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

Lake Union Landing Latest News!

Represented by Seattle Afloat: Lake Union Landing Slip 1 and beautiful Seattle houseboat Pearl closed in escrow for full price yesterday.

Seattle Houseboats for sale in the MLS: Here’s what was said about the beautiful Pearl houseboat in the listing that we put on:

Lake Union Landing and FullerStyle present to you Pearl, a stunning 2021 houseboat and the latest addition to this sought after co-op owned community. Pearl has a gorgeous nautical curved bow with windows placed strategically to incorporate natural light and views. She measures 36×14 and is fully equipped with high end and custom finishes plus city water and sewer. Luxurious design and uncompromised spaces will leave you pinching yourself daily wondering if you really live here. Stroll down the gated and private wide tree and bench lined dock boulevard like no other and enjoy the sights and sounds of lake living. Shared off street parking and steps to Burke Gilman Trail, local eateries, and UW campus. In city paradise!

Lake Union Landing is a beautiful tree lined wide boulevard style dock over Lake Union with full skyline views and a front row seat to all the action and boat parades on the water. It is like nothing you have seen to date in the city and full of surprises at every corner. This dock is incredibly special, but adding to this is the stellar designed and built houseboats by FullerStyle making Lake Union Landing Seattle’s premier new dock for floating residences. We are 50% sold now and slips are released on a limited basis. We have three currently available. Let us know if you would like more info. call/text 206-850-8841 or email houseboats@cooperjacobs.com

Seattle Houseboats & Floating Homes In The Freeze

Leah from Aqua Dive using a heat gun and a kayak as a work float to thaw part of a hard to reach waterline.

Happy New Year! Well, the “Seattle freeze” has been alive and well this week. All week temperatures dropped and it snowed in Seattle. When it snows on a floating home or houseboat, the biggest concern is usually removing the excess weight off the top and decks of your home as they were not built to withstand the additional load. Snow loads can make them top heavy and tipsy or even worse – sink them if the floatation is not adequate.

This week, though, the snow seemed lighter in weight than usual, and the bigger concern was the ice and frigid temperatures. It’s customary for everyone on the dock to drip their faucets during cold snaps. This one caught a lot of us off guard and many people were either out of town or simply forgot to run their faucets. The result was Monday morning most of the lake awoke with no running water.

As we warm up, it’s important to recognize what worked and what didn’t so that we can better prepare for the next cold snap.

The freeze was real!

Running water prevents pipes from freezing as the water is moving. Many docks are equipped with valves at either end so that the water flow can be turned on and off should the need arise to have running water. Individual houses should still run their water so that the connecting pipes between the floating homes and the dock do not freeze.

My dock does not have this valve system, but we have historically been able to keep our water flowing to our houseboats just by running our faucets. We have 19 floating homes on our dock and 2/3 of them were frozen in the morning including my own. I reached out to three vendors at 6AM and Aqua Dive answered my please for help. They spent the entire day unfreezing the majority of our homes and getting us back up and running. We were fortunate because our main line did not break, but surrounding docks had both frozen and broken pipes.

Aqua Dive spent the next few days working tirelessly to make sure my neighborhood was with water. We are very grateful for that and I learned a lot in the process.

Aqua Dive working on the connections and frozen pipes at The Shelby Dock in Portage Bay.

As a result, we are changing the way we do things so I thought it might be good to list some tips for keeping your water running in your floating home or houseboat during a cold snap.

  • Heat tape under the insulation on connectors between dock and house – Our floating homes only have our pipes insulated and what we found was once they were frozen the insulation actually KEPT THEM FROZEN. The better method is to install heat tape – specifically thermally activated heat tape which is an electric cable and aluminum tape that warms the pipes when the temperature drops below 37 degrees. The heat tape is installed under the insulation. It isn’t a guaranteed method and faucets should still be dripped, but it does warm the water enough to keep it flowing and then as a result it adds extra protection to the mainline.
  • Hot water and/or heat gun warming – We used both as well as Aqua Dive’s giant warming blower. With no running water, how do you boil water? The answer is that you are surrounded by water. Boil lake water in pots and pour on water line around and connected to your house. This was the best method we found for quick thawing and the dock neighbors mobilized and helped each other. If you are going to use a heat gun, just be careful not to light the insulation on fire and go easy. It can be too hot. I also saw many people using hairdryers to warm pipes, but the danger of hairdryers over water prevents me from recommending that. I saw one clever homeowner using his wife’s Dyson hairdryer to thaw out their pipes in the Mallard Cove floating homes neighborhood.
  • Community and Dock Reminders – This might be the most important for prevention. At least it would have prevented much of our frozen pipes on my dock. Email your neighbors, your dock, facebook group messages, text messages, etc. Our dock has an A-frame sign that we (forgot to) put out to remind people to turn on faucets at night and throughout the cold temperatures.
  • Home temperatures – Keep your thermostat turned up during cold snaps to warm the pipes on the inside of the house, too. Open your bathroom and kitchen cabinets under the sinks to let the heat in. Periodically run warm or hot water – or the dishwasher. This helps keep the sewer line warm, too.
  • Dripping may not be enough – The owner of one of the few floating homes on our dock that had running water was very proud to proclaim that the real trick is to not DRIP the faucet, but to run a steady low stream. Also, if you are only going to run one faucet then run the one furthest from the dock, but it is preferable to run all of them on a low stream for best results.
  • Creative work floats – We don’t have a work float on our dock, so Leah with Aqua Dive used my kayak to work on my waterline along my house which I could not otherwise reach. We are a creative bunch so be creative! But don’t fall in!
  • Prioritize help and come together – Help your neighbors with what they need. Check on their homes for them. Work together, and get the homes with elderly, children, and medically challenged up and running first. Offer the good people that work on your homes a bathroom and drink or a warmth break. Aqua Dive was able to use our dock cart to move all of their gear up and down docks all around us and that helped them be more efficient. It is all about taking care of each other and that is what this community is so good at.

Temps are warming up, and we are excited about the new year on the lake!

Lake Union Landing’s unique perspective

After the last week, my love for this community is reinforced and I am so happy to be a part of it. Seattle floating homes owners and houseboaters are a group of hardy and loving individuals and I will be forever grateful for all of you and the hardworking divers that help us. Both Seattle Dive and Aqua Dive were running around my little Gold Coast of Portage Bay this week and also around Eastlake and Westlake. We are so lucky to have them.

