Catching Up With My Seattle Floating Home Neighbors

Hello! Seattle Floating Homes and Seattle Houseboats Neighbors! Hoping this finds you well in the new year! My family and I are very grateful to have you as neighbors. I greatly appreciate that you keep choosing me when it comes time to buy or sell your homes. It is truly my honor.

Besides selling a lot of Seattle houseboats and floating homes, there were a few big life changes in 2022!

  • Married! You may have seen my name change on the signs: Courtney Cooper -> Courtney Cooper Neese. At age 50, my prince charming finally found me. He came in the form of a tall and handsome home inspector named Joe who sponsored a top 20% real estate broker lunch, that I was featured at. And.. the good news: he loves floating homes, too.
  • Joe came with a spunky and beautiful daughter so London and I gained not just one family member, but two!
  • Lastly, My daughter got married, too! On the last day of the year, we hiked in the snow and got to experience a beautiful fairytale wedding that only Madison could have come up with. My new son in law is very special.

Gratitude.

This floating community is like no other! While many admire us from the outside, one really does have to live here to truly understand our various intricacies! Each dock is so different and each geographic section of our community is different as well, but we all exhibit the same fortitude no matter which side of the lake we are on. I long admired Seattle’s floating homes community and thought I understood it before I lived here, but it wasn’t until I was highly involved and living in it that a true understanding was born. Very grateful to have had the chance to work with incredible buyer and seller clients through all this. It’s more about you rather than the numbers. Thank you for always wrapping your arms around me.

– Courtney Cooper Neese, Seattle Afloat

Are You Interested In The Lake Union Market?

seattle houseboats

Seattle Houseboats Just Listed: Eastlake Legacy Floating Home

Seattle houseboats
Seattle houseboats offer great channel views and beautiful light and scenery.

Seattle houseboats come in many different shapes and sizes and you can find them in various spots along the shores of Lake Union and Portage Bay, but we love it when we are able to represent a true legacy floating home on the lake. Located in one of the most established Seattle floating homes coop docks on Lake Union, this vibrant spot will relax and excite you every time you come home.

From the listing of this Seattle Floating Home Just Listed by Seattle Houseboats Specialists Courtney at Seattle Afloat:

Another legacy Seattle floating home is available for the first time in decades. Located on one of the acclaimed Log Foundation docks in the southern most part of Eastlake, this home is a huge opportunity! Awesome light filled vaulted ceilings and spaces offer just the right amount of openness for modern living. Enjoy the charm and intimacy that comes with this amazing lifestyle which is like no other. Live surrounded by lapping water peacefully, yet in the middle of the city, plus how cool is it that you can kayak or SUP right from your home? Take a swim channel side in the warm summer evenings or cozy up for the winter. No matter the season, this house is the place. $799,995

Listed by Seattle Houseboats Specialists at Seattle Afloat

Seattle Houseboats Open Houses:

Open all weekend – today 12-3 and tomorrow 2-4!

Interested in selling your Seattle Houseboat or Floating home?

If you own a Seattle floating home in Eastlake, Westlake, Northlake, or Portage Bay and are interested in seeing what your home might be worth in this market?  There is always a great demand for Seattle waterfront homes and Seattle floating homes and each one is so different so we have buyers waiting to see what comes on the market that suit them! Let us know if you have one they can look at! 

Please email us directly or call/text us to speak with one of us: houseboats@cooperjacobs.com 206-472-1005  We are Seattle waterfront and floating homes experts and here to help you

Seattle houseboats

Seattle Floating Homes Don’t Usually Move

Most Seattle houseboats move around to different docks more frequently than Seattle floating homes do. There are a few Seattle houseboats that are hooked up to city sewer, but the others have black water tanks and can be mobile. Seattle floating homes on the other hand are far less mobile and don’t usually move around. We have seen just a couple dozen or so moved in the last decade and a half. This morning, the Gold Coast of Portage Bay was treated to an incredible show as Fremont Tug adeptly maneuvered a very large float up a very narrow channel.

Seattle floating homes usually remain where they are moored these days, although they used to move around more before we were hooked up to sewer in the 1960s. Back then, most of the floating homes were on leased docks and they moved around depending on the moorage rate or where there was space. These days most of our docks have been converted to cooperative or condo and so our homes stay put.

So when and why do Seattle Floating Homes move?

There are lots of reasons why Seattle floating homes can be moved, but it still does not occur often. Basically it’s the four R’s: Repairs, Reconstruction, Replacement, Relocation. Repairs and reconstruction can be done on site without moving the home and usually they are, but sometimes the logistics of contractors parking, loading, and going up and down docks is just too disruptive when compared to moving the home out to a dedicated waterside work yard. If a repair is major enough then it needs to be moved to a “shipyard” to work on more extensive fixes. Reconstruction would be when someone wants to take the current home down to the float and rebuild or make a huge change to the outer shell.

Replacement is when you take the existing old dilapidated houseboat and float and replace with a new one of the same footprint. That has happened quite a bit over the last decade and beyond. It’s getting hard to find really great historical floating homes that haven’t been destroyed. The city has a “net zero” policy currently so if you bring a new one in, then you have to take an old one out.

Lastly relocation. This happens when a floating home owner wants or needs to change locations. Usually this happens when their floating home is in a leased slip and they would like to either move to a different leased slip or buy a slip to put their home in. In addition if a floating home owner is not paying their moorage rent then they are subject to eviction. Floating home owners who wish to relocate their homes, must pay for the logistics of doing so which involves unhooking and rehooking and moving in and and out all of their neighbors. Then they must do the same for the new dock. It can cost upwards of $75,000 depending on the specific details. Slips for floating homes currently begin at $600,000 and go up to $2M depending on dock position and location. Usually you have to find a dilapidated floating home in a coop or condo owned slip and then buy it with the intention of demolishing the old one and replacing it with your relocated home. They have to be similar in size and you are not allowed to occupy a larger footprint than the current one you are going to demolish. This may require cutting down your floating home to a size that matches. This is just the tip of the iceberg on the process, but you get the idea. They don’t move often.

Are You Interested in Learning More About Seattle Floating Homes?

If you are interested in living on the lake…. Choose someone who lives in the community.

Yes! I live in a floating home full time and I am a Realtor who specializes in them.  I have spent years protecting and loving this special place we call home.  Because of this I am organically networked into the community versus a broker who doesn’t live in Seattle or currently on a dock.  I am on the board for the Floating Homes Association and also for the dock I live on.  You need a specialist. Email, Call or text me anytime. 206-850-8841 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

– Courtney

Welcoming A New Neighbor To Portage Bay

Portage Bay is such a lovely corner of the city and my favorite Seattle floating homes neighborhood on the lake. I admit that I am partial in a big way to Portage Bay. I live here. Where else can you be nestled in on the lake alongside some of the most historic homes in Seattle, and neighbors with not only one but two well regarded yacht clubs, Seattle Yacht Club and Queen City Yacht Club?

Portage Bay has incredible sunrises and although we are looking mostly east, the sunsets expand over our skies here, too. We get fantastic sunny days from the south and despite having some of the most incredible gatherings for opening boat day and the Christmas Ship finale, we have the reputation of being “Peaceful Portage Bay”. It’s always exciting for me to welcome a new neighbor into my neighborhood. I got to do just that yesterday as we sold another floating home on the lake. This time in the eastern arm of Lake Union called Portage Bay on the floating home dock just next door to the one I get to call home.

