Marion Kaz P. Alayon’s journey to homeownership in Australia is one of resilience, family support, and a whole lot of hard work. Originally from the Philippines, Marion moved to Australia in 2017 in search of greener pastures in the field of nursing. In 2025, he made the move to Ballarat to be closer to Melbourne and family - and to continue growing his career in healthcare.
“I’m a Filipino by birth and came here as an international student, studying a one-year conversion bachelor’s degree in nursing,” Marion shares.
Thanks to support from Grampians Health in securing his permanent residency, Marion was able to establish stronger roots in Australia. He began working as a ward nurse in Stawell in 2022 and recently transitioned to a full-time pool nurse role at Grampians Health - Ballarat. With this new chapter came a big decision - building a home where he could truly settle down.
“It was going to be a big adjustment, and I’m a bit of an introvert. The job pushes me out of my comfort zone, which is why I need a sanctuary I love in my home.”
With guidance from his family, especially his uncle, Marion decided to build with Metricon. He chose the Amira 25S in the Freedom by Metricon range, a four-bedroom, two-bathroom design with a Kingston façade - perfect for his current needs and any future plans.
“It’s a lot of bedrooms for a single man,” Marion laughs. “That was my uncle’s advice - better to have plenty of rooms as a good investment, and at least I’ve got space for guests and family.”
Like many first-time homebuyers, Marion found the whole building process a little overwhelming. But with the help of Metricon’s friendly team, he navigated the decision-making process with ease.
“It gives me a bit of a nosebleed, deciding stuff,” he laughs.
His uncle’s advice came in handy once again - Marion opted for upgrades just above the standard options. His mum also got involved, helping to choose a light and airy colour scheme of whites, greys, and timber accents that would create a welcoming feel in his new home.
“I really wanted her to be involved,” Marion says. “She told me not to use dark colours.”
One of Marion’s favourite features of his new home is the kitchen - specifically the pendant lighting.
“I loved the pendant lights when I saw them in the display home and immediately said to the Metricon sales consultant, ‘That’s what I want.’ It’s so beautiful!”
As a first-time homebuyer, Marion was understandably nervous about the whole process. But thanks to Metricon’s team, the experience was smooth and stress-free.
“I was nervous about the process, but having a team that truly cared made it seamless. My site manager kept me informed at every stage, and those regular on-site meetings gave me the confidence I needed. Watching my dream home take shape was unforgettable.”
What really surprised Marion was how quickly his home came together. His contract said the handover would be in June, but the home was ready well ahead of schedule.
Now that he’s settled in, Marion is loving his new space. The only thing left to do is put in the fence, which his family is helping out with.
“They really do take good care of me,” Marion says. “I’m a really lucky guy.”
You can read more about Metricon’s happy customers sharing their dream home journey here, here and here.
