They are the beneficiaries of Habitat for Humanity's latest project - the renovation of a 1960s three-bedroom, former state house in Brockville.
However, just days before they were to begin work on the home last October, Paul Mielnik received serious head injuries while working at Wenita Forest Products' Mt Allan forestry.
Mr Mielnik was in hospital for three weeks and is still recovering.
For wife Michelle it meant juggling the renovation, three children and an injured husband.
"There has been a lot of laughter and tears, balancing a family and two homes, but it's been an amazing experience."
It was also exciting as she began the work with help from Habitat volunteers, she said.
"It was daunting in the beginning, especially when you saw its condition.
"You had to have vision.
"What we have is more than worth it."
On Sunday, the house was dedicated and the family was preparing to move in yesterday, after more than eight years of renting from Housing New Zealand.
Under an agreement with Habitat they would receive an interest-free loan to buy the house.
Habitat Dunedin chairman Colin McLeod said the aim had been to get the family into the house by Christmas so volunteers, including many of the couple's Southern Life Church friends, had pitched in to ensure it happened.
"It's been all go.
"We've had a hard core of 20 to 30 people here most Saturdays."
It was the first time Habitat had bought a house and renovated it instead of building from scratch, he said.
They had taken out some walls, insulated and lined the house and put in in a new fire box and kitchen.
Habitat was now looking for more low-income families who could not secure mortgages or loans by normal means to help, Mr McLeod said.