Obviously I love Portage Bay, but I also want to highlight this incredibly special floating home our new neighbor is buying. The ceilings are at least eight feet high and have gorgeous sturdy exposed beams. Unfortunately, most people initially miss these beautiful beams and the warm wooden wrapped windows and doors because they walk in and the view is one of those that just stops you in your tracks. There isn’t another view in Seattle like you will see in Portage Bay. It is an interesting mix of looking at an intimate bay filled with rowers and a beautiful boat parade. Beyond the water is the full waterfront side of University of Washington including the Husky Stadium across the way combined with Montlake Bridge in the front of the Cascade Mountains. To the left is the new Portage Bay Park and beyond that is the University Bridge. I once heard it described as a four bridge view for some end of dock floating homes in Portage Bay because they could see not only the University and Montlake Bridges, but also the 520, Ship Canal Bridges.

If you can manage to tear your eyes away from the view, you will see that you are in a large living room with a cozy fireplace and an open kitchen overlooking it. The entry is welcoming and there is an open staircase leading upstairs. There is a sleeping space and bathroom on both levels. There are also view decks on both levels. You are at the end of a long dock and it feels like you are on your own island. Yet in the city. It’s breathtaking.

Please let me know if you are interested in finding your special place on the lake. We have incredible floating home neighborhoods in Seattle and I would love to introduce you to my neighborhood. Westlake is divine and Eastlake is so cool. Many people don’t know that there is even a dock in Northlake in Fremont! And Portage Bay. – Courtney

You can reach me at 206-850-8841 or at CourtneyCooper@kw.com

Seattle Floating Homes Living Afloat

Seattle floating homes living
This incredible state of the art luxury property offers Seattle floating homes living at its best with a roof top, garage parking (with electrical charging), a basement for movie night or a gym, and parking for your companion boat! Nestled in the Portage Bay and drenched with Southern light. $3,600,000. 206-850-8841 for a private showing.

There can be many reasons for choosing to live on Lake Union, but Seattle floating homes living comes in many styles and price points. I am talking about Seattle floating homes, not Seattle houseboats in this article. We used to call them all Seattle houseboats, but a few people on the lake decided that they wanted to make it very confusing so now we have Seattle houseboats (or the ones with the FOWR plaques), Seattle floating homes, and barges. Either way, no matter what type of Lake Union lifestyle you choose, you will be living your best life because there is nothing like living on that lake. Being in the middle of the city, but also surrounded by nature is truly the best.

Seattle floating homes living in particular for me is the best – I love the fact that I am floating on water. but also as a water baby at heart, the proximity to all the things I want to do is highly optimized. Living on one of the 520 Seattle floating homes means that I can jump in the lake whenever I want. I love boating and living on Portage Bay means that I can head off to Lake Union or Lake Washington in a breeze. Docking up to one of the many waterfront restaurants is one of the true luxuries in life that the lake affords you that – especially if you can find a floating home with a boat slip. We know of a few so let us know how big your boat is!

We are Seattle Afloat and your absolute source for the lake as Seattle floating home experts. We are happy to share this lifestyle with you! It is truly like nothing else and no one has more stories than us. Twenty years on the lake and are highly networked in. I love living in a Seattle floating home and we love working and playing on them. Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841

Seattle Houseboats: Floating Homes Market Report

Seattle Afloat’s Courtney sold three of the FOUR floating homes in the two months.

We are deep into the 2019 holiday season now and we are so thankful for the fabulous year that we have had. We love this community so much and appreciate that you think of us first when it comes to buying or selling your Seattle floating home. We look forward to 2020 and serving the Seattle floating homes community well into the future.

Let’s catch up on the Seattle floating homes market over the last couple of months! There are five floating homes for sale in Seattle currently. They range in price from $550,000 for a two bedroom with a long term lease in Portage Bay to $3,200,000 for a brand new construction luxury floating home with a basement in Portage Bay. Three of these Seattle floating homes are in Portage Bay, one is in Fremont, and one is in Eastlake. The average list price is $1,710,000 and the average dollar per square foot is $1061.82 with a range from $672.37 to $1,315.79.

Looking at closed sales in the last sixty days, there have been four Seattle floating homes for sale that have sold through the MLS that range in price from $500,000 to $2,700,000 with a median sales price of $882,500 and an average days on market of 54 days. Three of these were in Portage Bay and one was in Westlake. The average sales price to list price for these floating homes was 95.67%. We sold three out of four of these! We definitely know the market and are happy to help you if you want an evaluation. We have specialized in Seattle Houseboats for over a decade and can offer you a wealth of experience and knowledge. Living in, working in, and giving back to this community is what we do. We also can help you with a FOWR Seattle houseboat purchase for the many Seattle houseboats that are not floating homes. Reach out so you can learn about this special segment of the Seattle houseboats lake market, too. There’s lots of real estate on the lake in Seattle and we are here to help you with all of it.

Want more information? We at Seattle Afloat are Seattle Houseboats Experts and the only team working on the lake today that has been successfully representing clients together for almost two decades. Regarding any statistical info from the NWMLS: Information and statistics derived from Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Courtney 206-850-8841

Seattle Floating Home $699,000 Just Listed In Westlake!

Welcome to the 2420 Cooperative Seattle Floating Homes Dockseattle floating home for sale in Westlake

2420 Westlake Avenue North #8
Seattle, Washington 98109

The FLOAT

You should always start with the float on a Seattle floating home, but most people start with the house itself to make sure it checks all the Seattle houseboats boxes.  Each one of these is so very different, but it is important that once you identify the perfect Lake Union floating home that works for your living style, then you go right to the float. The true value in Seattle floating homes in across Lake Union and Lake Union’s eastern arm Portage Bay is the slip dimensions.  The slip sizes for any given slip were largely determined and set in stone across coop docks by looking at any existing structures that occupied the slips at the time that the dock was converted to a coop. These dimensions were then recorded and grandfathered in.  Many of them exceed the limit of brand new homes allowed on the lake so slips with footprints larger than 1200 square feet are especially valuable. seattle floating homes

Length: 37.4ft  Width:  30.8 ft

Water Depth:  45ft with no obstructions.

Stringers:  11 pressure treated stringers running east to west.  
Decks The front deck is constructed of treated 2×6 surface boards and 4×6 joints.

Log pack. Beneath the stringers are 9 old growth logs that run east to west. They provide both structure and flotation for the home. They are in a stable configuration, anchored securely with stringers pins.  

Flotation:  6-9ft Styrofoam logs. 41 55-gallon flotation barrels

HOME

  • Early 1900’s year built | 2 beds | 1 Bath | Approximately 700 sq ft
  • Hardwoods | wrap around deck | sunroom | boat moorage
  • $500 Home Owner Dues include:  dock water, sewer, garbage. Dock maintenance, DNR lease, pay off for 8 slip marina, and floating home moorage real estate taxes
  • Personal property tax (paid biannual or annually) is $1,200
  • 8 slip marina owned by 2420 Cooperative anticipated paid off by December 2018
  • Laundry and shower facility at the head of the dock is for the slip tenants.
  • Home Insurance $1900 annually through Lloyds of London underwriters.
    July 2018 Home and Dive Inspection performed.
  • New mini split (heating/cooling) and new attic insulation.
  • New steel moorage arms in 2018.

Seattle floating homesFrom Our Lovely Seattle Floating Home Sellers:

Things We Love About Living Here

We love to hop on our bikes and cruise along the newer Westlake bike trail to Fremont.
We would sometimes attach our pet bike carrier since our favorite bar in Fremont Norm’s on 36th Ave allows dogs inside!

We walk out our sliding glass door and hop on our Paddleboards and other water toys to unwind after a long working day.  However our favorite time is in the early morning hours when the city is still sleeping. SUP yoga anyone?

We love to watch the beautiful yachts cruise into the Westlake marinas and play a game of how this billionaire made their profits!  Plus we like the privacy of living next to a quiet marina instead of a house around every corner.

Nature is everywhere we look and our favorite is to see the Blue Heron hunt for its food right outside our door.