Despite the freezing weather, we were showing Lake Union Landing’s newest gem, “Pearl” repeatedly. In below freezing temps on the last day of 2021, this beautiful houseboat by FullerStyle received an offer and went into escrow.

We are so very excited about 2022 and our community is in demand now more than ever. Let us know if you are interested in a valuation. Lots of buyers out there. We are highly networked into the community and can help with all steps of the process. We have excellent references, too. houseboats@cooperjacobs.com 206-850-8841

seattle houseboats

Shakes On The Lake: Seattle Floating Homes During An Earthquake

seattle floating homes
Westlake waterfront of Lake Union shows our incredible community form this perspective,

Earthquake Bathtub Sloshing Effect Verified on Seattle Houseboats

Do we feel earthquakes? This is one of the questions We get when we talk to new prospective neighbors for our Seattle houseboats and Seattle floating homes communities. They want to know how Seattle floating homes feel during an earthquake.

If you have lived in one of the Seattle floating homes (or one of the houseboats) for any number of years, you may have felt the effect of an earthquake somewhere. Every once in a while the floating houses on Lake Union just move for no apparent reason – earthquake or not.  I remember the first time I experienced this strange phantom moving during an inspection for an end of dock floating home in Eastlake. 

Local legend Sid McFarland was checking the house out for us and I asked him what it was.  He told me every once in a while it just happens. Wise words from a lovely man whom we sorely miss in our community. I am also reminded of the time I asked him how people could live on docks with children as I held the hand of my then two year old son wearing a life jacket.  He looked at me sideways and said “they watch them”. He was so great and I am thankful I was able to learn from him early on.

Helpful Reading Resource For More on Our Floating Homes Community

Staying Afloat by Jeri Callahan (hardback)

If you want to read more about Sid, I love the chapter of Jeri Callahan’s Staying Afloat book called The Moving Man. It is sold in the FHA’s Houseboatique if you want a copy – We are also happy to include it in our housewarming gift to you when you purchase a floating home with us of course!

Later on, I felt those movements.  For Seattle earthquakes, it was a weird vibrating in my house much like the washing machine on spin cycle as the ground shook our dock pilings and moved my mooring arms.  And then there is the occasional sloshing as strange rollers bounce back and forth across Portage Bay for no apparent reason.  There is an explanation though.  Seattle floating homes during an earthquake or similar event can feel more movement from places far away. 

Verifying Seattle Floating Homes During An Earthquake From Some Of The Experts On The Lake

It was my great pleasure to be able to have the privilege of living next to the dear Betty Swift for many years.  She was a fantastic lady and an excellent resource for basically everything.  When I read the 2002 article by floating home resident Ed Waddington published in the Floating Homes Association Newsletter #140 about earthquakes and houseboats, I had to ask my reliable source. 

Betty said oh yes, she had felt many earthquakes over the years. She then described the seiche effect that our houseboats community experienced from an earthquake that occurred in Alaska.  She told me about the house lifting in a swelling of the water and then just kind of dropping. Then of course as the water bounced back and forth across Portage Bay there was a tea cup effect. This lined up very well with the Raleigh waves that Ed Waddington described in the article as feeling much like a “bathtub sloshing”. He went on to say that it feels very different than normal boat traffic wake waves.  Even with this occasional sloshing I personally feel the safest in my floating home during an earthquake.

Funny as I write this and review my notes from the article, I can’t help but notice that Betty is also published in this same issue. She served this community well always and was on the Environmental Committee of the FHA at the time.  Of course she was. What a lady. What a community!

Let us know what your experiences have been during various shakes on the lake. houseboats@cooperjacobs.com If you are interested in living in our community on the lake, please reach out to us. We work very hard to always serve the community first and love the people here. We are Seattle Afloat – Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841.

seattle houseboats

Seattle Houseboats Living: Floating Home Just Listed

Incredible community in Seattle! Small neighborhood feel while living in the middle of the city. Natural setting and the sounds of water offer the perfect city life.

Seattle houseboats living at its best in this cool Eastlake Floating home!

Have you thought about life in Seattle on a houseboat or floating home? Seattle houseboats living afloat is fabulous and here is a great floating home available now! Best panoramic views of Lake Union and beyond from your expansive rooftop deck on this super cool Seattle floating home in sought after Eastlake. Beautiful floating Seattle oasis with owner’s suite includes gorgeous bath and its own private southwest facing deck to admire the lake activity. One more bedroom or office on this level. Travel upstairs and capture incredible natural light and open concept with living room, dining room, eat in kitchen and half bath. Innotech tilt & turn windows are also special finds on floating homes.

Everyone who dreams of Seattle Houseboats Living, wants a great outdoor space, so we especially love the deck conveniently off this level for grilling up dinner. Then there is the rooftop deck! Seattle floating homes with rooftop decks are always on wish lists, but to find one so large is truly your own private “backyard”.

This is a great dock filled with awesome floating home and land neighbors and in a wonderful location. Living on a Seattle floating home is an absolute great way to enjoy all that the city has to offer while being in your own private water world with nature. It really makes the outside world melt away and is also great for easy access to water sports! $1,600,000

Details of this Seattle Floating Home

  • 2 bedrooms
  • 1.5 baths
  • 1155 Square feet
  • $550/month dues cover water, sewer, garbage, taxes on submerged parcel
  • roof top deck
  • co-op dock so you own a share in the dock to secure your slip ownership.
  • Full Listing and to schedule and appt.

Let us tour you through this beautiful floating home! houseboats@cooperjacobs.com

Seattle Houseboats Living: Moving Into A Floating Home Logistics

Moving by boat… Seattle houseboats living!

This is an interesting topic in the Seattle houseboats world. When you move into a home on land, you schedule the moving truck and they back into your driveway or park on the street in front of your home. What happens when you move in or out of a floating home? The answer is it depends. It depends on a number of factors and features really of your dock.

