experience at all. Both of us were only 24 when we first started the process and we were just thrown in there – first time buyers and builders all in one.”

Jodie Kerr

Up next was sourcing an architect that fit all of their needs while sticking to a budget – and they happened to find their ideal match on Instagram.

Their architect provided a lot of advice on both the design and budgeting, and helped them find ways to reduce overall costs.

What’s more, they also sourced cheaper materials where possible and adjusted some design features along the way without compromising quality.

Flexible Plan

And whenever costs started to creep up,they were flexible and willing to make changes to their plans.

Disclaimer: This article provides information about a couple’s experience with self-building a home and shoudl not be considered financial advice. Consult with qualified professionals for personalized guidance.