The first four units are now occupied in the 7ha site of the $60million Golden View retirement village and another will be filled next week.
Eileen and Joe Gundry moved into their unit in December.
Mrs Gundry said they had lived in the town for two years, and had hoped to find a home to buy but without success.
"I love it here. It has a wonderful kitchen and a high ceiling, which brings the heat down."
Its sound-proofing meant they could not really hear construction noise, but the dust could be irritating, she said.
Sales manager Neil Bulling said about 80 of the 94 units had sold.
The plan was to have 25 units built, and residents moved in, by July.
Work began in June last year and the project was scheduled to take four years.
"We’re on track. It’s always a bit slow with Christmas break, but we’ll get the roading contractors in next week and start doing that."
A swimming pool had been built for the communal 700sqm lodge, which was scheduled to be finished by September.
The lodge would house the pool, a spa, bar area, cinema, library, crafts area and meeting room.
The retirement village would also include a hospital and care facility with a hospice ward and dementia unit.
There were interested parties from throughout New Zealand and as far afield as Australia, Mr Bulling said.
"There’s definitely a need for it. That’s proven by the uptake."