Seattle views on the water…
  1. Location. You hear about location, location, location in Seattle real estate, but never does that come into play more than when you are moving in or out of a floating home in Seattle. The neighborhood in which your dock is located is a crucial part of the puzzle when it comes to figuring out logistics of a move. Floating homes are at street ends and alleys in many cases in Portage Bay, and tight streets exist in Eastlake, Fremont, Wallingford, and Westlake. Taking the time to find out if the moving truck can even fit close to your dock is important. Make sure to have the movers come out and map out the plan.
  2. Communication. Let your dock know the plan. There may be a loading zone or parking spaces which need to be reserved.
  3. Security. You may need to ask for help from someone who can physically watch your belongings while furniture and boxes are moved up or down the dock so that the truck is not left unattended at any time.
  4. Use of Dolly, Cart, etc. First of all, make sure that the wheels of a third party cart or dolly are not going to be damaging to your dock surface. Seattle floating home docks usually have great carts for moving your belongs up and down the dock, but you might want to ask the dock board if it is okay to use them for a floating home household move. They are in place at the head of the houseboats dock so that all the floating home residents can use them in every day life. Additional wear and tear on them may not be welcome.
  5. Moving from dock to dock or from one floating home on the dock to another on the same dock? Consider filling a boat! This is especially great for planters and outdoor furniture, but can be a great mode of transport for indoor belongs as well.
  6. Leveling it. Last note and important!!! When you move furniture in and out you may need to call a diver to come level your home – especially if you are moving a particularly heavy piece of furniture! The diver may need to come out and move flotation around or add more…

There are some great choices available right now – both on land and in the floating home world. Let us know if you are interested in exploring our amazing Seattle neighborhoods. I live and work in Seattle and am your absolute advocate in the Seattle houseboats world. Current Seattle floating homes listings range in price from $995,000 to $2,950,000 and can be found in Eastlake and Portage Bay.

Contact us. We are your Seattle Houseboats Experts and look forward to helping you and answering all your questions. houseboats@cooperjacobs.com

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.  

2018 Seattle Floating Homes Tour: Tickets On Sale!

The 2018 Seattle Floating Homes Tour! 2018 Seattle floating homes tour

Tickets just went on sale for this year’s tour!

The Seattle Floating Homes Tour only happens every two years!  Buy your tickets here before it’s too late:

Sunday, September 9th, 2018  Noon to 5 p.m. 

At Seattle Afloat, we are so proud to be supporters of the 2018 Seattle Floating Homes Tour!  Each tour, we work extremely hard  and we volunteer our time and sponsor the tour with our money. We love the Seattle floating homes community and this year’s 2018 Seattle floating homes tour is worth the price of admission ten fold! Want to have a peek into this amazing lifestyle and dream about living on Lake Union afloat? Here is the description of this year’s exciting tour!  We have seen the tour houses personally and you won’t be disappointed!

Don’t delay, the tickets for the 2018 Seattle Floating Homes Tour sell out fast!

The Seattle Floating Homes Association is pleased to present the Eclectic Eastlake 2018 Floating Homes tour! On Sunday September 9, from noon until 5, a dozen specially selected homes will be available for viewing from 2017 Fairview up to Mallard Cove at 2600 Fairview. You will come away with an appreciation of why Seattle’s floating home owners cherish their lifestyle and why they have become known as the Stewards of the Lake for nurturing the nature and animal habitats the docks, homes and surrounding foliage provide.  Nowhere else in the world will you find the coexistence of wildlife and city life blending so harmoniously. We look forward to having you as our guest! 

Proceeds from the 2018 Seattle Floating Homes Tour will benefit the Seattle Floating Homes Association and its mission to protect, preserve and promote the vitality of Seattles historic floating homes community through education, advocacy, environmental stewardship and collaboration. Parking is available in the lots south of E Newton on Fairview Ave E, at the Blue Ribbon Cooking School to the north and on side streets throughout the neighborhood.  Food, coffee and dessert trucks will be on hand for purchase of refreshments, and a bus will be circulating throughout the afternoon at several spots along the route.

This is a self-guided WALKING tour with stairs, uneven pavement and over-water dock surfaces; please plan accordingly. No backpacks, strollers, food or drinks are allowed in the homes. The tour will take place rain or shine, and everyone who wants to participate in the tour will need a ticket, except babes in arms. 

2018 Seattle Floating Homes Tour Ticket Information  :  Tour tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets. Ticket price is $55. Capacity is limited so advance purchase is highly recommended. Ticket Brochures will be mailed 1-2 weeks prior to the tour to Washington addresses only. Any out of state addresses can pick up their brochures at Will Call, at the ticket tent in the parking lot across the street from 2025 Fairview Ave. E. (between E. Boston and E. Newton), on the day of the tour beginning at 11:00am. Once you have this brochure you can start the tour at any location you chose.

Want to learn more about Seattle Houseboats and other types of  Seattle Waterfront Living?  We are Seattle Realtors who specialize in this special niche!  We would live to show you our favorite Seattle floating homes, luxury homes, and waterfront homes and are happy to help you find your perfect home in Seattle.  You can call/text us at 206-850-8841 or email Houseboats@cooperjacobs.com

Seattle Houseboats Inventory Afloat! What’s Happening Here?

Lake Union Inventory: There is a lot to choose from on the lake right now!

In the world of Seattle houseboats, there are floating homes, vessels, and barges.  When you look at our Seattle houseboats for sale page on Cooper Jacobs it may seem daunting as a seller, as there are more than TWENTY over the water homes for sale right now, but only eight of these are classified as Seattle floating homes. At least a dozen are other types of Seattle houseboats are also for sale – some of which are extremely fancy and worth considering if you are a floating home buyer.

In short, inventory is not a problem on the lake right now.

In fact, inventory across the Puget Sound has drastically gone up and as a result we are seeing longer market times in the higher end floating home market.  Basically, if you are priced around a million or higher, then it is taking longer to sell your floating home. As things inevitably slow down, floating homes tend to be steadier than land homes in price, but also take longer to sell.

So what is for sale right now? Out of the eight for sale, only seven Seattle floating homes are being offered with owned moorage slips included (they own the water in which they are residing). Purchasing a floating home with condo or coop owned moorage is the most secure form of ownership for your floating home as these are not generally mobile and there aren’t usually alternative moorage locations for them.  Prices for these special Lake Union homes range from $1,749,950 for a coop owned slip and floating home in Eastlake to $3,499,000.  Five of the current offerings are in Eastlake and two of them are in Portage Bay.

Here are our favorites of the current Seattle Floating Homes For Sale:

seattle floating homes2017 Fairview Ave E #N     $1,795,000

Step aboard your newly remodeled floating home in Eastlake. Gorgeous kitchen includes granite counter tops, new cabinets, under counter refrigerator, and warm your toes on the heated Travertine floors. Or opt to use your outdoor grill while soaking up the sun and views. In the lower level, a comfortable master bedroom with ample closets, a cozy fireplace, and access to the lake from your deck. Second bedroom plus bonus room. Walk to Serafina, SLU, Essential Bakery, Pete’s Market.

