Seattle Houseboats: 29 Reasons Why You Want One

Thinking About Life On Lake Union And Want More Reasons To Live In One Of The Seattle Houseboats?

Seattle Houseboats Living is like no other Seattle lifestyle and here are 29 reasons why: 

1. Uniqueness:  There is no other lifestyle in Seattle that is like living in one of the Seattle houseboats.  Seattle floating homes are iconic and offer the best of many Seattle neighborhoods, plus an affordable Seattle waterfront living option.
2. Community:  There is a strong sense of community among your floating neighbors – both in a micro climate sense such as on a particular dock or co-op, and also as a community overall. Seattle houseboats are community.
3. Characters:  Because of the uniqueness of the Seattle waterfront living way of life, Seattle houseboats are appealing to extremely unique and special people.  There are a wide variety of different personality types that fit perfectly into these Seattle floating homes and neighborhoods, but all of them are special!
4. Alternative In City Living/Location:  Want to be close to it all, but not live in a condo or a townhome or a stand alone house?  A Seattle floating home offers the best of all worlds and also is highly oriented to the water so it is a perfect alternative lifestyle in Seattle – and desirable as well.
5. Water Sports – Want to be able to launch your kayak from your house?  Stand Up Paddleboard?  You might be able to even tie your water ski boat, sailboat, or electric boat up right to your house. If you are interested in living a Seattle floating home that you can moor your companion boat next to, then make sure and look for a houseboat that offers moorage.  Some co-ops allow moorage, but only after moving in and getting the dock’s permission.  Other floating home it is more clear up front.  Either way, it is a great opportunity!
6. Water Therapy:  There is nothing more therapeutic than the soft lapping of the water outside your home or being able to dip your toes into the lake on a beautiful Seattle summer day full of warm sunshine.
7. Nature:  There isn’t another place in city that is this much in touch with nature while still living in an urban setting. Lake Union is full of nature – you even have to choose your potted plants wisely so they don’t become goose buffets.  Baby ducklings are the most fun to watch for many visitors.
8. Transit:  Take full advantage of Seattle’s best transit because you are close to not only buses, but also the Seattle Streetcar line in South Lake Union!  This is a great option for heading into Downtown Seattle!
   

   The Lake Union Loop – Or Cheshiahud Trail loops around Lake Union and joins neighborhoods and parks together.

