diff --git a/module_build_service/builder/utils.py b/module_build_service/builder/utils.py
index 26fa4020..65e9ee6b 100644
--- a/module_build_service/builder/utils.py
+++ b/module_build_service/builder/utils.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import subprocess
 import munch
 import errno
 import logging
+import urlgrabber.grabber as grabber
+import urlgrabber.progress as progress
 import module_build_service
 import module_build_service.scheduler
 from module_build_service import log, scm, messaging
@@ -112,8 +114,6 @@ def create_local_repo_from_koji_tag(config, tag, repo_dir, archs=None):
 
     # Placed here to avoid py2/py3 conflicts...
     import koji
-    import urlgrabber.grabber as grabber
-    import urlgrabber.progress as progress
 
     if not archs:
         archs = ["x86_64", "noarch"]
diff --git a/module_build_service/config.py b/module_build_service/config.py
index 4f58b18a..c4addbea 100644
--- a/module_build_service/config.py
+++ b/module_build_service/config.py
@@ -103,6 +103,12 @@ def init_config(app):
     app.config.from_object(config_section_obj)
     return conf
 
+class Path:
+    """
+    Config type for paths. Expands the users home directory.
+    """
+    pass
+
 
 class Config(object):
     """Class representing the orchestrator configuration."""
@@ -128,8 +134,8 @@ class Config(object):
             'default': 0,
             'desc': 'Polling interval, in seconds.'},
         'cache_dir': {
-            'type': str,
-            'default': '/var/cache/module-build-service',
+            'type': Path,
+            'default': '~/modulebuild/cache',
             'desc': 'Cache directory'},
         'pdc_url': {
             'type': str,
@@ -280,8 +286,8 @@ class Config(object):
             'default': 'fedpkg --release f26 srpm',
             'desc': ''},
         'mock_resultsdir': {
-            'type': str,
-            'default': '/tmp',
+            'type': Path,
+            'default': '~/modulebuild/builds',
             'desc': 'Directory for Mock build results.'},
         'scmurls': {
             'type': list,
@@ -321,7 +327,7 @@ class Config(object):
 
         # set defaults
         for name, values in self._defaults.items():
-            self.set_item(name, values['default'])
+            self.set_item(name, values['default'], values['type'])
 
         # override defaults
         for key in dir(conf_section_obj):
@@ -331,7 +337,7 @@ class Config(object):
             # set item (lower key)
             self.set_item(key.lower(), getattr(conf_section_obj, key))
 
-    def set_item(self, key, value):
+    def set_item(self, key, value, value_type=None):
         """
         Set value for configuration item. Creates the self._key = value
         attribute and self.key property to set/get/del the attribute.
@@ -347,6 +353,10 @@ class Config(object):
         setifok_func = '_setifok_{}'.format(key)
         if hasattr(self, setifok_func):
             setx = lambda self, val: getattr(self, setifok_func)(val)
+        elif value_type == Path:
+            # For paths, expanduser.
+            setx = lambda self, val: setattr(
+                self, "_" + key, os.path.expanduser(val))
         else:
             setx = lambda self, val: setattr(self, "_" + key, val)
         getx = lambda self: getattr(self, "_" + key)
@@ -364,8 +374,8 @@ class Config(object):
                         value = convert(value)
                 except:
                     raise TypeError("Configuration value conversion failed for name: %s" % key)
-            # unknown type/unsupported conversion
-            elif convert is not None:
+            # unknown type/unsupported conversion, or conversion not needed
+            elif convert is not None and convert not in [Path]:
                 raise TypeError("Unsupported type %s for configuration item name: %s" % (convert, key))
 
         # Set the attribute to the correct value
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..73a24ca7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2016  Red Hat, Inc.
+#
+# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+# of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+# in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+# to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+# copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+# furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+#
+# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+# copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+# AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+# LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+# OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+# SOFTWARE.
+#
+# Written by Jan Kaluza <jkaluza@redhat.com>
+
+from nose.tools import raises, eq_
+
+
+import unittest
+import mock
+import os.path
+from mock import patch
+
+from module_build_service import conf
+
+class TestConfig(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_path_expanduser(self):
+        test_dir = "~/modulebuild/builds"
+        conf.mock_resultsdir = test_dir
+        self.assertEqual(conf.mock_resultsdir, os.path.expanduser(test_dir))