We love to hear the sounds of seaplanes in the distance.  The next time we want to go to the San Juans, we can kayak to Kenmore Air to catch a ride.

The Floating Home Association (FHA) is an awesome community that is always bringing the floating home community together.  Sometimes it’s a dock party (Docktoberfest) or it’s an informative annual meeting (each April) to discuss how we can continue to preserve and improve our lifestyle.  

Above all, we love to tell people (when asked) that we live in a houseboat or floating home.  It never fails to bring a slew of questions about what it’s like and that they’ve always wanted to do the same thing.

Want to see this one?  Call/Text Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841  or email us at houseboats@cooperjacobs.com We are Seattle Floating Homes Experts and happy to help you with this special kind of Seattle home.  

Seattle houseboats for sale

Seattle Houseboats For Sale: Floating Homes Update

Seattle Houseboats – Seattle Floating Homes With Owned Moorage Only Update

Seattle floating homes in EastlakeCurrent Seattle floating homes for sale with owned moorage range in price from $1,800,000 for two floating homes listed – one in Westlake and one in Portage Bay to $2,685,000 just listed in Eastlake.  The average days on market for these five Seattle floating homes is 14 days with a range of cumulative days on market of 1 day for Roanoke Reef to just 21 days.

Price range of these Seattle houseboats:  $1,800,000 – $2,685,000

Average Days on Market for the 5: 14 days

Lake Union Floating homes neighborhoods available:  Eastlake, Westlake, Portage Bayseattle houseboats

Average Dollar Per Sq Foot:  $1454.04  with a range of $1200/sq ft for our gorgeous Westlake floating home listing to $1757.81 for a floating home in Portage Bay.

Why owned moorage?

Owning your moorage for your houseboat has always been a key component of value and security.  Seattle floating homes with owned moorage are more valuable and also a more secure form of ownership so the above numbers are all in reference to floating homes with secure slips – whether on a condo or a co-op organized dock.

portage bay floating homes

Our favorite Seattle floating homes:

We are partial because three of the five of the above Seattle floating homes for sale are represented by us, but they are in fact fabulous so I will talk about them as our favorites anyway. In addition, we have two really great slips in Portage Bay for sale for $950,000 ready for you to build your dream home – dream new construction floating home that is! We have a cool one for sale in each Lake Union neighborhood!

Westlake:  2420 Westlake Ave N #13  – deep water moorage for a 32 foot boat here! This is a 2 bedroom 1.75 bath 1500 square foot floating home with big views and excellent Seattle waterfront living. $1,800,000

Eastlake:  2339 Fairview Ave E #O  – tie your boat up here, too!  Coveted and hard to find three bedroom floating home on well managed Tenas Chuck dock.  Three bedroom, 1.5 baths 1350 square feet, Beautiful views including sought after Space Needle, and more – second from the end of the dock! $2,250,000seattle afloat

Portage Bay:  3146 Portage Bay Pl E #J – New construction and condo ownership with parking! Three bedroom floating home with 2.5 baths. Come experience the peaceful serenity of life on Lake Union’s eastern most boundary, Portage Bay which was featured as the geographic location of choice on the recent 2016 Seattle Floating Homes Association Tour.  $1,998,000

Please let us know if you have questions or are curious about how much your Seattle floating home is worth.  We are happy to help you buy or sell your home.

Call/Text Courtney Cooper for more info /206-850-8841 houseboats@cooperjacobs.com

westlake floating homes

Presenting A Once In A Lifetime Westlake Floating Home

Seattle Houseboats Community News:Westlake Seattle Houseboats

Rare Westlake Floating Home Just Listed

Westlake is an extremely special Seattle floating homes community in Lake Union.  Every corner of this Westlake floating home is thoughtful and well designed.  Westlake floating homes rarely become available for sale and this one is a jewel in Lake Union.  Located right on the Cheshiahud Loop with a quick commute to Downtown Seattle or South Lake Union, this is an ideal place to call home and truly live the most amazing Seattle waterfront lifestyle available.

Marketing Remarks From the MLS listing for this Seattle Floating Home:

2420 Westlake Ave N #12  Near the end of this private dock sits an amazing floating home built to perfection. The aged steel and cedar siding accentuates its rugged exterior; while inside the heated radiant concrete floors give way to warm teak casework and dancing walls of natural light. Enjoy cooking in your top of the line kitchen including gas cooktop and sleek eat-in kitchen island. For those entertainers, head on up to the massive rooftop deck and gas fire pit to admire the forever changing views of Lake Union. $2,250,000  houseboats@cooperjacobs.com

Additional Features Of This Seattle Floating Home

Bath Off Master, Double Pane Storm Windows, Dining Room, Walk-in Closet

  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1.75 Baths
  • Rooftop Deck

lake union loop

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: Eastlake houseboats

  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!

    lake union loop

    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.

Seattle HouseboatsCurious 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

Seattle Floating Homes For Sale: Just Listed

Just Listed In Eastlake:  One Of The More Desireable Seattle Floating Homes

We just listed an incredible Seattle Floating Home on the Flo Villa dock! If you have been looking at Seattle houseboats, then you should know that this one has been completely remodeled! $775,000

Seattle floating homes2207 Fairview Ave E #11

It’s your time! Live the iconic lifestyle you have only dreamed about!  Located in Eastlake’s enclave of floating homes on Lake Union, this mid-dock beauty is completely remodeled with an open one bedroom plus flex space  floor plan. Boasting vaulted ceilings and hardwoods, this home is incredibly light and bright and has a new kitchen!  Enjoy cozy extras like the heated bathroom floor plus it has new electrical, plumbing, windows & insulation throughout. With an actual growing willow tree and a fabulous relationship to the water, this is home is a great place to live Life Afloat In Seattle.

During the last six month remodel:

  • new barrels / flotation
  • Windows
  • 6″ deep insulation in the new windows and walls
  • 10″ deep insulation in ceilings
  • Stripped down to logs and stringers to replace old joists with 4″ rigid foam on new joists
  • New subflooring and bamboo click in floors
  • Bathroom floor electrical heated floors

Additional Information on this Seattle Floating Home For Sale:

  • Full size water heater
  • New electric and plumbing
  • Quartz counter tops and contemporary cabinets
  • Under mounted sink
  • Metal roof – low maintenance
  • Wrap around deck
  • 10.5 high vaulted ceilings
  • Italian stone tile in bathroom
  • Stone sink in bathroom

Want to see it?

Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841
We can immediately answer your Seattle waterfront homes or Seattle floating homes questions.  If you prefer, you can also email us at houseboats@CooperJacobs.com.
Seattle floating homes

Seattle Floating Homes Market Report Nov 2015

Seattle floating homesSeattle Floating Homes Real Estate Market Report

Seattle Floating Homes November 2015: Catching up with Life Afloat on Lake Union, Seattle floating homes are still in high demand and Seattle Houseboat Living is very popular.  In the last 60 days, three of these Seattle houseboats have closed in escrow through the MLS, although we also know of a couple private floating home sales if you interested in learning more about those or others.

Seattle Floating Homes that have closed in escrow:

2019 Fairview Ave E #D

This Seattle floating home is Seattle floating homes for salelocated on the middle dock of The Log Foundation cooperative which has three docks. It is an extremely well run coop and houseboats on these lovely docks are always sought after.  The Log Foundation floating homes are located on the southern most docks in the Seattle neighborhood of Eastlake.  This particular Seattle floating home was represented by  Cooper Jacobs Real Estate and was south facing on the middle dock. It is a two bedroom and 1 bath Lake Union floating home with 1300 square feet of living space. It closed on 10/13/15 for $677,500.  (You can reach out to us for more info on this or other Seattle floating homes that are available both on and off market.)