9. Cheshiahud Loop:  The Cheshiahud Loop or Lake Union Loop is a 6.2 mile path that connects pocket parks and neighborhoods and basically loops Lake Union. There are historical markers along the way and lots to see. If you live in a floating home in Eastlake, Westlake, Fremont or a houseboat in Wallingford (Northlake), then you are basically on the loop.  Floating home in Portage Bay close to the University Bridge are also on the loop.
10. Duck Dodge:  Tuesday Nights beginning in May offer some of the most fascinating evenings of entertainment if you like to watch sailboats race in a tight space.  The Duck Dodge is a Lake Union tradition and a definite fixture in Seattle houseboat living. You can see the schedule here:  http://www.duckdodge.org/schedule.php
11. Floating Lifestyle Parade Of Entertainment:  People watching at its best is here, folks!  Swimmers, rafts, boaters, SUPS, kayaks, canoes, races, booze cruises, etc.  It’s all here.  Even if you are a shut in, it is completely entertaining to watch life literally float by you. This is especially true at the end of the dock or if your floating home backs up to a large channel.
12. July 4th:  Lake Union is the very center of July Fourth in Seattle.  Everyone wants to be on a boat, a floating home, at Gas Works or South Lake Union Parks, or along the shores of the lake in the various pocket parks along the loop. July 4th is a major event in Seattle.  There is a fireworks barge in the middle of the lake and a beautiful professional show is hammered out each year. It’s an event.  If you live on a floating home, you are every one’s new best friend. A couple tips for you on the Fourth of July:  Have all your shopping completed the day before and do not move your car form its parking spot at all on the day of the holiday.  If you do, then you will find yourself without a spot to park. July 4th and New Year’s Eve are the two days we leave our cars where they are and walk in Eastlake. Parking is relatively simple the rest of the year.  Second tip:  If you have a rooftop deck and plan on having a party make sure that your home is not top heavy and out of balance with a lot of people.  I recall one year on the Seattle Floating Home Tour, we had to regulate how many people toured the roof of one house. Each house is different and if you know that your flotation is dispersed perfectly and that you have adequate flotation, then no big deal, but if it’s a question, then keep it in check.
13. New Year’s Eve:  This time the fireworks are at the Space Needle and oh what a show that is!  Again Lake Union is the center of life in Seattle and you ave a front row seat to the show. Lucky you!  Same tips apply regarding parking and roof top deck…
14. Iconic Lifestyle is Limited:  There are only around 500 Seattle floating homes in Seattle and a few are added or taken away through the years leaving us with roughly the same number.  It is a limited lifestyle.  It is iconic.  It is in demand.
15. Proximity to Downtown Seattle:  This is as close as you can live to Downtown Seattle without being in Belltown, South Lake Union, Pioneer Square, or Downtown Seattle itself.
16. Christmas Ships:  Argosy does an annual Christmas Ship Festival.  It’s beautiful and living on Lake Union is a great way to be able to watch the parade go by.  It is just beautiful to see decorated boats with holiday lights.
17. Boat to Dinner:  My favorites are Chandlers at the South end of the lake and Ivars at the North end of the lake.   Both have great places to tie up while you eat and both have amazing food!
18. Walk To Dinner:  Lake Union is surrounded by great places to eat and all different styles – from Mexican to Pacific Northwest seafood, and beyond, Seattle is known for its food and many of these award winning places are in the heart of the city which we call Lake Union.
19. Louisa’s Cafe:  Louisa’s is a staple of Eastlake and there is no clearer indicator of that than the pictures on Yelp – this is the meeting place of the Eastlake neighborhood and the Seattle floating homes community.
20. Serafina:  Touted as one of the most amazing Italian restaurants in all of Seattle, Serafina is just up the street from the docks of Eastlake in Lake Union.  Want to check out their menu? http://serafinaseattle.com/
21. Pete’s Wines:  Down by the water in Eastlake is the very best wine shop in Seattle – plus small grocery and deli, this place is part of the culture of Seattle floating home life in Eastlake.
22. Blue Ribbon Cooking School
23. Bocce Ball  Named in Seattle Weekly as one of the best waterfront Bocce locations, don’t miss the Eastlake Bouledrome along Fairview Ave E.
24. Pocket Parks:  A considerable amount of effort has gone into making in city green spaces in Seattle and the pocket parks around Lake Union are a big part of that!  Open Seattle waterfront parks are a perfect place to chill out and reflect on your day.
25. P Patch:  Large open space for growing vegetables lake side – always fun to see what magic has been created here as we walk the Lake Union Loop!
26. Excitement:  There is always something going on around Lake Union – it is exciting and an exciting way to live!
27. Best Place To Write Your Novel:  A perfect place to settle in and use the water for inspiration – Living on a floating home is the perfect place to finally write that novel you have always wanted to! Use the people and places for your inspiration.  Settle in and make it happen!
28. Best Place To Fall In Love:  It’s a romantic lifestyle – why not use that to your advantage – If I were a single guy looking for love, I know for a fact that a  floating home would be a total chic magnet.
29. Sound Investment:  Because there are limited supplies and it is in city and waterfront, this is a sound investment real estate wise.  Even when the market went down in 2007, Seattle floating homes did not – it is a stable uptick in values similar to no other in the market.

Curious and want to see more Seattle houseboats?  

Today a lovely Seattle floating home in Eastlake is having an open house. It is Open Today From 1-4 PM  2207 Fairview Ave E #11, Seattle WA 98102   We will be hosting this Seattle houseboats open house and is an expert in the floating homes in Seattle.  It is a beautiful Seattle floating home and an event you won’t want to miss and located on a fabulous dock.

Come see it!  It’s gorgeous and you can start to take advantage of all 29 reasons to live on a Seattle floating home right now!  -Courtney