It took just three weeks with an agent for Terry Kendrick's house to be snapped up.
The Lynmore home - built by Mr Kendrick in 2004 - was one of the 179 Rotorua homes sold last month.
Prior to its sale, it had been a rental for 12 years, only ever having four tenants.
The house sold for $545,000, probably at the higher end of the price range, he said.
Mr Kendrick said although he was happy with how the sale went, "It's always sad to sell a property you've built".