For Ellie and Rodney Hill, 2025 will always be remembered as the year everything fell perfectly into place.

Ellie and and Rodney outside their new home at Beech Hill View.

Originally from the Waterside and Drumahoe, the couple had a big decision to make. It was either Australia… or settling down, getting married, and starting their life together in a new home. In the end, it was the home, and everything that followed, that won their hearts.

“The new home was almost like a proposal in itself,” Ellie laughs. “Once it became real, everything else just fell into place.”

Having registered their interest over two years earlier, Ellie and Rodney had almost forgotten they were on the list when an unexpected email arrived one day, letting them know four plots had become available. What followed was a whirlwind!

Ellie immediately screenshotted the options and sent them to her dad for a second opinion. Herself and Rodney then chose the plot that would soak up the most sunshine in the back garden, a decision they’ve never looked back on. By the very next day, the plot was reserved.

“It all moved so quickly, but it never felt rushed,” Rodney says. “We’d saved hard, we had a good deposit, and all our ducks were in a row. When the opportunity came, we were ready.”

First-time buyers and first-time living together, the couple loved being able to walk through the exact same house type owned by Ellie’s aunt before committing, adding an extra layer of confidence to their decision. They also already knew plenty of people in the development, including family members, which helped the new place feel like home even before they moved in.

Rodney, a personal trainer, documented the entire build journey, photographing the home from foundations right through to completion, a transformation that mirrored the one happening in their own lives.

They moved into their new home in August, married just four weeks later in September, and then jetted off to honeymoon across Las Vegas, New York, and Los Angeles – before returning to celebrate their very first Christmas together under their own roof.

“The house heats up so quickly, and the gas top-up lasts for ages,” Ellie says. “We honestly thought our bills would be much higher, it’s been such a nice surprise.”

From the build quality to the aftercare, the experience left a lasting impression.

“The site team was brilliant,” Rodney adds. “Any snagging was dealt with quickly, and they were always easy to work with. We’d recommend Braidwater to family and friends without hesitation.”

Now settled, surrounded by familiar faces, and building their future together, Ellie and Rodney’s story is one of timing, trust, and choosing the right foundations, for both their home and their life together.

This is Life Well Lived.