2822 Boyer Ave E #2             $2,350,000seattle houseboats

Luxury high end 3 BR smart home floating paradise w/ rooftop deck. Automated lighting, Lutron shades, sec cams, 10-zone audio, more w/ touch pad controls throughout house & remote access. Decks on 3 levels. Exotic zebra hardwood, Pedini Italian cabinets, underlit glass molded cast glass staircase + 6 antique operable brass portholes from an English luxury liner. Upscale kitchen w/ Bosch and Gagganau + outside Lynx BBQ cooking area. Solar powered boat lift. Parking, Moorage, Low Dues,Great location!

3146 Portage Bay Pl E #G      $1,999,000

seattle floating homesBeautifully designed by Prentiss Architecture, this new floating home expands over 1,980 square feet of luxury. Handsome cedar on the exterior and warmth from radiant heat inside. Black honed soapstone kitchen counters compliment custom cherry cabinets with energy efficient stainless steel appliances. Gorgeous Maple hardwood floors unite the open concept floor plan. Loewe windows + nano doors to bring the outdoors in. Category 5 wiring. Seattle waterfront at it’s finest.

Let us know if you want to see any of the current inventory or if you are curious what your floating home might be worth.  We are happy to help you buy or sell your home.  Regarding any statistical info from the NWMLS: Information and statistics derived from Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

seattle floating homes

Seattle Floating Home For Sale: Rooftop Deck & Parking

Spring is here! Come enjoy this rooftop deck!

New construction Seattle floating home is awaiting your decor!  Be the first to live in this gorgeous brand new home with high end everything.  $2,100,000

  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2.5 Bath
  • Condo owned dock (the most secure way to own a Seattle floating home)
  • Brand New and Never Lived In!
  • 1980 Square Feet
  • Roof top deck
  • Deeded Parking Space and Storage
  • Gorgeous grounds

Call/Text Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 for your private showing or more info.

 

No Seattle Floating Homes Inventory!

No Seattle Floating Homes Inventory!seattle floating homes

Seattle floating homes sellers – want to get the most return on your asset? We have buyers waiting for Seattle floating homes to come on the market!  Since every home is unique, there is always a pool of buyers waiting for exactly the right Seattle floating home to get listed in the MLS. This is how you will get the most amount of money. You want these buyers to look at your property and compete if they love it. Although we obviously recommend listing your home (with us), we are always happy to match one of our buyers with your floating home if you would like a quiet off market sale for one reason or another. We just need a few details. You can email us at houseboats@cooperjacobs.com and we are happy to get you a price range depending on the various details of your home.

seattle houseboatsLooking for a Seattle floating home to buy? There is literally no inventory on the lake. We know of a few about to come on in the higher range ($2M – 4M) and we know of a 2 bedroom/1.75 bath FSBO (for sale by owner) at $985,000.  We also know of some people thinking about selling their floating homes, but there is no inventory on the market currently on Lake Union (including Lake Union’s Portage Bay). We can keep you posted and look out for those off market floating homes and waterfront home deals for you as well.

Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841

We are Seattle Floating Homes Experts and Seattle Waterfront Living advocates.  We would be happy to help guide you through the process of buying or selling your floating home in the current jungle of the Seattle real estate market. Things have changed drastically  – even in the last six months.  We look forward to hearing how we can help you. Please also feel free to email us: homes@cooperjacobs.com.

seattle houseboats slip for sale

Investor Alert: Seattle Floating Home Moorage Site For Sale

seattle houseboats slip for saleBuy a piece of the Lake in Seattle!

Not ready to jump all the way into Seattle floating home living, but still want to get your feet into the Seattle floating home water living real estate market?  This is a great opportunity to purchase a piece of Lake Union. Located in the eastern arm of Lake Union in Portage Bay, this Seattle houseboats slip currently leases to a tenant floating home, but the possibilities are endless. It’s a great investment on a wonderful co-op dock with a parking spot included!  You can purchase the slip as an investment, collect rental income, and own a coveted parking spot all while enjoying the investment benefits of Seattle real estate appreciation.

Portage Bay is a fabulous part of Lake Union!  You are surrounded by the tranquility of calmer waters, but never very far from anything you need.  Just down the block from the acclaimed and much celebrated grocery and eatery Little Lago, and surrounded by parks and beauty, this dock is on the Portage Bay Loop which is only slightly longer in length than Green Lake. Walk to Eastlake, University District, and more plus a quick commute to Amazon, University of Washington, and Children’s Hospital. Surrounded by multi million dollar properties and great spot between Lake Washington and the Puget Sound.  $435,000

Call/Text  Courtney Cooper for more information 206-850-8841 We are excited to share with you this wonderful Seattle waterfront lifestyle and all the perks of living Life Afloat In Seattle houseboats@cooperjacobs.com

seattle floating homes

Step in to Style on the Lake in this Floating Home!

Brand New Construction Seattle Floating Home On Lake Union!

Tucked away in the exclusive enclave of  Seattle floating homes in Portage Bay, is this beautiful gem which is brand new and gleaming from sky to lake.

Be the first to own a new construction floating home on a great condo owned dock. This beautiful custom designed home by Prentiss+Balance+Wickline marvels in walnut hardwood floors throughout the 1580 square feet of luxury. Four decks to entertain or soak up the sun. The reverse floor plan maximizes views and light in a 360 fashion. A chef’s kitchen makes it fun to entertain and cook. Timeless Ceasarstone counter tops & custom cabinetry. Spectacular roof top deck for more outdoor space.

  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2.5 Baths
  • 1580 Square Feet
  • Built in 2017

If you have luxury living in mind then step one foot in this floating abode and be transported to comfort and tranquility! Be the first chapter of this gorgeous home’s life and enjoy the amazing community you find yourself lucky enough to be in now! Life really is better on the lake afloat! $1,898,000

Want to see it? Call/Text Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 or email us at houseboats@cooperjacobs.com

Eastlake Floating Home For Sale – In City Peaceful Setting

Eastlake Floating Home For Sale – In City Peaceful Setting

2339 Fairview Ave E

Southwest exposure for this SECOND FROM THE END Eastlake floating homes w/ marvelous open floor plan. Swanky clad exterior siding, IPE decking, sliding walls of glass open up to the outside and gorgeous views all around including city and Space Needle. This is the sought after Three bedroom floating home you have been looking for. Two baths, heated floors, vaulted ceilings, custom staircase, roof top deck, & gorgeous upper master suite. Close to Amazon, Downtown, & more. Boat Moorage, too!