2207 Fairview Ave E #12

This amazing Seattle floating home is located on the Flo Villa dock. Flo Villa is a beautiful dock with a willow tree on it. It is further north than The Log Foundation dock and the floating homes on it are well maintained.  This houseboat was the ultimate in Seattle Waterfront Living. Built in 1994, it has two bedrooms and 1.5 baths plus 1550 square feet of living space. It closed on 10/7/2015 for $1,150,000

2600 Fairview Ave E #7

Welcome home to Mallard Cove floating homes.  Mallard Cove is one of the Seattle luxury floating homes docks.  Most of the floating homes on this dock have been updated and seem more modern than they are.  The dock is always at the top of houseboat buyer lists. This 2000 square foot home was built in 1978 and has two bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It closed in escrow on 10/30/2015 for $1,350,000.

Wards Cove RooftopPending Seattle Floating Homes For Sale:

There are two Pending in escrow Seattle floating homes right now as well.  The price range on these is between $499,000 and $925,000.

Active Seattle Floating Homes For Sale:  Just one at Wards Cove. Price? $3,295,000 43 days on market.

Additional information: Here are the details for the sold Seattle Floating Homes on Lake Union as well as an overall market report.

 sold floating homes 11 2015

floating homes market 11 2015

Please let us know if you have any questions at all or if you would like more information about Seattle Houseboat Living.  We are happy to share and look forward to speaking with you whether you are a buyer or seller.Seattle Afloat Houseboats

Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841
We can immediately answer your questions or email us at houseboats@CooperJacobs.com
Seattle houseboats for sale

Seattle Houseboats For Sale: Just SOLD

Seattle Houseboats For Sale:  Just SOLD in Eastlake!Seattle houseboats for sale

Seattle houseboats for sale in Eastlake

Seattle Houseboats Just Sold: Let’s look at 2019 Fairview Ave E in Lake Union’s Eastlake neighborhood

This particular Seattle floating home has a special place in our hearts due to its sentimental background.  Though not as famous as its Sleepless in Seattle cousin across Lake Union, this Seattle houseboat is perhaps just as iconic! Located on one of Eastlake’s longest running and most organized cooperative dock, The Log Foundation,  this 1930 floating home has had lots and lots of action – even as it was moored in one place and not moving.  It was owned by a very longtime  and loved Seattle houseboats resident and the home was practically a floating dance hall in its day. We have recently nicknamed the home “Art” after its previous owner and look forward to seeing the new owners enjoy it as much as he reportedly did. There are lots of stories across the lake about the parties that almost always broke out into full on dance soirees and you can tell just by walking into this houseboat that it has had a happy life.  We are so thrilled to see it have a loving new chapter.

seattle houseboats officeA little more about this special home…..

So back to the sale itself – Seattle houseboats for sale always are exciting, but closing one is also a cause for celebration. Congratulations on doing such a great job getting it sold. It closed in escrow on 10/13/2015 at a final sales price of $677,500.  The floating home has two bedrooms and is 1300 square feet. It has a rather large float for its size and great dock position.  It also is well oriented to the lake which is something you don’t always get. Moorage for a recreational boat is possible alongside the home with the permission of the co-op.  It also had extra spaces which could function as an office or another nonconforming bedroom.  The home is all one level and has the most charming curved ceilings.  I was always very taken in with the large open living space and the beautiful spaces throughout. It  never felt like a two bedroom home – more like a home with all kinds of possibilities in every corner. As I write this, I personally regret not buying it myself – such a wonderful place with great energy, but alas, there will be other Seattle houseboats for sale and each one is unique and special.


Please call us if you are interested in learning more about Seattle houseboats for sale – We look forward to helping you buy or sell your next Seattle houseboat, whether it is a Seattle floating home, a house barge, or a floating on-water residence.  We are excited to help you learn about the lovely Lake Union as well as Seattle Houseboat Living℠.

Courtney /206-850-8841 | houseboats@cooperjacobs.com

©Cooper Jacobs Real Estate ©Seattle Afloat™

Seattle houseboats office view out to Lake Union

August 2015 Seattle Floating Homes Realtors Market Update

Seattle Afloat®The Seattle Houseboats Market Is Floating Despite Reports On Low Lake Union Levels…Seattle floating home for sale in Eastlake


Here we are in the final days of August 2015 already and the Seattle houseboats market has been incredibly surprising and action packed so far this year!  Multiple reports on the risk associated with historically low Lake Union levels and still we are Afloat in Seattle™! As of this AM, in the last 30 days there have been 5 SOLD Seattle floating homes that have closed in escrow through the NWMLS. These are not the “For Sale By Owner” Seattle houseboats and these are just the Seattle floating homes – not the other types of Seattle houseboats like floating on water residences, etc. Just floating homes. Cooper Jacobs Real Estate has  Seattle Realtors that specialize in Seattle houseboats and Seattle waterfront homes. (Seattle houseboats experts we were involved in two of the last five sales below.)

  • 2818 Boyer Ave E #2 in Portage Bay is a 1 bedroom, .75 bath 600 square foot Seattle floating home.  It was built in 1930. It was listed for $395,000 and after 5 days on the market sold on 7/21/15 for $410,000 (103.80% of sales price to list price). $683.33/sq ft
  • 2031 Fairview Ave E #N in Eastlake is a 885 square foot 1 bedroom and 1 bath home built in 1925. It was orignially listed for $510,000 and dropped its price to $499,000.  After 90 days on market, it sold for $465,000 (93.19% sales price to list price). $525.42 square foot seattle houseboats experts
  • 2420 Westlake Ave #7 * in Westlake is a 1065 square foot 2 bedrom and 1.5 bath floating home that we listed.  It was built in 1929, but completely redone and sold for $875,000 after 103 days on market (97.44 % sales price to list price) 821.60 a square foot  *Cooper Jacobs Real Estate represented the Seller
  • 1214 Hamlin Ave St #9 in Portage Bay – A 3 bedroom 2 bath 1500 square foot floating home built in 1971. It was listed and sold for $1,298,500 after 11 days on market. $865.67 square foot
  • 2466 Westlake Ave N #19* in Westlake – we represented the buyer for this fabulous Seattle floating home.  It is a 2 bedroom and 1.75 bath home built in 1940.  It was listed and sold for $1,350,000 with 7 days on market.  *Cooper Jacobs Real Estate represented the Buyer

Seattle houseboats for sale in EastlakeSo what is for sale in Seattle Houseboats world now on Lake Union? 

There are five Seattle floating homes for sale in the MLS right now. These do not include Seattle houseboats for sale by owner. They range in price from $499,000 to $1,495,000 with an average days on market of 38 days.  The median list price is $750,000.  They are all in Eastlake!  In addition there is one floating home that is pending in the MLS priced at $2,895,000 (Wards Cove).

Our favorite by far of course is a great floating home on The Log Foundation dock which happens to be one of the best run and most established coop on Lake Union.  If you are looking for Seattle houseboat living, then this is a great choice! It is a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom 1300 square feet floating home built in 1930 with lots of updates.  seattle houseboats office

It is south facing!  To be south facing and in Eastlake is highly coveted.  This one is all one level and well oriented with the water.  It is listed for $697,000.  Please let us know if you would like to see it.  It won’t last long.  Also, if you are looking for Seattle houseboats for rent, there are some available right now (A lot of people ask about Seattle houseboats for vacation rental, but the majority of these homes are rented long term).

Want to learn more about Seattle Houseboats and life on Lake Union Afloat?  We would be happy to help!  

Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841
We can immediately answer your questions or email us at houseboats@CooperJacobs.com
Seattle Afloat ® Seattle Houseboats Experts ℠:
We want to help you live your life Afloat In Seattle™

Seattle Houseboats For Sale: 2019 Fairview Ave E Slip D

Seattle Houseboats On The Market:

Just Listed:  2019 Fairview Ave E

Seattle houseboats for sale


For more info or your private showing:

There are some great Seattle houseboats for sale out there, but this lovely Eastlake floating home is making its debut for the first time in a very long time.

