AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON AUGUST 6, 1997
                                               REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                           --------------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933
                           --------------------------
                           SOUTHERN ENERGY HOMES, INC.
             (Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

      DELAWARE                                            63-1083246
(State Or Other Jurisdiction Of                        (I.R.S. Employer
 Incorporation Or Organization)                     Identification Number)

      HIGHWAY 41 NORTH, P.O. BOX 390, ADDISON, ALABAMA 35540 (205) 747-8589
          (Address, Including Zip Code, And Telephone Number, Including
             Area Code, Of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
                           --------------------------

                         PAUL J. HARTNETT, JR., ESQUIRE
                         BROWN, RUDNICK, FREED & GESMER
                ONE FINANCIAL CENTER, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02111
                                 (617) 856-8200
            (Name, Address, Including Zip Code, And Telephone Number,
                   Including Area Code, Of Agent For Service)
                           --------------------------

   APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
    If the only  securities  being  registered  on this Form are  being  offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.[ ]
    If any of the securities  being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. |X|
    If this Form is filed to  register  additional  securities  for an  offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the  Securities  Act,  check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration  statement number of the earlier  effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
    If this Form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed  pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the  Securities  Act,  check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering. [ ]
    If delivery of the  prospectus  is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
check the following box. [ ]



               
                                                 CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===============================================================================================================================
                                                                  Proposed                Proposed
                                             Amount                Maximum                Maximum               Amount of
       Title of Each Class of                to Be             Offering Price            Aggregate            Registration
    Securities to Be Registered            Registered           Per Share(1)         Offering Price(1)             Fee
- ------------------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- --------------------
                                                                                                       
Common Stock, $ .0001 par  value         347,070 Shares             $9.93              $3,446,405.10             $1,044.36
===============================================================================================================================


(1)  Estimated  solely  for the  purpose of  determining  the  registration  fee
pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933. Based upon the average
of the high and low price of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National
Market on August 4, 1997


       THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION  STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH  SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL  THEREAFTER  BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION,  ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
================================================================================






                  SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 6, 1997
PROSPECTUS
- ----------
                                 347,070 SHARES

                           SOUTHERN ENERGY HOMES, INC.

                                  COMMON STOCK

                              --------------------

      All of the 347,070 shares of Common Stock (the "Common Stock") of Southern
Energy Homes,  Inc. (the  "Company")  covered by this  Prospectus are issued and
outstanding  shares which may be offered and sold, from time to time, by certain
stockholders  of  the  Company  (the  "Selling   Stockholders").   See  "Selling
Stockholders."

      The Common  Stock of the  Company is traded on the Nasdaq  Stock  Market's
National  Market System under the symbol  "SEHI." On August 4, the last reported
sale price on the  Nasdaq  National  Market  for the Common  Stock was $9.75 per
share.

      The Selling Stockholders have advised the Company that they may sell, from
time to time, all or part of the shares covered by this  Prospectus  through any
of  several  methods,   including  ordinary  brokerage   transactions  or  block
transactions  on the Nasdaq  National  Market at market prices,  or in privately
negotiated  transactions  at prices  agreed  upon by the  parties.  See "Plan of
Distribution."

      The  Company  will not receive  any  proceeds  from the sale of the shares
covered by this  Prospectus.  The  Company  will bear all  expenses  incurred in
effecting the registration of such shares, including all registration and filing
fees,  and legal and  accounting  fees for counsel to the  Company.  The Selling
Stockholder will bear all brokerage or underwriting expenses or commissions,  if
any, applicable to the shares.

                                  -------------

     SEE "RISK FACTORS"  BEGINNING ON PAGE 3 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS
RELEVANT TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.

                                  -------------

    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
         AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR
             HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
                SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
                 ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
                      TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE





                 The date of this Prospectus is August __, 1997.





                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

        The  Company  is  subject  to  the  informational  requirements  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and in
accordance therewith files reports,  proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").  Such reports,  proxy
statements  and other  information  filed by the  Company can be  inspected  and
copied at the public  reference  facilities  maintained by the Commission at 450
Fifth Street, NW, Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the
Commission's Regional Offices at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite
1400,  Chicago,  Illinois 60661 and 7 World Trade Center,  Suite 1300, New York,
New York 10048, at prescribed rates. In addition, such reports, proxy statements
and information are available through the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering
and  Retrieval  System at http://  www.sec.gov.  The  Company's  Common Stock is
listed on the Nasdaq National Market, and reports,  proxy statements and certain
other information concerning the Company can also be inspected at the offices of
Nasdaq Operations, 1735 K Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006.

