Seattle houseboats are always interesting – these floating homes all have different histories and each dock is completely different.
It is hard to know where each one originally might have been docked or who may have lived in it over the years. Seattle’s houseboats have fought to survive due to the city’s long and sorted attempts to eliminate these historical homes over the years. Thankfully much of the storm has passed and the city is finally seeing that houseboats have a historical significance on Lake Union. They have been here from the beginning as a much needed housing solution for a working lake and continue to be the very heart of Lake Union today.
Seattle houseboats are unique. I always find it interesting to go into the old houseboats on Lake Union or Portage Bay and see all of the little custom things or quirks that a floating home may have. There Is one with thoughtful hinges on the steps so that storage can be accommodated under foot. Another has the wobbliest floor I have ever seen. I had to ask about the stringers to see if they had been looked at recently because it was so bad. The stringers on a floating home are the boards that hold the house on the float and they need to be replaced or repaired every so often.
Not a huge market for Seattle houseboats - there are around 500 of them and people who buy them generally keep them. It is an amazing lifestyle and you either love it for what it is or it isn’t for you. The good news for houseboat owners in Seattle is that the overall Seattle real estate market has not had a huge impact on floating homes. These special Seattle homes always demanded more money down and special financing from very specialized lenders. Nothing has changed and as a result prices have stayed strong and demand has kept up. In fact, floating home inventory is low for current demands. Buying one of the Seattle houseboats on Lake Union or Portage Bay is one of the best waterfront real estate investments as a result. See what is on the market right now! Seattle houseboats for sale.