  • 2 BedroomsSeattle houseboats for sale in Eastlake
  • 1 Bath
  • 1300 Square Feet
  • Built in 1930
  • Remodeled Kitchen
  • South Facing
  • Owned Moorage on Well Organized Dock

More info about this great  Eastlake Seattle floating home: 

Seattle houseboats with views of Lake Union2019 Fairview Ave E

Look no further. You’ve just discovered the quintessential Eastlake Floating Home. The massive float size is perfect to entertain on your south facing deck. One bedroom & one smaller. Third room for another bedroom, office or den. Newly remodeled kitchen, with gas range, stainless steel appliances, and granite counter tops. Well established Log Foundation Co-op. Great location to enjoy all the Eastlake activities. Extra Boat Moorage with co-op approval. Welcome Home!   $697,000

Seattle houseboats kitchen


Want to learn more about Seattle Houseboats ?seattle houseboats experts

Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841
We can immediately answer your questions or email us at houseboats@CooperJacobs.com
Seattle Afloat ® Seattle Houseboats Experts ℠:
We want to help you live your life Afloat In Seattle™
seattle houseboats for sale in westlake

Seattle Houseboats Market Update July 2015

Seattle Houseboats Real Estate Market Updateseattle houseboats for sale in westlake

What Is For Sale On Lake Union Now?

Lots going on across Lake Union!  There are three Seattle floating homes for sale in Eastlake right now – ranging in price form $525,000 to $1,495,000.  All are two bedrooms which gives you a good indicator that it isn’t about bedroom count for Seattle houseboats! There is one other of the Seattle Floating On-Water Residences for sale in Gas Works Park Marina at $519,000 as well.

Pending Seattle Floating Homes In The NWMLS

There are four Seattle floating homes pending in the NWMLS right now. These range in price from $395,000 for a Portage Bay floating home to $1,298,000 for another Portage bay houseboat.  There is one of each in Westlake and Eastlake pending as well.  They range in bedroom count from 1 to 3 bedrooms and have other individual perks as well.  For instance, our Westlake Floating home for sale is part of a co-op that purchased a money making marina to pay for costs of the dock.  It is currently pending. Each one of these homes is so different and that is why when you are looking at Seattle houseboats it is really important to talk to someone who has the experience needed to help you navigate the waters of lake Union and Seattle Houseboat Living ℠.

Closed Transactions on Lake Union:  Seattle Houseboats SOLD – at least EIGHT IN SIXTY DAYS. 

There were at least two other Floating On-Water Residences as well, but let’s look at the Seattle floating homes segment of Seattle houseboats for sale.  There were six Seattle floating homes that closed in escrow in the NWMLS in the last sixty days.  They ranged in list price from $499,000 to $2,595,000 and range in sales price3 from $465,000 to $2,475,000 with an average sales price to list price ratio of 98.03%.

lake union houseboatsYou can see the full NWMLS sheets and comparisons here:

Seattle Houseboats SOLD CMA

Seattle Houseboats SOLD 2015

Average days on market was 26 days for these. They were all around Lake Union in Eastlake, Westlake, and Portage Bay.  The Lake Union Dock had a couple change hands.  Fairview Landing also had one sell. We specialize in floating homes and waterfront homes, so happily we were involved in a third of these home sales. We sold a great one at 2466 Westlake Ave N for $1,350,000 (on the market for just 7 days) and we listed the beautiful white floating home at 2031 Fairview Ave E for $975,000 (it sold in 5 days for $971,000). It is difficult to judge these unique Seattle waterfront homes by dollar per square foot.  The range of dollar per square foot pricing is as unique as each of these homes – ranging from $525.42 to $1225.85.  The median price was $1,160,000.  For Seattle houseboats, it really is about your unique needs. Please let us know what you are looking for in a new Lake Union home.

Here are some of the most common things that we get asked about with Seattle Houseboats:

  • Viewsseattle houseboats
  • Boat Moorage
  • Rooftop deck
  • Neighborhood
  • Parking
  • Dock Position (End of dock moorage is always the most desirable and the most expensive)
  • Form of Ownership (Co-op, Condo, Fee Simple, Leased)
  • Proximity of Amenities
  • Storage
  • Pets
  • Fees
  • Taxes
Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841
We can immediately answer your questions or email us at houseboats@CooperJacobs.com
Seattle Afloat ® Seattle Houseboats Experts ℠: We want to help you live your life Afloat In Seattle™
seattle houseboats in westlake

Seattle Floating Homes For Sale: Houseboats Inventory Movement

Seattle Houseboats On Lake Union  – Inventory Is Afloat!seattle floating home dining room

Seattle Is Afloat! There are several pending Seattle houseboats in the MLS as well, but I wanted to go ahead and get some basic info about what is available for sale on Lake Union right now. There are FIVE ACTIVE Seattle floating homes for sale currently in the NWMLS. There are also a couple Seattle houseboats for rent if you are interested in those so please let us know.

A quick note about Lake Union water homes definitions… (This post is about just SEATTLE FLOATING HOMES for sale.  The term “Seattle houseboats” is an umbrella term which covers floating homes, vessels, barges, and now Seattle floating on-water residences. It has recently become unnecessarily more intricate than it ever needed to be, but it is what it is and we would be happy to help clarify it for you.  Historically, though, Seattlelites refer to all forms of these types of floating abodes as Seattle Houseboats“.)

seattle houseboats for sale in westlakeOK, back to the Lake Union news! There are five Seattle floating homes that are for sale currently.  They range in price from $395,000 for a 1 bedroom in Portage Bay to $1,595,000 for a 2 bedroom floating gem in the prestigious Mallard Cove floating homes community in Eastlake. The median list price of these incredible Lake Union floating residences is $948,000 which also happens to be the list price of our Westlake floating home for sale right now.  There are two Eastlake houseboats for sale in this mix, two in Portage Bay, and one in Westlake.  All three Lake Union houseboats communities offer different Seattle Waterfront Living styles and each one is unique in character and charm. The average days on market is 21 days currently and the average dollar per square foot is $802.91 per square foot.  Square footage on floating home docks is not a reliable source of value always because there are so many structures of ownership to take into account.  Each Seattle floating home is different and there are also no two docks alike on Lake Union.

Interested in Living On A Houseboat In Seattle?

seattle houseboats expertsIf you are interested in Seattle Houseboat Living, then please let us know.  We would be happy to help you find your perfect spot to live Lake Union Afloat℠!  Call/Text/Email anytime.

Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841  Courtney@CooperJacobs.com

© Cooper Jacobs Real Estate™  © Seattle Afloat ®

Live Your Life Afloat In Seattle™!

Westlake Floating Home Tour In Style

Westlake Floating Home – $965,000 and just gorgeous Seattle waterfront living.

This is the perfect place to play all summer and cozy up in winter time by the fire to write your novel.  Seattle is full of life and with companies like Weyerhaeuser and Expedia moving in to close in Seattle neighborhoods, Westlake is a perfect place to live! Washington is still ranked as number one for bikes across the country and this Westlake floating home is right on the Burke-Gilman Trail!  With beautiful pathways and parks, Westlake has a lot to offer those looking at Seattle houseboats.

Please watch the video and then let us know if you would like more information.

seattlehouseboats@cooperjacobs.com  

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate proudly presents:

our gorgeous Seattle floating home listing at 2420 Westlake Ave N.

Please let us know if you would like more info on Seattle houseboats, Seattle floating homes, or Seattle waterfront homes.   Also, if you are thinking about listing your Seattle home, please know that we are among the few that pay for our client’s staging bills.  This will save you thousands of dollars and can end up netting you tens of thousands of dollars over list price.