        The Company has filed with the  Commission a  Registration  Statement on
Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to the Common Stock being
offered hereby.  This Prospectus,  which  constitutes a part of the Registration
Statement,   does  not  contain  all  of  the  information  set  forth  in  such
Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto to which reference
is hereby made.  The  statements  in this  Prospectus as to the contents of such
Registration  Statement are qualified in their entirety by such  reference.  The
Registration  Statement,  together  with  its  exhibits  and  schedules,  may be
inspected  without charge at the Public  Reference  Section of the Commission in
Washington,  D.C.  at the  address  noted  above,  and copies of all or any part
thereof may be obtained from the Commission upon payment of the prescribed fees.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

        The  following  documents  filed  with the  Commission  pursuant  to the
Exchange Act are  incorporated  herein by reference:  (1) the  Company's  Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 1997; (2) the Company's
Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal  quarter ended April 4, 1997;  (3)
the  Company's  Proxy  Statement  used in connection  with the Company's  Annual
Meeting of Stockholders held on June 4, 1997; (4) the Company's final prospectus
dated October 30, 1995 and filed  pursuant to Rule 424 under the  Securities Act
of 1933,  as amended;  and (5) the  description  of the  Company's  Common Stock
contained in the Company's  Registration Statement on Form 8-A, originally filed
with the Commission on February 8, 1993, as amended on March 10, 1993.

        All  reports  and  other  documents  subsequently  filed by the  Company
pursuant to Sections  13(a),  13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the  Exchange Act after the
date of this  Prospectus  and prior to the  termination  of the  offering of the
Common Stock hereunder  shall be deemed to be  incorporated by reference  herein
and to be a part  hereof  from  the  date  of the  filing  of such  reports  and
documents. The Company will furnish without charge to each person, including any
beneficial  owner,  to whom this  Prospectus is delivered,  upon written or oral
request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above,
excluding  exhibits thereto.  Requests for such documents should be submitted in
writing to the Corporate Secretary at the corporate  headquarters of the Company
at Highway 41 North,  P.O. Box 390,  Addison,  Alabama 35540, or by telephone at
(205) 747-8589.

         Any  statement  contained  in a document  incorporated  or deemed to be
incorporated  by reference  herein shall be deemed to be modified or  superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein,
or in any other  subsequently  filed  document that also is (or is deemed to be)
incorporated by reference  herein,  modifies or supersedes  such statement.  Any
statement so modified or superseded  shall not be deemed,  except as so modified
or  superseded,  to  constitute  a part of the  Registration  Statement  or this
Prospectus.

                                  -------------

         No dealer, salesman or any other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any  representations  other than those  contained in this
Prospectus in connection with the offering  described  herein,  and, if given or
made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been
authorized by the Company or the Selling  Stockholder.  This Prospectus does not
constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation  of an offer to buy any securities
other than those specifically offered hereby or of any securities offered hereby
in any  jurisdiction  to any person to whom it is  unlawful  to make an offer or
solicitation in such  jurisdiction.  Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor
any sale made hereunder  shall,  under any  circumstances  create an implication
that the information herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.



                                      -2-





                                   THE COMPANY

         The Company is a producer of  manufactured  homes sold primarily in the
southeastern  and  south-central   United  States.   The  Company  operates  ten
manufacturing  facilities  (seven in Alabama,  one in Texas, one in Pennsylvania
and one in North  Carolina) to produce  homes sold in 30 states.  The  Company's
homes are sold  under six brand  names  through  approximately  465  independent
dealers at  approximately  859 independent  dealer  locations and through twelve
Company-owned retail centers.

         The  Company  was   incorporated   in  Alabama  in  February  1982  and
reincorporated  in Delaware in January 1993. The Company's  principal  executive
offices  are  located  at  Highway  41  North,  Addison,  Alabama  35540 and its
telephone number is (205) 747-8589.

                                  RISK FACTORS

         In addition to the other information contained in this Prospectus,  the
following  factors should be considered  carefully in evaluating the Company and
its business before purchasing any of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby.

         THE  MANUFACTURED  HOUSING  MARKET AND  EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN  ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS.  The manufactured housing market is highly cyclical and seasonal and
is affected to some extent by the same economic factors which impact the broader
housing market.  Historically,  most sectors of the home-building  industry have
been affected by, among other things,  changes in general  economic  conditions,
levels  of  consumer   confidence,   employment  and  income,   housing  demand,
availability of financing and interest rate levels.

         AVAILABILITY  OF HOME BUYER  FINANCING.  Home  buyers  normally  secure
financing from third-party lenders.  The availability,  interest rates and other
costs of such  financing are important to the Company's  sales and are dependent
on the lending practices of financial  institutions,  governmental  policies and
other conditions,  all of which are beyond the control of the Company.  Interest
rates for  manufactured  home  loans are  generally  higher and the terms of the
loans  shorter than for  site-built  home loans.  The Company has a wholly owned
finance subsidiary,  Wenco Finance, Inc. ("Wenco"),  which, until February 1997,
had  been   originating  and  servicing   consumer  loans  primarily  for  homes
manufactured  by the  Company.  In February  1997,  the  Company  formed a joint
venture with 21st  Century  Mortgage  Corporation  ("21st  Century").  The joint
venture,  Wenco 21,  will  continue to offer,  through  21st  Century,  consumer
financing for homes manufactured by the Company, as well as for other homes sold
through its retail  centers and  independent  dealers.  In light of the shift in
consumer  financing  activities  to  Wenco  21,  Wenco  has  suspended  its loan
origination activities.  There can be no assurance that Wenco 21 will be able to
provide  significant  levels of financing for home buyers or that such financing
activities will not adversely impact the Company's profitability.