$1,995,000

Courtney Cooper

Seattle Houseboats Experts – We are happy to show you this incredible property.  Please let us know if you are interested in Seattle floating homes and how we can help you buy or sell one of the best lifestyles in Seattle. We love our job and look forward to helping you! Here are some more pictures of this one – You can see why it is so special…  We look forward to hearing from you!

seattle houseboats Seattle floating homes in Eastlake seattle houseboats seattle floating homes

Seattle houseboats for sale

Equity Alert: Eastlake Floating Home For Sale

Seattle floating homes for saleSeattle Houseboats Living For Under $500k! (Equity Potential Alert)

It is difficult to get your feet wet in the Seattle floating homes market for under $500,000.  This is an opportunity to take a solid fixer floating home and make it shine.  Seattle floating homes typically trade for around $900 a square foot with a variance of course for features such as a roof top deck, moorage, dock position, parking, pet policy, etc., but a good rule of thumb is $900/ sq ft which puts this one close to $550,000 minimum and likely closer to $625k fixed up because it does have great dock position. Seattle houseboats for sale

“We are constantly asked if there is a ‘Good Deal’ in the Seattle Floating Homes market…”  – Courtney 

The only “Good Deal” is one you work for and you have to put the work in.  We can find them for you.  Imagine what you could do with this great room concept! And imagine the Fourth Of July parties you could host in the heart of Lake Union!  Buyers love the rustic look of the wood ceilings and it is easy to turn this historic classic into a modern oasis in the city because of the easy interior spaces already in place. Add a slick modern color palette and the combination of historical meets modern is something that no one can resist.

Seattle houseboats remodelingAt 611 square feet and an open concept, the price and size combined with lifestyle beats the heck out of living in a Belltown or South Lake Union condo and you are waterfront.  This is the most affordable in city living and the most affordable Seattle waterfront living. Come home form work and let your troubles fly away as you walk down the dock.  You can have all your water toys right there hanging on your house and you can kayak off your beautiful “back door” in the channel between houseboat rows. Forget trying to drag your canoe down to Lake Union Park and launching it.  Have it at your feet anytime.

This particular floating home is on a coop dock.  This is similar to a condo in that your slip ownership is more secure.  You are not leasing the slip. You are buying a piece of history and have the opportunity to put your stamp on a blank canvas. We are excited to help your Seattle Waterfront Living lifestyle dreams come true!

Call/Text Courtney Cooper at 206-850-8841 for more info or for your own private showing.  You can also email us at houseboats@cooperjacobs.com.  We are Seattle floating homes specialists and experts on the lake. We would love to talk to you about Seattle Waterfront Living and Life Afloat in Seattle!  It’s a special lifestyle and there are lots of interesting differences between living on water and living on land.

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

1213 e shelby st

July 2016 Lake Union Floating Homes Real Estate Market

seattle floating homesSeattle Houseboats:  The Current July 2016 Lake Union Floating Homes Real Estate Market Update

There are just four Seattle floating homes for sale currently – two are Eastlake floating homes (one on the Log Foundation dock and one on Wards Cove) and two of the Portage Bay floating homes including one on the sought after Shelby Dock (THREE recent sales there!) and an end of dock beauty on the Boyer On The Bay dock.  Lots going on in the Seattle Houseboats world for sales pending and closings as a result! Current prices for the available Seattle floating homes start at $675,000 and go to $3,200,000 for the luxury beauty on the state of the art Wards Cove dock.

Seattle Floating Homes Pending in Escrow:  There are three pending Seattle floating homes for sale – all in Eastlake – including our cool Tenas Chuck listing and one we sold on The Lake Union dock (price range of these is $650,000 to $959,000). There is a cutie Portage Bay floating home that is Pending Inspection at a list price of $475,000.

Sales Sales Sales

SIX Seattle floating homes have closed in escrow in the last couple of months!

1213 E Shelby St #7 1 bedroom 1 bath built in 1997 was listed for $725,000 , dropped their price to $695,000 and then had a final sales price of $675,000 (97.12% of list price).  It closed 7/6/2016.

1213 E Shelby St #12 1 bedroom 1 bath 840 square feet built in 1995 sold on 6/30/2016 after 37 days on the market.  It was listed for $798,000 and sold for $725,000 (90.85% of list).

2019 Fairview Ave E #N 2 bedroom 1 bath built in 1976 and affectionately known as the Hobbit house sold on 6/20/16 for $770,000 which was 98.09% of it’s $785,000 list price after 68 days on the market.

2219 Fairview Ave E #2 2 bedroom 1.5 bath built in 1974 listed for $950,000 and sold for full asking price after 80 days on the market.

2339 Fairview Ave E #N This was an amazing sale. 1 bedroom 1 bath 1367 square feet was listed for $1,795,000 and sold after 6 days on the market for $2,000,000 (111.42% of list price!!!).  That is $1,463.06/ sq ft and it isn’t an end of dock home!

1213 E Shelby St #6 – We sold it! Listed for $700,000 and closed this last Friday for full price.  1 bedroom 1 bath 777 square feet with beautiful scenic views. This historic 1930 home is about to get a beautiful makeover and we are thrilled.

Seattle Floating Homes Tour 2016

Gearing UP – We are gearing up for the biannual Seattle Floating homes Tour.  We volunteer our time and money to this incredible community cause.  We live and work here and this is extremely important to us! Tickets go on sale soon! Please let us know if you are interested in:

  • Learning more about this iconic Seattle waterfront lifestyle
  • Need to learn how to buy or sell your Seattle floating home
  • Are interested in getting a price range for your home
  • Want to see all Seattle floating homes listings

We look forward to hearing from you! Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841  houseboats@cooperjacobs.com

seattle houseboats for sale in eastlake

Seattle Houseboats for Sale: 2331 Fairview Ave E, Slip X Floating Home Just Listed

Seattle Houseboats for Sale: 2331 Fairview Ave E, Slip X

Seattle Floating Home Just Listed and available for the first time in 20 years!

Looking at Lake Union and Seattle houseboats? Living on Lake Union is one of the most amazing Seattle lifestyles!