Please email one of us for details (no catch – promise).

courtney@cooperjacobs.com

lake union houseboats

Seattle Houseboats For Sale: 2031 Fairview Ave E #G

Looking for Seattle houseboats for sale?

We just listed this gorgeous Seattle floating home on The Lake Union dock!  In looking at Seattle houseboats around the lake, this is one of two that are for sale right now that we really like. It is on a very large float and has a lot to offer for the perfect Seattle waterfront lifestyle.

If you would like to see it, please call or email us at seattlehouseboats@cooperjacobs.com

Open Houses:

Thursday 11AM – 1PM

Sunday 1PM – 4PM

2031 Fairview Ave E #Gseattle houseboats

Marketing Remarks From the Listing in the NWMLS:

Second from the end on one of Eastlake’s most charming docks, this one level floating home offers an amazing lifestyle afloat on Lake Union! Situated on one of the larger floats on the lake, this well built Cape Cod home features newer appliances, newer roof (with stairs for rooftop access and big views), maple hardwoods, french doors, and a real working fireplace. Catch all the action on the lake from your living room or front deck and enjoy the security of ownership a cooperative dock offers.

$975,000

Seattle Floating Home Features

Double Pane Storm Windows, Dining Room, French Doors, High Tech Cabling, Vaulted Ceilings, Walk-in Closet

Additional Information on this home:

  • Property Description Cable TV, Deck, Dock, Fully Fenced, High Speed Internet, Moorage
  • Taxes $1,993
  • Waterfront Lake, No Bank
  • View Lake, City
  • Lot Size 0.00 Acre (1 SqFt)
  • Exterior Wood
  • Fireplaces 1 Fireplace
  • Heating/Cooling Other-See Remarks
  • Roof Composition Roof
  • Flooring Ceramic Tile Floor, Hardwood Floor
seattle houseboats

Seattle Houseboats History Resource

Curious about Seattle houseboats and their history on Lake Union?seattle houseboats

You have to go back over a hundred years and look beyond Lake Union to see the roots of Seattle houseboats.  Beth Means and Bill Keasler  wrote a great piece about Seattle houseboats history on The Seattle Floating Homes Association website.  Seattle Floating homes have played a significant part in shaping the city’s history and landscape.  We at Seattle Afloat have a whole category on this site dedicated to it: Seattle houseboats history on Seattle Afloat.

There is also a great spot to see amazing pictures and get more information on HistoryLink where the site describes various houseboats around Seattle and their origins:

“Some of these communities — especially those off the Madison Park and Leschi neighborhoods on Lake Washington —  were formed by the well-to-do who enjoyed summering aboard their fancy abodes. Others — along the Elliott Bay waterfront, the Duwamish River, Harbor Island, Salmon Bay, Lake Union, Portage Bay, and Union Bay — were mainly inhabited by workers struggling to stay financially afloat.. “

Howard Droker wrote the fascinating book Seattle’s Unsinkable Houseboats in 1977 and there is a great video about Seattle houseboats featuring him on the http://www.lakeunionhistory.org/ website.  I have embedded it here because it is worth a watch:


Vannessa Ho at the Seattle PI wrote an interesting piece about Seattle houseboats  – it was a cool slide show of houseboats then and now.  Here is a link to that slideshow: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/slideshow/Seattle-houseboats-Then-and-now-64448.php

seattle houseboatsIf you are curious about Seattle houseboats and interested in purchasing a Seattle floating home, then please let us know.  These are special homes and the ultimate in Seattle waterfront living.  You should work with real estate agents who understand the ins and outs of Seattle houseboats.  We understand all of the unique intricacies of the Seattle floating home world and we are happy to help you.  We can also help you with the various FSBO floating homes available across the lake.

You can reach me at 206-850-8841 or Courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate for all your realty needs – we have brokers who specialize in all Seattle neighborhoods and suburbs.

Seattle houseboats

Seattle Houseboats Happenings: Lake Union Ramblings

seattle floating homesA few random Lake Union thoughts –  Would love to hear some of your thoughts, too….

Seattle Floating Homes Association Website – One word: Gorgeous.  The updated Floating Homes Association website is fresh and beautiful.. I am jealous I didn’t make it myself.  Love it.  Kudos! You can see it here: www.seattlefloatinghomes.org Jann, I know you had a hand in that and it’s amazing!  You can see all the newsletters, updates, tour info, etc.  I particularly am fond of the Seattle houseboats history page.

Reality TV and Seattle houseboats.  It’s been overdone already. Have you watched  those shows on HGTV and other channels?  We get phone calls almost every other week from producers hoping to film the next reality TV show featuring  Seattle houseboats and us.  They ask us to be on these shows, but we say NO.  We STRONGLY believe that protecting the Seattle houseboat community’s privacy is far more important than cheap fame for ourselves.  We appreciate all that the Seattle floating home community has given to us and we would never ever cross what we feel is a strong trust boundary.

FSBO Seattle floating homes – dining room 2Word on the docks is lots of private sales going on.  Last night it was the talk of the Seattle Floating Homes Association meeting.  We verified it with Krista Todd at Sound Community and I verified it with Phil Miller who is a local legend and closes most of the floating homes in escrow.  Of course being real estate agents, we are partial to the idea of listing your home in the NWMLS (with Cooper Jacobs Real Estate preferably), but putting that aside, why aren’t you listing your floating home with a Realtor (please also make sure they are actual dues paying Realtors who abide by a code of ethics)? The Realtor’s commissions aren’t that high in comparison with how much more money the open real estate market would bring you in the form of a higher sales price.  I know news travels fast on the docks when someone is ready to sell, but even that can’t compare to the global exposure the MLS and the internet offer. I would love to hear some feedback on this.   Many FSBO buyers have the false misconception that if they go around the listing agent then they will be able to get the home for a discount to the tune of that full listing broker and selling broker commission.  That simply isn’t true.  While the seller may be willing to give you somewhat of a discount, in most cases they will more likely want to pocket the savings of not listing it themselves.  Any discount you could have gotten would easily be beaten by a skilled real estate agent in a negotiation.

seattle houseboats


That’s it for now – as always, thank you for your business.  We love serving this community and look forward to doing it for a long time.  please email us or call us if you need anything at all   Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841  Courtney@CooperJacobs.com  We are Seattle Houseboats Realtors.

2420 Westlake Ave N #7 Has Made Its Splash In Houseboats Market

Seattle Houseboats Market Update: 


Seattle houseboats

Floating Homes are HOT and this one is no exception!

Seattle houseboats come in all shapes and sizes and whether you have been looking for a house barge, floating home, or vessel type of houseboat, you will appreciate what this one has to offer!

Just listed at $985,000 by  Courtney Cooper of Cooper Jacobs Real Estate:

2420 Westlake Ave N #7

Here are some of the features in this floating home as well as the remarks from the MLS listing:

  • 2 –  bedroomsseattle houseboats rooftop decks
  • 2  – 3/4 bathrooms (1 on main and 1 upper)
  • 1065 Square feet
  • 42 x 24 float
  • $500/mo HOA
  • $1831/year taxes
  • Pet friendly
  • Ownership in a Co-op owned dock
  • Additional ownership in a Marina

seattle houseboats kitchens“Whether you are looking for the serenity and inspiration of a lake home or you want to invite all your friends over for a party on your roof top deck, this is the one you have been waiting for. This gorgeous Westlake floating home is dialed in and located on a pet friendly and very sought after dock in Lake Union! Completely remodeled in 2008 with all new surfaces and appliances plus immaculate upstairs master suite and another bedroom/office on the main level. Lots of storage and extras!”