         AVAILABILITY  AND  PRICING OF RAW  MATERIALS.  The  Company's  costs of
operations can be significantly  affected by the availability and pricing of raw
materials. While the Company has not experienced any shortages in raw materials,
lumber  prices  are  volatile  and are  subject  to  increase  on short  notice.
Historically,  the  Company  has been able to  adjust  its  prices to  reflect a
significant  portion of these cost  increases,  but  increases  in costs  cannot
always be reflected in the  Company's  prices,  and  consequently  may adversely
impact the Company's profitability.

         FOCUS ON SOUTHEASTERN AND SOUTHCENTRAL  MARKETS.  The Company's primary
market areas are the southeastern  region (which includes the states of Florida,
Georgia,  North Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Virginia and West Virginia) and the
southcentral region (which includes the states of Alabama,  Arkansas,  Kentucky,
Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma,  Tennessee and Texas).
While the Company believes that these two regions  historically have been strong
regions for the manufactured housing industry,  demographic factors and economic
conditions  affecting  these  regions,  such as a decline in  employment  in the
manufacturing,  mining,  agricultural,  and oil industries, may adversely affect
the Company's sales.

         EXECUTION OF EXPANSION  PLANS.  A significant  portion of the Company's
anticipated  growth in sales and operating profit is predicated on its expansion
plans.  Management  believes that sales growth can be achieved by increasing the
Company's  presence in its  existing  geographic  markets and by  expanding  its
market area through the acquisition  and development of new retail centers.  The
ability of the Company to  implement  its  expansion  plans will depend upon the
adequacy  of its capital  resources,  management's  ability to oversee  expanded
operations,  the  availability  of suitable  retail sites 


                                      -3-





within the Company's targeted market areas, and general economic conditions.  No
assurance  can be given that  sufficient  demand  will  exist for the  Company's
products  following such expansion or that these  expansion plans will otherwise
be carried out successfully.

         LABOR.  The ability of the Company to increase its production  capacity
is dependent on the availability of semi-skilled  workers. If the Company should
need to increase its  production  capacity,  there can be no assurance  that the
supply of  semi-skilled  workers in the geographic  areas in which the Company's
facilities are located will be sufficient to permit the Company to do so.

         QUARTERLY EARNINGS  FLUCTUATIONS.  The Company's quarterly earnings are
affected by, among other factors, seasonality in the Company's business, adverse
weather  conditions,  the  timing of new  facility  openings  and the  timing of
large-quantity  orders from  outside the dealer  network,  which may be received
from time to time. The seasonality of the Company's earnings reflects the buying
patterns of manufactured  home buyers,  whose purchases  generally occur between
April and  September.  In  addition  to  seasonal  fluctuations,  the  Company's
quarterly earnings fluctuate  significantly  based on the timing of new facility
acquisitions and large-quantity orders from outside the dealer network.

         DEPENDENCE ON KEY  PERSONNEL.  The Company is dependent upon its senior
management and, in particular,  upon its founder, Wendell L. Batchelor. The loss
of the  services of any of the  Company's  executive  officers  could  adversely
affect the Company.

         COMPETITION. The manufactured housing industry is highly competitive at
both the manufacturing and retail levels, and the capital requirements for entry
are  relatively  small.  Competition is based upon numerous  factors,  including
total price to the dealer,  customization  to homeowner's  preferences,  product
features,  quality,  warranty repair service and the  availability  and terms of
dealer and  retail  customer  financing.  The  Company  does not view any of its
competitors  as  being  dominant  in the  industry.  However,  a  number  of the
Company's   competitors   are  larger  than  the  Company  and  possess  greater
manufacturing  and financial  resources.  In addition,  there are numerous firms
producing manufactured homes in the southeastern and southcentral United States,
many of which are in direct competition with the Company in the states where its
homes are sold.  Manufactured  homes also compete with  apartments,  townhouses,
condominiums and site-built homes. Certain of the Company's  competitors provide
customers with financing from captive  finance  subsidiaries.  While the Company
believes  consumer   financing  has  generally  become  more  available  in  the
manufactured  housing  industry in recent  years,  and  although the Company has
recently formed its Wenco 21 joint venture to provide consumer financing through
21st  Century  Mortgage  Corporation,  a  contraction  in consumer  credit could
provide an advantage to those  competitors with established  internal  financing
capabilities.

         REGULATION.  Manufactured  homes are  subject to a variety of  federal,
state and local laws. The National  Manufactured  Home  Construction  and Safety
Standards Act of 1974 and  regulations  promulgated by the Department of Housing
and  Urban  Development   ("HUD")  thereunder  impose   comprehensive   national
construction  standards for manufactured  homes.  Failure to comply with the HUD
regulations  could expose the Company to a wide variety of sanctions,  including
the closing of the Company's plants.  Certain  components of manufactured  homes
are subject to regulation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Some states
require that  manufactured  home producers post bonds to ensure the satisfaction
of consumer  warranty  claims.  The  description  and substance of the Company's
warranties  are  also  subject  to a  variety  of  federal  and  state  laws and
regulations.  Manufactured  homes  are also  subject  to other  state  and local
regulations,  including local zoning  restrictions.  In addition,  the Company's
trucking and finance subsidiaries,  MH Transport,  Inc. and Wenco, and Wenco 21,
the Company's new finance joint venture, are subject to a variety of federal and
state  laws and  regulations.  Failure  to  comply  with  any of  these  laws or
regulations  could have a material adverse effect on the Company's  business and
results of operations.