It is interesting because usually when we hear about a Seattle floating home that hasn’t been on the market for two decades, we wince a little and wonder what kind of project we may be walking into.  Seattle houseboats can be quite dilapidated at times and there are many older ones which have much deferred maintenance. That is absolutely not the case with this Seattle floating home located at 2331 Fairview Ave E in Slip X.  It is simply stunning and makes me want to sit down and have a glass of wine and chat with the neighbors on a warm sunny day with the water lapping at my toes. Seattle houseboats

The pictures tell a beautiful story of a love affair with a home which is quite obvious at first glance, but look further at the details which have gone into this home over the years and it is difficult to not be impressed.  From the exterior being painted in the last five years to the stringers being replaced as needed, inside and out there are upgrades and detailed maintenance tasks like none we have seen before.  From the gas lines and new electrical and windows to the raised ceiling, vaulted ceilings, and sunny skylights, this home is comfortable for modern living.  The kitchen is upscale with both an eating bar and a dining room with French doors out to the deck.  There are the seldom found in a floating home luxuries of  gas cooking, a gas fireplace, and on-demand hot water, plus additional practical bigger ticket items like a new roof in 2010. Two bedrooms, a bath, and lots of character await you here with an asking price of only $650,000.

Seattle houseboats for saleHere are the MLS listing remarks for our brand new Seattle floating homes listing on Lake Union:

Picture yourself living a fabulous Lake Union waterfront lifestyle in this beautiful  Seattle floating home. Well maintained and remodeled, this south facing home has a sunny disposition and is the perfect place to let the summer in. Gorgeous kitchen with upscale appliances has eating bar and dining room with warm wood floors and French doors that open up to your own private deck retreat. Listen to the seaplanes while you sip coffee or take your kayak or SUP out for a jaunt on the lake without the heavy lifting.Seattle houseboats kitchens

It’s a great place and you won’t be disappointed.  Please let us know if you are interested in Seattle houseboats for sale.  We are happy to help!

(Email us at houseboats@cooperjacobs.com)

seattle houseboats interiors

Eastlake Floating Home Offers Perfect Place To Enjoy Seattle Waterfront Living

Seattle Floating Home For Sale – The Cutest Eastlake Houseboat Fr Sale On Lake Union Is Available!seattle houseboats interiors

2207 Fairview Ave E:  The iconic Lake Union lifestyle you have only dreamed about!

Located in Eastlake’s enclave of Seattle floating homes, this mid-dock light and bright Lake Union beauty is completely remodeled with an open floor plan featuring 2 bedrooms, vaulted ceilings, bamboo floors & new kitchen! Enjoy cozy extras like heated bathroom floor, new electrical, plumbing, windows & insulation.

Enhanced further only by the timeless willow tree that also resides here in harmony, this floating home has a great relationship with Lake Union and is the perfect place to write your novel or relax and get some much needed water therapy. $735,000

  • 2 bedrooms
  • 1 bath (with heated floors!)
  • 832 square feet
  • All New Remodeled
  • Boat Moorage with dock permission
  • Owned slip

Live The Lake Union Dream In Eastlake

Lake UNionThis charming Eastlake floating home has upscale character and open living with beautiful vaulted ceilings and lots of room for storage.  The surfaces are desirable and you will be delighted at every turn.  IN addition,, it has one of the largest back decks that we have seen in a while.  It’s a perfect place to launch your SUP or kayak! Imagine not having to lug it down to the lake every time you want to use it!  Imagine friends on Fourth Of July! This is the dream.  Taxes on the home are only $1042 a year and dues are $371 a month. Enjoy living close to Downtown Seattle, Amazon, and more, but still in the peaceful serenity of nature on Lake Union.

If you want to learn more about living on Seattle houseboats and why you should buy one now, then please check out our list about the 29 reasons you want to live on a Seattle Houseboat now.   Number 4 is a big one:  “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.

Want to Learn More About This beautiful home and Seattle Floating Homes?

Please let us know if you would like to see this beauty or other Seattle Houseboats (although we think this one is AWESOME).  We know Seattle floating homes and it has a ton of attention on it currently. 2207 Fairview Ave E won’t last long!  Call/Text/Email Seattle Waterfront Homes Specialists and Seattle Houseboats Experts:

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

We are happy to tell you about Seattle floating homes and the Lake Union lifestyle.  We are excited to show you this Seattle Waterfront Living experience!

Just Listed! Seattle Floating Home in Eastlake

Spectacular Seattle floating home for sale!seattle floating home deck

Looking at Seattle floating homes?  You can’t get better than this 2007 Eastlake floating home nestled on the south side of the dock. Sweeping 365 degree views from the rooftop, large French doors open up to wide channel with room for a boat. Gorgeous setting and beautiful interiors with perks like a master walk in closet, marble tile, and built in central vacuum. Upscale custom cabinetry and Craftsman fixtures, gas fireplace, new washer/dryer, sub zero fridge, and additional flotation added to this well built floating home.

Some of the highlights….

  • 360 degree views from rooftop
  • Moorage for your boat with Dock permission
  • Pet friendly dock
  • Dues: $420/mo cover general dock fund for maintenance, real estate taxes for co-op, and any matters of vote
  • Offered for: $945,000seattle floating homes

Please call Courtney for more info or to set up a private tour of this exclusive floating residence:

Courtney Cooper 206.850.8841
courtney@cooperjacobs.com

This Seattle floating home listed by Realtors at Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Group

Christmas Ships 2015

Christmas Ships 2015 Parade Of Boats On Lake Union

Seattle Lake Union Christmas Ships Are Back In 2015 –

Christmas Ships 2015

Map of Parade route on Argosy Cruise site.

Christmas Ships On Lake Union: The 2015 Argosy Cruises Christmas Ships are part of their Christmas Ship Festival has its Parade of Boats Night on December 18th. The Parade of Boats is a long standing Seattle Tradition and a huge party of holiday living on Lake Union. Simply put, the holidays would not be the holidays in Seattle without the Christmas Ships. The holiday boats parade route begins at Fisherman’s Terminal in Magnolia, goes through the Fremont Cut into Lake Union.  Northlake and Westlake floating homes are the first to see the beautiful parade of boats come into Lake Union as they make their way South along the west side of the lake before curving back up in South Lake Union and going along their way adjacent to Eastlake. Seattle houseboats in both Westlake and Eastlake have the very best vantage points, but there are a lot of parks along the way and throughout the Lake Union Loop making it an amazing site for all.

More thank just Christmas Ships Passing in 2015 – There are Performances, too!

