Article: Prefab moves upmarket; Nelson, now Canada's biggest factory home maker, woos urban and U.S. buyers.(Nelson Lumber Co., SRI Homes Inc.)(Brief Article)

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that in 1998, manufactured homes accounted for almost one quarter of single-family housing starts. In Europe, most new homes are factory-made. Canada, by contrast, draws less than 4% of its new housing stock from manufacturers. But the trend here will change, predicts Brian Holterhus, co-CEO of Nelson Lumber Co. "A modern manufactured home is at least equal to stick-built in quality and can be indistinguishable in appearance. But we're also still competitive in price, decisively so in the lower end of the market."

Nelson, based in Lloydminster, Alta., acquired SRI Homes in mid-May, becoming Canada's largest home manufacturer. Its ...

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