         DIVIDENDS.  The Company  does not intend to pay cash  dividends  in the
foreseeable  future.  The Company  intends to retain any earnings for use in the
operation and expansion of its business.

         POSSIBLE  VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE. The Common Stock of the Company is
quoted on the Nasdaq National Market.  However,  there can be no assurance that,
following this offering,  a regular  trading market for the Common Stock will be
sustained.  The market price of the Common Stock could be subject to significant
fluctuations in response to variations in quarterly  operating results and other
factors.  In addition,  the stock market in recent years has experienced extreme
price and


                                      -4-





volume  fluctuations that often have been unrelated or  disproportionate  to the
operating  performance  of  companies.  These broad  fluctuations  may adversely
affect the market price of the Common Stock.

     CONTINGENT   REPURCHASE   LIABILITY  WITH  RESPECT  TO  INDEPENDENT  DEALER
FINANCING.  Substantially all of the Company's independent dealers finance their
purchases through "floor plan" arrangements under which a financial  institution
provides  the  dealer  with a loan  for the  purchase  price  of the  home,  and
maintains a security  interest in the home as collateral.  In connection  with a
floor plan arrangement, the financial institution which provides the independent
dealer  financing  customarily  requires  the  Company  to enter into a separate
repurchase  agreement with the financial  institution under which the Company is
obligated,  upon default by the independent  dealer,  to repurchase the homes at
the Company's  original invoice price plus certain  administrative  and shipping
expenses.  At April 4, 1997, the Company's contingent repurchase liability under
floor plan financing  arrangements was approximately $91.2 million.  While homes
that  have  been   repurchased   by  the  Company  under  floor  plan  financing
arrangements  are usually sold to other dealers and losses  experienced  to date
under these arrangements have been insignificant, no assurance can be given that
the  Company  will  be  able to sell to  other  dealers  homes  which  it may be
obligated  to  repurchase  in  the  future  under  such  floor  plan   financing
arrangements  or that the Company will not suffer losses with respect to, and as
a consequence of, those arrangements.

     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. The Company is the defendant in a lawsuit filed on March
27, 1996 in Fulton County Superior Court, Georgia by EurAm International,  Inc.,
a former sales agent for the Company.  On April 29, 1996 the Company removed the
case to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in
Atlanta.  In this lawsuit,  the plaintiff  alleges that the Company has caused a
breach to a written  agreement  relating  to the sale of the  Company's  modular
homes in Germany,  including alleged  misrepresentations and faulty performance,
resulting in damages alleged to amount to $25 million.  The Company believes the
claim is without  merit and  intends  to  vigorously  defend the claim,  but the
litigation  is currently in discovery  and there can be no  assurances as to its
likely outcome.

         In addition,  the Company has been informed by  Gesellschoft  fur Bauen
Und  Wohnen  Hannover  MbH  ("GBH"),  a German  housing  authority,  that it has
replaced  the Company with a local  company to complete a contract  that GBH had
entered into with the Company for the  purchase and erection of modular  housing
in Hannover,  Germany.  In connection  with the contract,  the Company  posted a
$660,000  letter  of  credit in favor of GBH.  In March  1997,  GBH made a claim
against the Company for damages of approximately $800,000 arising from the shift
in suppliers  and has  attempted to draw upon the letter of credit posted by the
Company.  The Company has obtained a temporary  restraining order preventing GBH
from drawing  upon the letter of credit and the Company is actively  negotiating
with GBH to resolve the  dispute.  There can be no  assurances  as to the likely
resolution of the GBH claim.

     RELIANCE ON  INDEPENDENT  DEALERS.  The Company  sells  manufactured  homes
through  approximately 465 independent  dealers at approximately 859 independent
dealer locations and through twelve  Company-owned  retail centers.  The Company
believes that the quality of its  independent  dealer network has been important
to the  Company's  performance.  The Company  does not have formal  marketing or
other  agreements  with its  dealers,  and  substantially  all of the  Company's
dealers also sell homes of other  manufacturers.  While the Company believes its
relations with its independent  dealers are good, no assurance can be given that
the Company will be able to maintain these  relations or that these dealers will
continue to sell the Company's homes.

     CERTAIN  ANTI-TAKEOVER  PROVISIONS  AFFECTING  STOCKHOLDERS.  The  Board of
Directors has the authority to issue up to 1,000,000  shares of Preferred  Stock
in one or more series and,  with respect to each series,  to fix and  determine,
among other things,  (i) its dividend  rate;  (ii) its  liquidation  preference;
(iii) whether or not such shares will be convertible  into or  exchangeable  for
any other securities or property;  and (iv) whether or not such shares will have
voting rights and, if so, the conditions  under which said shares will vote as a
separate  class.  The Company has no current plans to issue  Preferred Stock for
any purpose.  However,  were it inclined to do so, the Board of Directors  could
issue all or part of the Preferred  Stock with (among other things)  substantial
voting powers or advantageous  conversion rights.  Such stock could be issued to
persons deemed by the Board of Directors likely to support current management in
a contest for control of the Company,  either as a  precautionary  measure or in
response to a specific takeover threat.