Ownership in a Marina – Another interesting asset of this Westlake floating home:seattle houseboats

This is a unique dock on the lake in that it has its own marina!  In all of houseboat living, this is not common.  There are 9 slips in this Westlake marina location.  Each of the 12 floating home owners on the dock have a 1/12 interest in this marina which is separately financed and being paid for in part by coop fees.  It is on schedule to be paid off in 2019. The idea is that once the Marina is paid off in full, it will generate enough income to perhaps eliminate the coop dues altogether and could even provide additional income.

 Would you like more information on these sales or Seattle floating homes both off and on the market? 

Courtney Cooper 206.850.8841 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate:  

Seattle waterfront homes and Seattle Houseboats Realtors

Seattle houseboats

Seattle Houseboats Real Estate Market Holiday Update

Dead of  Seattle winter during the holiday break… what could possibly be shaking down on Seattle Houseboats real estate?


Seattle houseboatsNot a ton, although, if you are a buyer, this is a great time to get out there because you have no competition on the lake or otherwise.

Right now there are only a couple choices in Seattle floating homes for sale and they are both priced between $1.1M and $1.6M – one in Eastlake and one in Portage Bay.

As far as recent sold Seattle houseboats, We listed the little guy in Portage bay at 3012 Fuhrman Ave N, Slip #D for $229,000 and it closed just before Christmas on 12/19 with a final sales price of $235,000.  We also listed and sold the Seattle floating home on 2331 Fairview Ave E, Slip #A which closed on 10/31/2014 and had a final selling price of $345,000.

Other recent Seattle floating homes for sale that have closed in escrow are as follows:Seattle houseboats

2207 Fairview Ave E #1  Listed for $800,000 and sold for $730,000  2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths 986 sq feet closed 12/9/2014

2351 Fairview Ave E #K Listed for $1,150,000 and sold for $1,100,000 2 bedrooms, 1.75 baths 1300 square feet closed on 11/14/2014

There are quite a few off market Lake Union and Portage Bay Seattle houseboats opportunities at the moment as well.  Spring will being more of these listings to light, so let us know what you are looking for and we will keep you in mind as they come up. Courtney 206-850-8841 houseboats@cooperjacobs.com

Seattle houseboats

Seattle Houseboats: What A Difference A Few Weeks Makes In The Floating Home World!

Wow!  What a difference a few weeks makes for Seattle houseboats.


If you want to go back and review my Seattle Floating Homes Market Report from September, then please do so. In the course of three days in the first week or so in October, four Seattle floating homes went pending and one closed in escrow! There are only five Seattle floating homes for sale currently and only 2 of those are under $600k.

Seattle houseboats

Seattle Houseboats:  What A Difference A Few Weeks Makes In The Floating Home World!

Seattle houseboats for sale:  Of the five floating homes available for sale, here is the info:  These range in price from $550,000 to $1,890,000 with a median list price of $1,100,000.  Of these, my favorite is 2017 Fairview Ave E , Slip #O. It has owned moorage – the only one under $600 that owns its own slip.  It is well done, charming, updated, and on a great dock. They are also offering $6000 to go towards your closing costs. It’s a steal…

Pending in the MLS: There are 5 pending Seattle floating homes per the NWMLS.  These Seattle houseboats range in price from $345,000 to $1,300,000.

Seattle houseboats SOLD:  2369 Fairview Ave E #2 has closed in escrow! This is a luxury floating home on the high end Fairview Landing dock. It was listed for $2,950,000 and had a final sales price of $2,850,000 (96.61% sales price to list price). The home is a 3 bedroom 1.75 bath 2150 square foot “houseboat” built in 2009. It sold for $1,325.58 per square foot.


Would you like more information on these sales or Seattle floating homes both off and on the market? 

Courtney Cooper 206.850.8841 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate:  Seattle Houseboats Realtors

Seattle Houseboats: Catching Up With The Seattle Floating Homes Market Sept 2014

Summary:  Great Choices Available unless you want The Sleepless In Seattle Houseboat.june2010b 275

All year long, the story has been low inventory, low inventory, low inventory.  Now we have inventory.  Typically August is pretty quiet for Seattle houseboats sales, so it was no surprise to see that August was slow again. The real surprise, though, was the whole new crop of Seattle floating homes listings that have come on the market.  We have some really cool choices right now which span into every price range.

The 2014 Seattle floating home tour was a success this year and definitely increased interest in this great community.  Add to the the Boats Afloat show this weekend and I would say life on Lake Union is about as exciting as it can be aside from The Fourth Of July! If you are entering the Seattle houseboats world or already a houseboat buyer candidate, then this is truly your time to buy.  Seattle houseboats sellers are motivated because the inventory increase has added competition for the sale of their home.  Buyers are able to pick up some great floating homes right now.

So here are the Seattle houseboats that have sold in the floating home world (both on market and off market that I know about):

1. Sleepless in Seattle:  All the buzz is about Sleepless.  The house where Tom Hanks resided in while Meg Ryan chased after him in the original stalker movie – before stalking was actually even a thing besides in National Geographic and horror flicks… The Sleepless in Seattle houseboat has an amazing main level and a very dated upper level which I am sure the new owner will remedy.  It has one of the largest floats on the lake and also one of the largest moorage spaces on Lake Union if you have a boat you want to tie up to your house. It is definitely worth the over two million paid for it.  We almost sold it a couple times in the last year or so for over two million so we weren’t surprised. I knew it had been sold a couple months ago and put it here in my blog, but was politely asked to not report it yet.  The secret is out.  It is sold. Over two million dollars and a great deal in my opinion for one of the Duck Tour’s favorite shout outs on Lake Union.

2. Two floating homes on the 2025 Fairview Ave E Log Foundation dock also closed in the last 30 days. Slip M was a 625 square foot 1 bedroom and 1 bath houseboat built in 1930.  It was listed for $495,000 and after 428 days on market sold for 93.54% of its list price at $420,000.  Also on that dock was slip H – South facing 900 square foot floating home built in 1917, but updated.  We listed this one for $725,000 and it sold for full price 34 days later.

Seattle Houseboats Pending in Escrow – The Big news on the Lake and I mean big as in expensive and beautiful and amazing is that the Fairview Landing (2369 Fairview Ave E) Seattle luxury floating home listed for $2,950,000 is pending in escrow.  This is a lovely modern concrete dock with beautiful Seattle luxury floating homes and although this particular floating home is on the North side, the neighbors are amazing and so is the house. It’s a big sale on the lake and happy for the new buyers to have gotten on to this phenomenal gated dock.

What’s for sale now in the Seattle floating home world?seattle houseboats

Seattle houseboats for sale are in all price ranges right now – ranging from an unheard of low in Eastlake houseboats for $365,000 (1 bedroom on Tenas Chuck dock) to Roanoke Reef at $1,890,000.  We love the Tenas Chuck floating home for someone wanting to get on to the lake.

We also love 2017 Fairview Ave , Slip O – 2 bedroom home on a great dock for $617,000!  This one is so cute and appeals to many.  Good choice on one of the most well run coops on the lake. As far as the nicer homes go, we really love the house in Westlake listed for $1,299,000 at 2466 Westlake Ave N, Slip 7. You can have a FORTY FOOT BOAT tied up to your house there and it has been absolutely loved by its current owners.

seattle houseboatsAdditional reading about these Seattle houseboats:

Summary Of Seattle Houseboats

Seattle Houseboats Market Update Details

Please call or email me if you want to see anything listed on the lake  – or unlisted 🙂  We can show you any home listed by any broker and look forward to showing you some of our favorite spots on the lake. Courtney Cooper 206.850.8841

Seattle Houseboats MOVING on Memorial Day Weekend

Busy on The Lake…

We called it! The Seattle Houseboats market has heated up and Memorial Day weekend was proof of that.  We sold three Seattle floating homes over the weekend and we know of at least one other on the lake that went under contract.  There are only FOUR Seattle floating homes available for sale at the moment.

