Manufactured Homes in Canada
You may have surmised by reading some of my articles that I have travelled many places in conjunction with activities and employment in the manufactured housing industry. In my travels, I am always looking at locations in my home country (the good old U.S.A.) and other countries where I might want to spend my retirement — that’s if retiring ever happens (I’m beginning to have my doubts).
A few years ago, I had the occasion to tour a manufactured home factory in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. Penticton is a resort community on the picturesque Okanagan River situated between Okanagan Lake to the north and Skaha lake to the south. Both lakes originate from drainage of the Okanagan River. Penticton is a five hour drive from Seattle, Washington U.S.A. and the same from Vancouver, B.C. Canada. I visited Penticton from the Seattle area.
The occasion of my visit was to check out manufactured homes being built by a Canadian manufacturer Moduline Industries. At the time, I was managing a chain of retail sales centers in the northwest United States. I was curious to discover the difference between manufactured homes produced in Canada and those that were manufactured in the U.S.
Before arriving at the manufacturing plant, I was awestruck by the city of Penticton and the countryside surrounding the city of about 35,000 population. The views were breathtaking and the climate was ideal ( this was in November) with comfortable temperatures year round. I was told that the valley area where the city is located is a very dry area and receives much less precipitation than what one might assume.The town itself was well-kept, modern, and bustling with activity.
My visit to the Moduline Industries manufactured housing factory facility was also quite impressive. I have visited manufacturing facilities in dozens of locations throughout the United States and also in Australia, (which I will undoubtedly opine about in the future), but the Moduline plant was by far the most impressive manufacturing facility that I have ever toured.
The Moduline factory facility was very organized and well maintained with building technology that I heretofore had not witnessed in any other facility. Homes were produced efficiently and utilized advanced technology and personnel with much experience and longevity that became apparent in the quality of the homes being produced.
To make a long story short, I became a guinea pig by agreeing to display Moduline Industries manufactured at selected display centers in Spokane and Seattle areas in the state of Washington. There were some logistic problems transporting the homes from the Canadian border into the U.S. because of the differing transportation regulations, etc. However, when those issues were resolved that relationship was mutually beneficial. Customers loved the many innovative designs of the Canadian built manufactured home. And still do. Moduline retailers are now very prominent in the northwest and north central area of the U.S.A. and of course, throughout south western Canada.
In Canada manufactured homes are built to a national code, Code CS 2240 Construction and Safety Standards, which is very similar to the very stringent HUD code in the U.S.
There exists today a thriving manufactured home market in Canada. Some of the largest producers of quality affordable manufactured homes, in or for Canadians are Liberty Homes, Marlette Homes, Skyline Homes, Champion Homes (the parent company of Moduline) and Clayton Homes. All building homes for purchasers who want to realize the “American and Canadian dream” of affordable quality homeownership. Manufactured homes are the realization of that dream.
(Photo via Moduline Homes)