     Further,  provisions  of the Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and
By-Laws may make a takeover  attempt more  difficult  and therefore may diminish
the likelihood that a potential acquirer would launch such an attempt even if in
a particular case it would be beneficial to the stockholders.



                                      -5-




                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         The proceeds from the sale of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby
will be the  property  of the  Selling  Stockholder  and will be used by them in
their discretion. No part of the proceeds will be received by the Company.

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

         The Company  issued the shares of Common Stock being offered  hereby to
the Selling  Stockholders  as partial  consideration  for the acquisition by the
Company  of BR  Holding  Corp.,  of  which  the  Selling  Stockholders  were the
stockholders.  As a  result  of  the  acquisition,  BR  Holding  Corp.  is now a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Company.  The Company is  obligated,  under that
certain Agreement and Plan of Reorganization  dated November 21, 1996,  pursuant
to which the Company  acquired BR Holding Corp.,  to register the shares offered
hereby under the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  for resale by the Selling
Stockholders.  The following table sets forth (i) the number of shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned by each of the Selling Stockholders as of June 23, 1997
and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock that may be offered by each of the
Selling  Stockholders  under this  Prospectus.  This  information  is based upon
information received from or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders.



                                                                                           NUMBER OF
                                                                                             SHARES
                                            NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY                 WHICH MAY BE
NAME  OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                      OWNED PRIOR TO OFFERING                     OFFERED(1)
- -------------------------                      -----------------------                     ----------

                                                                                          
W. Thomas Deas                                         187,201                              187,201
W. David Deas                                          55,607                                55,607
James Miller Deas                                      31,085                                31,085
J.M. Deas, Jr.                                         16,578                                16,578
James M. Moore, III                                    36,133                                36,133
Thomas Deas, Jr.                                       16,924                                16,924
Gregory C. Vogel                                        3,542                                3,542



- ---------------------

(1)    Assumes the sale of all shares of Common Stock registered hereunder.
       See "Plan of Distribution."


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The price  and  manner  of sale of the  shares  of  Common  Stock to be
offered  hereunder are in the sole discretion of the Selling  Stockholders.  The
shares of Common  Stock  offered  hereby may be offered  through  any of several
methods,  such as ordinary  brokerage  transactions or block transactions on the
Nasdaq National Market at market prices, or in privately negotiated transactions
at prices agreed upon by the parties.  Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge
of the Company, any of the Selling  Stockholders has any agreement,  arrangement
or  understanding  with any broker or dealer entered into prior to the effective
date of the  Registration  Statement  of which  this  Prospectus  is a part with
respect to the sale of the Common Stock offered hereby.



                                      -6-






                                MATERIAL CHANGES


        For the  quarter  ended  July 4,  1997,  total net  revenues  were $76.9
million, or 9% below analysts estimates, a decrease of 8% from the $83.9 million
in total net revenues for the same period of 1996. Total manufacturing revenues,
including retail revenues, for the second quarter was $76.2 million, or 9% below
analysts  estimates,   a  decrease  of  9%  from  the  $83.4  million  in  total
manufacturing  revenues  for the same period of 1996.  Excluding  retail  sales,
manufacturing  revenues for the second quarter were $64.5 million, or 8.3% below
analysts  estimates,  compared to $83.8  million for the same period in 1996,  a
decrease of 23%. The decline in total revenue is  attributable  to a decrease in
manufacturing revenues related to reduced shipments,  partially offset by retail
sales  attributable  to the Company's newly acquired  retail  operations.  Total
homes sold in the  second  quarter  of 1997 were  2,403,  down 21% from the same
period of 1996.  Excluding a $2.1 million  non-recurring  charge, net income for
the second quarter of 1997 was $3.2 million,  or $0.21 per share,  which was 22%
below  analysts  estimates,  as compared with a net income of $4.4  million,  or
$0.29 per share in the same period of 1996.  Net income for the second  quarter,
including the $2.1 million  non-recurring charge, was $1.8 million, or $0.12 per
share.  The decline in the  Company's  net income was  attributable  to both the
decline in manufacturing revenues and the non-recurring charge. The $2.1 million
non-recurring   charge  is   associated   with  the  closing  of  the  Company's
manufacturing facility located in Pennsylvania, which the Company plans to close
at the end of the third quarter  because such  facility is not  performing up to
the  Company's  expectations.  During the  twenty-six  weeks ended July 4, 1997,
revenues  from the  Pennsylvania  facility were  approximately  $2.2 million and
operating  losses  were  approximately  $900,000,  excluding  the  $2.1  million
nonrecurring charge.