Seattle houseboats

Price Range Matters At The Moment-
All four Seattle houseboats that went under contract during the weekend were in the $700,000 and $800,000 range, leaving three lower priced floating homes on the market one million dollar plus floating home in Roanoke Reef.
Additionally, the last slip in Lake Union’s new construction floating home community of Wards Cove is also pending feasibility, so inventory got tighter very quickly.
We do know of at least one other Seattle floating home coming on soon so stay tuned.
Please let us know if you are thinking of selling – it is a good window of opportunity! houseboats@CooperJacobs.com 206.850.8841

Brand New Seattle Houseboats Listing!

Welcome to Life Afloat on Lake Union!

Seattle houseboats for saleThe Seattle Floating Homes Market In General: If you have been watching the Seattle houseboats market at all, then you know that there have not been a lot to choose from as of late.  Seattle floating homes have trickled onto the market very slowly and many have sold off market as demand increases. It is our pleasure to introduce this gem into the mix as it is a great spot to call home in Seattle!

2025 Fairview Ave E #H

Rare second from the end South facing Lake Union floating home in Eastlake with incredible features. Great interior spaces, French Doors to the back deck which opens up to a large channel and easy Lake action.

Enjoy relaxing in your “backyard” on your grandfathered in accessory float, plus there is space to put your own small boat alongside. Coveted Co-Op Owned Lake Union Moorage Slip and a well maintained floating home all on one of the most well run docks in the city.  This is truly an opportunity and it isnt often that these come up so close to the end of the dock. $725,000

Some of the basics on this Seattle floating home for sale:

  • 1 Bedroom
  • 1 Bath
  • 900 Square Feet
  • Large decks and storage areas
  • Owned Moorage
  • Accessory Float is “grandfathered in”
  • Room for a boat along side
  • Room for expansion

Although it is almost always more expensive dollar per square foot to purchase a Seattle houseboat, the low dues and low taxes make this home more affordable than a land home overall. They are quite a unique way to live in the city and we would be happy to tell you about it. Let us know, please, if you are interested in seeing this Seattle floating home or other Seattle houseboats for sale. We are happy to show you our favorites and walk you through the steps of purchasing one.

Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 Courtney@CooperJacobs.com

OK – So Basically You Have Three Choices…

Seattle Houseboats market staying afloat…

We know of a few Seattle floating homes that have sold recently off market including a front row Roanoke Reef floating home …  We also know of at least two others about to hit the market so stay tuned, but if you are interested in looking at Seattle houseboats right now, you have three choices.

We recommend this 950 square foot Seattle floating home with a rooftop deck.  It is listed for $499,950.  Here are the remarks from the MLS listing for this Eastlake houseboat:

This is a great opportunity to live life afloat and own your own moorage and great well run co-op dock! Extremely stylish floating home has a beautiful owner’s suite perched on the second floor. Nice open floor plan, kitchen with stainless steel appliances opening up to a casual great room. Fun decks and spaces, plus a roof top deck!

The other two choices are within the same Log Foundation co-op dock.  There is an adorable one on the same dock listed at $449,000 and then a couple docks South but still within the Log Foundation is an end of dock Seattle floating home still located in the Log Foundation and listed for $2,888,000.  It is on the most southern Seattle floating home dock in Eastlake so imagine the Seattle skyline views you have from there! It is supreme.

There is one other “on market” option and that is the very last homesite available at Wards’s Cove.  Ward’s Cove is the newest Seattle floating home dock and 11 out of the 12 slips have sold. It was listed for $630,000, but is currently under $600,000.  Ward’s Cove offers many amenities and some well designed floating home plan options, PLUS it is fee simple ownership.  This is RARE.  Another rare perk?  Parking!

Please let us know if you are interested in any of these or if you would like to see something else we may have upcoming…  206.850.8841 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Seattle Floating Homes Spring 2014 Update

Happy Spring, Seattle! Seattle Houseboats! I always love Spring because we start to see more Seattle floating homes coming on the real estate market. This has not been the case as of yet, but we are hopeful that the inventory will increase as the days grow warmer and the sky starts being blue more than grey.

Currently there are three Seattle floating homes for sale in the MLS.  They are all on one of the three Log Foundation docks.  There are two Seattle houseboats for sale on the 2025 Fairview Ave E Log Foundation Dock.  They are priced at $449,000 for a 625 square foot one bedroom floating home ($718.40/sq ft) and $499,950 for a 950 square foot one bedroom floating home ($526.26/sq foot).  In addition to these Seattle houseboats, there is a 3 bedroom end of dock Seattle floating home for sale on the 2017 Fairview Ave E Log Foundation Dock. Again End of dock houseboat so price is set at $2,888,000 for 1000 square feet ($2,888/sq ft).

Seattle houseboats on Lake Union In Eastlake

Seattle houseboats on Lake Union In Eastlake

In the MLS, there is one Seattle floating home pending, but we sold an additional off market Seattle floating home on the Roanoke Reef dock in the last couple of weeks and so we know of two pending overall. The three bedroom over at Portage Bay Place is 1500 square feet and listed for $750,000.  It is currently pending in escrow so we will keep you posted on what it sells for.  The Roanoke Reef floating home we sold is on the coveted front row of the Roanoke Reef dock located at 10 E Roanoke Street in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood.  The asking price? $2,150,000.  It is scheduled to close soon so we can share additional details after it closes, but are very excited to have been able to facilitate this one.

Overall, it is the same story:  Low Inventory.  Seattle houseboats are the ultimate in Seattle Waterfront Living℠ so there is always a demand. We have several cash buyers waiting to pounce on the right one, so let us know if you are even thinking about selling. We know our Seattle houseboats buyers well and can tell immediately if your home will be a good fit for them or if you would be better served to put it on the open market.  We look forward to hearing from you and hope you have a lovely Spring and Summer!

Here is our info if you are curious what your home is worth:  Courtney@CooperJacobs.com 206.850.8841

Seattle Houseboats On Lake Union In Eastlake: Floating Home On The Market

Seattle houseboats on Lake Union In Eastlake

Interested in dipping your feet into Lake Union’s Houseboat Community?

Seattle floating homes are few and far between – there are around 500 of them in the city and only about a dozen sell each year.  Here is a one bedroom with a rooftop deck:  2025 Fairview Ave E  It is a really good option if you want a nice combination of modern and Seattle houseboat living.  Seattle houseboats offer a unique perspective to waterfront living.

The “Higher” Costs Of Living on A Seattle Floating Home:

Many Seattle floating homes buyers are misinformed as to the cost of living on these.  Yes, dollar for dollar as far as square footage goes, there is a premium, but compared to other Seattle waterfront homes, this seems irrelevant.  The interesting part is that the cost of actually living in a Seattle floating home is significantly less than a land home once you purchase it.  The taxes are less and the dues cover a lot of the utilities you would pay more for in a land home.  For instance, the taxes on this Seattle floating home are only around $2000/year.  In a land home, they would be $3000 or more easily.

Here is the description of this Seattle houseboat from the MLS:

This is a great opportunity to live life afloat and own your own moorage and great well run co-op dock! Extremely stylish floating home has a beautiful owner’s suite perched on the second floor. Nice open floor plan, kitchen with stainless steel appliances opening up to a casual great room. Fun decks and spaces, plus a roof top deck!

Let us know if you are interested in a private showing of this Seattle floating home or others.  We can help you find Seattle floating homes on and off the market and have our fingers on the pulse of this market.  We are happy to help you whether you are buying or selling and will work hard for you!

Courtney Cooper (Courtney@CooperJacobs.com 206.850.8841)

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