The parade of Christmas Ships officially begins at 7:45 PM and ends just past Wards Cove at around 8:30.  There will be performances along the way including one at Fisherman’s Terminal from 7:30 to 7:45, so get there early if that is your vantage point. Another performance will be at the Fremont Cut from 8:05 to 8:25 so a great place to watch the parade from is the Fremont Canal Park or also along the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Lake Union Holiday Tradition –

The Christmas Ships are a Lake Union tradition and a hug part of Seattle houseboat living and the Seattle holidays overall.  It is such a  lovely event that Argosy Cruises puts on. There is nothing quite like seeing the beautiful lit up boats parade through Lake Union and surrounding Seattle waterways.  The reflections and pure holiday spirit are invigorating and worth every effort in finding parking. The other thing I forgot to mention is that you can register to have your boat in the parade if you like.  There will judging as you enter Lake Union and there will be prizes for best decorated vessels in the following categories according to the Argosy site:

1. Peoples’ Choice Award (method of tallying votes TBA)
2. Best In Show
3. Best Seahawks 12’s Boat Theme
4. Best Santa, Reindeer Christmas Theme
5. Most Overall Christmas Lights with Holiday Spirit
6. Best Holiday Decorated Powerboat
7. Best Holiday Decorated Sailboat
8. Best Holiday Decorated Commercial Vessel
We are looking forward to seeing some of the creative Seattle Christmas Ships and can’t wait to be sipping our hot cocoa from our own choice spot on Lake Union.  Please let us know if you are interested in learning more about life on Lake Union or in a Seattle floating home.  We would love to show you our favorite Lake Union docks and Seattle houseboats. email: houseboat@cooperjacobs.com
colorful Seattle houseboats

A Little “Dirt” On Seattle Houseboats History You May Not Know

Seattle houseboats

Colorful Seattle Houseboats History on The Log Foundation docks of Eastlake in 2014. Image courtesy of Cooper Jacobs Real Estate.

Seattle Houseboats History Has A “Colorful” Background & Entrepreneurial Spirit Transcends Time…

To look at all the colorful and cheery Lake Union floating homes today is to never know how truly Seattle houseboats history is. Seattle floating homes are a living and evolving part of Seattle’s history.  From their humble beginnings over a hundred years ago as floating shanties compiled of pillaged lumber, it is amazing to see that some sell for over $3 Million dollars in today’s real estate market.

Seattle houseboats were originally built in two different ways.  Either the worker would utilize his commuting work boat and build living quarters above it, or they would gather “loose” logs and raft them together to build a completely free floating structure.  It was an inexpensive way of living and was tax free on top of it.

Madison Park Seattle houseboats

Map of Seattle houseboats along shores of Madison Park. Image Courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives Item #944

At the peak, the Seattle floating homes community was as large as two thousand houseboats lining the shores of the city in various locations which even included Madison Park in Lake Washington.  The residents of the surrounding Seattle neighborhoods reportedly snubbed them and looked down at this way of life.  They apparently felt that it was beneath their standards and so began the struggle of Seattle houseboats to Stay Afloat In Seattle™.  Today there are around 500 Seattle floating homes and probably another two or three hundred liveaboards that are officially newly categorized as Seattle Floating On-Water Residences (final count once all have registered themselves in the latest legislation). The latest Seattle floating home dock was a new construction floating home development called Ward’s Cove.  Very specific requirements need to be in place in order to develop new construction Seattle floating homes, so it is next to impossible to do so.

If The City Historically Wanted Them Gone, Why Did They Allow Docks To Begin With?

Denny Hill View

Here is a view towards Downtown from the South slope of Denny Hill in 1886 (photo courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives Item # 2869)

The short answer is The University of Washington. Wait.  What? The long answer is that Seattle has a very long history of making some incredibly hairbrained decisions as far as infrastructure goes. A perfect example (and my apologies for going off subject here for a minute, but….) The Denny Regrade: The hill is too big?  Scrape it into the Puget Sound. In 1900, the city decided to basically eliminate a whole hill which covered 62 city blocks.  Denny Hill was a significantly beautiful hill in Seattle.  It had a gorgeous crowned jewel of a hotel atop it that was so grand that even President Theodore Roosevelt stayed there! It had an old cemetery and a beautiful park on it with expansivel views in all directions.  In all, they removed a reported six million cubic yards of earth.

Connecting the dots:  What does this all have to do with Seattle houseboats and The University of Washington? Let’s go backwards.  The modern day campus of The University of Washington was largely laid out and shaped by The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909.   In 1907 the city of Seattle platted and sold the submerged “parcels” in Lake Union to the adjacent waterfront property land owners.  This enabled docks to be built and Seattle houseboats to be moored to them.  According to The Lake Union Mail on an article about Submerged Parcels Park on the Cheshiahud Loop, “The “Lake Union Shore Lands” were created in 1907 as a funding mechanism for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (S.B. #101). Water extending from shore approximately one block (roughly 400 feet) was platted as buildable land, then sold. These parcels didn’t sink, they started sunk. And they were considered valuable.” Now you know how a World’s Fair, Denny Hill, The University of Washington, and Seattle Houseboats are related.

Seattle houseboats booze hatch

While replacing the carpet for one of our Seattle historic houseboat listings in 2010, we found an old booze hatch left over from Prohibition days. Image Courtesy of Courtney Cooper.

More Shady Past on The Lake: Life Afloat In Seattle℠: You Want To Stay Dry, Except When It Comes To Your Drink…..

Creativity has always been a strong characteristic of the Seattle floating homes community.  This was never so true as during the prohibition era. According to the 1996 article by Sharon Boswell in The Seattle Times, “But for those who couldn’t afford the pleasures of Doc’s or one of the hundreds of other boozy night spots and music clubs along Jackson Street, in Belltown or even on Lake Union houseboats, there was always a bottle of locally produced bootleg available to consume in the privacy of home.”  If floating homes seem like an unlikely place to get your alcohol fix then consider that In his highly acclaimed book, “Seattle’s Unsinkable Houseboats”, Howard Droker tells the story of a very enterprising entrepreneur who along with the cedar bark he sold off his boat, also sold smuggled Canadian liquor.

It’s absolutely true.  If you take a peek under carpets of older floating homes you will see the leftover evidence of the Prohibition era and how crafty houseboaters were able to not stay dry.  Many of them have hidden trap doors under the floor that were used for storing alcohol.  At one point in time there were regular “rum run” routes such as the one Droker writes about which would make their rounds delivering to Lake Union floating homes. These booze hatches were ingenious and stored between the floating logs with a wire cage so that the waters of the lake itself could keep the liquor cold and well hidden.  According to HistoryLink.org, The Seattle Times noted at one point that in regard to those wild times, “Some of the stories behind the houseboat population are as colorful as anything that ever came out of Seattle’s history, but respect for another’s privacy and past is an unspoken code on the lake.”