        For the  twenty-six  weeks ended July 4, 1997,  total net revenues  were
$157.0  million,  an increase of 1% over the $155.0  million in net revenues for
the same period of 1996. The increase in total revenues was  attributable to our
newly  acquired  retail  operation,  offset  by  a  decrease  in  revenues  from
manufacturing  operations.  Total homes sold in the first  twenty-six weeks were
4,919, down 13% from 5,650 homes sold during the same period of 1996.  Excluding
the $2.1 million  non-recurring charge, net income in the first twenty-six weeks
was $6.9 million,  or $0.45 per share, down 10% from net income of $7.7 million,
or $0.51 per share in the same period of 1996.  Net income,  including  the $2.1
million  non-recurring  charge, was $5.6 million for the current year twenty-six
week period.  The decline in the Company's net income was  attributable  to both
the decline in manufacturing revenues and the $2.1 million non-recurring charge.

        The Company notes that low backlogs due to increased capacity and higher
inventory  levels make it difficult to  accurately  predict at this time whether
the Company will be able to meet previous projections for manufacturing revenues
and net income for the full 1997 fiscal year.

        The Company also announced that through July 22, 1997 it has repurchased
485,000 shares of its common stock since the inception of the 2.0 million shares
buyback program  announced April 24, 1997.  Approximately  $4.4 million has been
expended for these shares.

        This Prospectus contains  forward-looking  statements within the meaning
of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934. These statements  reflect the Company's
current view with respect to future events and financial performance.  Investors
are  cautioned   that  such   forward-looking   statements   involve  risks  and
uncertainties, including without limitation: the cyclical and seasonal nature of
housing markets; the availability of financing for prospective purchasers of the
Company's  homes; the amount of capital that the Company may commit to its Wenco
21 joint venture to make available  consumer loans; the performance of the loans
held by the Company's  finance  subsidiary;  the availability and pricing of raw
materials;  the  concentration  of the  Company's  business in certain  regional
markets;  the Company's  ability to execute and mange its expansion  plans;  the
availability of labor to implement those plans; the highly competitive nature of
the manufactured  housing industry;  Federal,  state and local regulation of the
Company's business; the Company's contingent repurchase liabilities with respect
to independent dealer financing;  the Company's reliance on independent dealers;
and other risks  indicated  from time to time in the Company's  filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

         The validity of the securities  offered hereby has been passed upon for
the Company by Messrs.  Brown,  Rudnick,  Freed & Gesmer,  One Financial Center,
Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

                                     EXPERTS

         The audited Consolidated Financial Statements and schedules included or
incorporated by reference in this  Prospectus and elsewhere in the  Registration
Statement  have  been  audited  by  Arthur  Andersen  LLP,   independent  public
accountants, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are included
or incorporated by reference  herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm
as experts in giving said reports.



                                      -7-




                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER  EXPENSES OF  ISSUANCE  AND  DISTRIBUTION  Set forth below is an
estimate of the fees and expenses payable in connection with the distribution of
the Common Stock which will be paid by the Company.


SEC Registration Fee................................                $  1,044.36
Accounting Fees and Expenses........................                   2,000.00*
Legal Fees and Expenses.............................                  10,000.00*
Miscellaneous.......................................                     405.64*
                                                                    ------------
    TOTAL...........................................                 $13,450.00*

- --------------------

* Estimated

ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         Article  ELEVENTH of the  Certificate of  Incorporation  of the Company
provides as follows:

                  No director shall be personally  liable to the  corporation or
         its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
         director  notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability;
         provided, however, that, to the extent provided by applicable law, this
         provision  shall not  eliminate the liability of a director (i) for any
         breach of the  director's  duty of  loyalty to the  corporation  or its
         stockholders,  (ii) for acts or  omissions  not in good  faith or which
         involves  intentional  misconduct or a knowing  violation of law, (iii)
         under Section 174 of the General  Corporation Law of Delaware,  or (iv)
         of any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
         benefit.

         Section  145 of the  General  Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware
permits  the  indemnification  and  insurance  of the  Company's  directors  and
officers under certain circumstances.

         In  addition,  Article 10 of the  By-Laws of the  Company  provides  as
follows:

                                   ARTICLE 10

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

                  Section  10.1  Third  Party  Actions.  The  Corporation  shall
         indemnify  any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made
         a  party  to any  threatened,  pending  or  completed  action,  suit or
         proceeding,  whether civil,  criminal,  administrative or investigative
         (other than an action by or in the right of the  Corporation) by reason
         of the fact that he is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of
         the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation
         as a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent of  another  corporation,
         partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses
         (including  attorneys'  fees),  judgments,  fines and  amounts  paid in
         settlement  actually and reasonably  incurred by him in connection with
         such  action,  suit or  proceeding  if he acted in good  faith and in a
         manner  he  reasonably  believe  to be in or not  opposed  to the  best
         interests of the Corporation,  and, with respect to any criminal action
         or  proceeding,  had no  reasonable  cause to believe  his  conduct was
         unlawful.  The  termination  of  any  action,  suit  or  proceeding  by
         judgment,   order,  settlement,   conviction,  or  upon  plea  of  nolo
         contendere  or  its  equivalent,   shall  not,  of  itself,   create  a
         presumption  that the  person did not act in good faith and in a manner
         which  he  reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed  to the  best
         interests of the Corporation, and,


                                      II-1




         with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause
         to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

