Albertans save thousands on Sask.-built homes

A Saskatchewan company is giving Albertansfacing skyrocketing housing costs a cheaper alternative.

McDiarmid Homes in Saskatoon turns out 100 ready-to-move homes each year, and 80 per cent have been sold to Albertans.

"Alberta's been a hot market for us," said company spokesman Brant Regush.

"Labour is a little cheaper here, which is fortunate," he said. "We're able to pass that on to the customer and with the delivery costs they're still able to save thousands of dollars."

This year, the company's new homes have been hauled on semi-trailers to lots from Fort McMurray to Lethbridge.

In Cremona, northwest of Calgary, David Reid's1,600-square-foot, three-bedroom home arrived in one piece. The house, whichcost $130,000, is just one of four Saskatchewan-built homes in the community.

He had to lay the foundation and install heating and plumbing, but the carpeting, tile work, painting and even the light fixtures had all been installed.

"We spent a weekend out there choosing colours and we left it to them, and when it showed up it was exactly as planned," he said.

"We probably saved ourselves $50,000 to $60,000 doing it this way."