                  Section  10.2  Derivative   Actions.   The  Corporation  shall
         indemnify  any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made
         a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in
         the right of the  Corporation  to  procure a  judgment  in its favor by
         reason of the fact that he is or was a Director,  officer,  employee or
         agent of the  Corporation,  or is or was  serving at the request of the
         Corporation  as a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent  of  another
         corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture,  trust or other  enterprise
         against  expenses  (including  attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
         incurred by him in  connection  with the defense or  settlement of such
         action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he  reasonably
         believed  to be in  or  not  opposed  to  the  best  interests  of  the
         Corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect
         of any claim,  issue or matter as to which such person  shall have been
         adjudged to be liable for  negligence or misconduct in the  performance
         of his duty to the  Corporation  unless and only to the extent that the
         Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought
         shall  determine upon  application  that,  despite the  adjudication of
         liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person
         is fairly and reasonably  entitled to indemnity for such expenses which
         the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

                  Section 10.3 Expenses. To the extent that a Director, officer,
         employee or agent of the  Corporation has been successful on the merits
         or otherwise in defense of any action,  suit or proceeding  referred to
         in Sections 10.1 and 10.2, or in defense of any claim,  issue or matter
         therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys'
         fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.

                  Section 10.4 Authorization. Any indemnification under Sections
         10.1  and  10.2  (unless  ordered  by a  court)  shall  be  made by the
         Corporation   only  as   authorized   in  the  specific   case  upon  a
         determination that indemnification of the Director,  officer,  employee
         or  agent  is  proper  in the  circumstances  because  he has  met  the
         applicable  standard of conduct  set forth in  Sections  10.1 and 10.2.
         Such  determination  shall be made (a) by the Board of  Directors  by a
         majority vote of a quorum  consisting of Directors who were not parties
         to such  action,  suit or  proceeding,  or (b) if such a quorum  is not
         obtainable,  or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested Directors
         so directs,  by independent legal counsel in a written opinion,  or (c)
         by the stockholders.

                  Section 10.5 Advance Payment of Expenses. Expenses incurred by
         an officer or Director in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or
         proceeding  may be paid by the  Corporation  in  advance  of the  final
         disposition  of such action,  suit or  proceeding  as authorized by the
         Board of Directors in the specific case upon receipt of an  undertaking
         by or on behalf of such officer or Director to repay such amount unless
         it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified
         by the  Corporation  as  authorized  in this Article 10. Such  expenses
         incurred by other  employees  and agents may be so paid upon such terms
         and conditions, if any, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.

                  Section 10.6 Non-Exclusiveness.  The indemnification  provided
         by this Article 10 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to
         which those seeking  indemnification  may be entitled under any by-law,
         agreement,   vote  of  stockholders  or   disinterested   Directors  or
         otherwise,  both as to action in his official capacity and as to action
         in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to
         a person who has ceased to be a  Director,  officer,  employee or agent
         and  shall   inure  to  the  benefit  of  the  heirs,   executors   and
         administrators of such a person.

                  Section 10.7 Insurance.  The  Corporation  shall have power to
         purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
         Director,  officer, employee or agent of the Corporation,  or is or was
         serving  at the  request of the  Corporation  as a  director,  officer,
         employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,
         trust or other  enterprise  against any liability  asserted against him
         and incurred by him in any such capacity,  or arising out of his status
         as  such,  whether  or not the 


                                      II-2






         Corporation  would  have  the  power  to  indemnify  him  against  such
         liability under the provisions of this Article 10.

                  Section 10.8 Constituent  Corporations.  The Corporation shall
         have power to indemnify  any person who is or was a director,  officer,
         employee  or  agent  of  a  constituent   corporation   absorbed  in  a
         consolidation  or merger with this  Corporation or is or was serving at
         the request of such  constituent  corporation  as a director,  officer,
         employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,
         trust or other enterprise,  in the same manner as hereinabove  provided
         for any person who is or was a Director,  officer, employee or agent of
         the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation
         as a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent of  another  corporation,
         partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

                  Section 10.9. Additional  Indemnification.  In addition to the
         foregoing provisions of this Article 10, the Corporation shall have the
         power,  to the full extent provided by law, to indemnify any person for
         any act or omission of such person against all loss,  cost,  damage and
         expense  (including  attorney's  fees) if such person is determined (in
         the manner  prescribed  in Section  10.4  hereof) to have acted in good
         faith and in a manner he  reasonably  believed to be in, or not opposed
         to, the best interest of the Corporation.

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS



 Exhibit
  Number                                               Title
  ------                                               -----

                                                                     
    4.1     --  Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended.
    5       --  Opinion of Brown, Rudnick, Freed & Gesmer.
   23.1     --  Consent of Brown, Rudnick, Freed & Gesmer. (included in Exhibit 5.)
   23.2     --  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
   24       --  Power of Attorney (Included on Signature Page of this Registration Statement.)

The following Exhibits are incorporated herein by reference.

   4.2      --  By-Laws of the Company.  (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form
                 S-1, Registration No. 33-57420.)
   4.3      --  Specimen of Stock Certificate.  (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on
                 Form S-1, Registration No. 33-57420.)
   4.4      --  Southern Development Council, Inc. Promissory Note.  (Filed as Exhibit 4.10 to the
                 Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-57420.)
   4.6      --  Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of June 8, 1989 (Filed as Exhibit 4.12 to the
                 Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-57420.)
   4.7      --  Form of First Amendment to Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of January 13, 1993.
                 (Filed as Exhibit 4.13 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No.
                 33-57420.)


ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons of
the  Registrant,  the  Registrant  has been  advised  that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event that a
claim for  indemnification  against such liabilities  (other than the payment by
the  Registrant  of  expenses  incurred  or  paid  by  a  director,  officer  or
controlling  person of the Registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless
in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter  has been  settled  by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



                                      II-3




         The undersigned Registrant hereby further undertakes that:

         (1)      For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
                  Act of 1933,  each filing of the  registrant's  annual  report
                  pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section  15(d) of the  Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
                  employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report  pursuant to Section
                  15(d)  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934)  that  is
                  incorporated by reference in the registration  statement shall
                  be deemed to be a new registration  statement  relating to the
                  securities   offered   therein,   and  the  offering  of  such
                  securities  at that time  shall be deemed to be  initial  bona
                  fide offering thereof.

         (2)      For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
                  Act  of  1933,  the  information  omitted  from  the  form  of
                  prospectus  filed as part of this  registration  statement  in
                  reliance  upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus
                  filed by the  Registrant  pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or
                  497(h) under the  Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of
                  this  registration  statement  as of the time it was  declared
                  effective.

         (3)      For  the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under  the
                  Securities  Act of 1933,  each  post-effective  amendment that
                  contains  a form of  prospectus  shall be  deemed  to be a new
                  registration  statement  relating  to the  securities  offered
                  therein,  and the  offering  of such  securities  at that time
                  shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.




                                      II-4


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
the  requirements  for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Addison,  State of Alabama, on the 5th day of August
1997.

                              SOUTHERN ENERGY HOMES, INC.

                                By: /s/ Wendell L. Batchelor
                                   ------------------------------------------
                                          Wendell L. Batchelor
                                  Chairman of the Board, President and Chief 
                                   Executive Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Wendell L. Batchelor, Keith W. Brown, Jonathan O.
Lee and each of them,  with the power to act  without  the  other,  his true and
lawful   attorney-in-fact  and  agent,  with  full  power  of  substitution  and
resubstitution  for  him or in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in  any  and  all
capacities to sign any and all amendments or  post-effective  amendments to this
Registration  Statement,  and to file the same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and
other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  granting unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
full  power  and  authority  to do and  perform  each and  every  act and  thing
requisite  or necessary  to be done in and about the  premises,  as fully to all
intents and  purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby  ratifying  and
confirming all that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents or any of them, or their
or his substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.



                   Signature                                      Title                              Date
                   ---------                                      -----                              ----

                                                                                           
      /s/ Wendell L. Batchelor                    Chairman  of  the  Board,   President,          August 5, 1997
- ------------------------------------              Chief Executive Officer           
         Wendell L. Batchelor                     (Principal Executive Officer) and 
                                                  Director                          
                                                  

      /s/ Keith O. Holdbrooks                     Chief Operating Officer                         August 5, 1997
- ------------------------------------              (Principal Executive Officer)
         Keith O. Holdbrooks                      

      /s/ Johnny R. Long                          Vice President and Director                     August 5, 1997
- ------------------------------------
         Johnny R. Long

      /s/ Keith W. Brown                          Chief Financial Officer (Principal              August 5, 1997
- ------------------------------------              Financial  and  Principal   Accounting
         Keith W. Brown                           Officer),  Treasurer,   Secretary  and
                                                  Director                              
                                                  

      /s/ Johnathan O. Lee                        Director                                        August 5, 1997
- ------------------------------------
         Jonathan O. Lee

      /s/ Paul J. Evanson                         Director                                        August 5, 1997
- ------------------------------------
         Paul J. Evanson

      /s/ Joseph J. Incandela                     Director                                        August 5, 1997
- ------------------------------------
         Joseph J. Incandela









                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
  Exhibit
  Number
  ------

                                                                         
    4.1      --  Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended
    5        --  Opinion of Brown, Rudnick, Freed & Gesmer
   23.1      --  Consent of Brown, Rudnick, Freed & Gesmer (included in Exhibit 5.)
   23.2      --  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
   24        --  Power of Attorney (Included on Signature Page of this Registration Statement.)

The following Exhibits are incorporated herein by reference.

    4.2      --  By-Laws of the Company.  (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form
                  S-1, Registration No. 33-57420.)
    4.3      --  Specimen of Stock Certificate.  (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on
                  Form S-1, Registration No. 33-57420.)
    4.4      --  Southern Development Council, Inc. Promissory Note.  (Filed as Exhibit 4.10 to the
                  Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-57420.)
    4.6      --  Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of June 8, 1989 (Filed as Exhibit 4.12 to the
                  Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-57420.)
    4.7      --  Form of First Amendment to Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of January 13, 1993.
                  (Filed as Exhibit 4.13 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No.
                  33-57420.)