Seattle houseboats for sale in Eastlake

This historic Seattle houseboat was once used as a floating dance hall. It is for sale today for $697,000. Listed by Cooper Jacobs Real Estate. 

Seattle Houseboats Are Still Afloat & Strong Today

Go experience their magic – Take a kayak tour through Lake Union and Portage Bay where you will find what is left of the Seattle floating homes community.  Take a walk around Lake Union on the Cheshiahud Loop. Lake Union is the very heart of the city. Try and imagine the colorful past as you look at the beauty and creativeness which is so abundant today.  This is a living and breathing Seattle neighborhood, but also a significant part of Northwest history.  It is as vibrant as the wonderful people who live in it.  I am so thankful to have known so many of them and appreciate how they have enriched my life so far.  Please also take a minute and donate to the Seattle Floating Homes Association if you can.

Want more information on Seattle houseboats?

seattle houseboats expertsWe are happy to help!  Please call Courtney.  We are Seattle Houseboats Experts ℠, and have been Seattle Realtors specializing in floating homes and waterfront for many years. We look forward to helping you find your piece of Lake Union.

Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841
We can immediately answer your questions or email us at houseboats@CooperJacobs.com
Seattle Afloat ® We want to help you live your life Afloat In Seattle Cooper Jacobs Real Estate

Seattle Houseboats In The MLS Again Soon

Houseboats For Sale In Seattle Soon To Be listed In The NWMLS Again

If you have been looking at Seattle houseboats for sale, then you know that some are in the MLS and some are not. As of July 24th, the NWMLS will be having more than before listed under style 24.  Here is the latest according to the email I just received from the MLS:

As you probably know, effective July 24th, RCW 18.85 will be revised to allow real estate brokers to list and sell a “floating on-water residence, as defined in RCW 90.58.270.”  In addition, RCW 88.02 will be revised to allow real estate brokers to list and sell floating on-water residences without being licensed as a vessel dealer.

 RCW 90.58.270(6)(d) defines a floating on-water residence as “any floating structure other than a floating home, as defined under subsection (5) of this section, that: (i) Is designed or used primarily as a residence on the water and has detachable utilities; and (ii) whose owner or primary occupant has held an ownership interest in space in a marina, or has held a lease or sublease to use space in a marina, since a date prior to July 1, 2014.”

 On July 24th, NWMLS will revise Style Code 24 from “Floating Home” to “Floating Home/On-Water RES.” The revision will automatically update the style code on floating home listings and doesn’t require any action from the listing broker.

 Like with other listings, NWMLS will rely upon the listing firm to determine if a certain property is eligible to be listed.  We will address questions/complaints with listings on a case-by-case basis.

 The City of Seattle has a verification process for floating on-water residences.  You can note in the listing that property has been verified by the City as a floating on-water residence or upload the verification as an attached document to the listing.  You may want to do this so that other brokers know that the property has been verified by the City, however, the verification is not required by NWMLS.

If you are interested in learning more, then please do visit our Seattle Floating On-Water Residences page for additional information.  Call/Text us if you have questions or are interested in looking at Seattle houseboats for sale currently – on or off the MLS.   houseboats@CooperJacobs.com

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

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.

Seattle houseboats

January 2015 Seattle Houseboats Market Update

Seattle Houseboats Market Update:  What’s Out There?

Seattle houseboats

wide open views

In the MLS, there are three Seattle houseboats for sale currently in the Seattle floating homes category. They all three have a 1 in front of them.  As in ONE MILLION.  Specifically, there is one available in Portage Bay for $1.1M and two Seattle houseboats available in Eastlake (including one of the Roanoke Reef floating homes) ranging in price from $1,599,900 to $1,795,000. There is also a Seattle houseboat for rent in Eastlake at the end of the dock. In escrow, there is one Seattle floating home on Fairview in Eastlake that is pending – priced just over a million dollars.

Seattle Houseboats Sold

Seattle houseboatsIn the last 60 days in the MLS for Seattle houseboats sales, there have been two recorded. Both of these Seattle floating homes were priced under a million dollars…

3012 Fuhrman Ave E #D Listed on 11/22/2014 by Seattle Houseboats Realtor of Cooper Jacobs Real Estate for $229,000 and under contract officially on 11/25/2014.  It closed with a final sales price of $235,000 on 12/18/2014. This little Portage Bay floating home was an absolute writer’s paradise – a perfect Lake Union get away!

2207 Fairview Ave E #1 Listed by another company on 6/25/2014 and went pending in October on 10/07/2014 and then closed another two months later on 12/5/2014. So six month on the market – listed at $800,000 and sold for 91.25% of that asking at a final sales price of $730,000.  It’s a 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath Eastlake floating home with 986 square feet and built in 1920.

Overall on The Seattle Houseboats Market…….seattle houseboats

The story with Seattle houseboats is still inventory.  Anything under $500,000 is moving faster than other price ranges.  That being said with the proper exposure, the right buyers will find your floating home.  If you are a buyer, then there are options in the MLS as long as you are willing to shell out the money that this unique Seattle waterfront homes lifestyle affords.  We are a good contact because we know of AT LEAST THREE Seattle houseboats that are available or will be soon if you are looking for something specific. Utilizing a Seattle houseboats broker is key if you are going to be successful in being alerted immediately if something may be or is available.  Please feel free to drop me a line as well. We love our jobs and it shows.  We are excited to work with you!

Seattle houseboats

Seattle Houseboats: Annie “O” Is In The House

Seattle Houseboats: Enduring Over 100 Years And Still Floating.  This particular one hasn’t been around quite that long, but long enough for it to be a site!

 Yes.  It floats.

Seattle houseboats have been afloat for over one hundred years now.  It all started when a few resourceful and down on their luck people decided to basically start tying loose logs up and forming rafts. A little time before 1909 Seattle came up with an ingenious way to raise money for the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition. This world’s fair eventually shaped the campus of The University Of Washington! And it was financed largely by the beginnings of Seattle houseboats:

Over one hundred years ago the city of Seattle platted and sold the submerged “parcels” in Lake Union to the adjacent waterfront property land owners.  This enabled docks to be built and Seattle houseboats to be moored to them.  It was quite a popular and thrifty idea!  The city now regulates them heavily and as a result of this regulation, Seattle houseboats have dwindled down considerably  from well over two thousand Seattle houseboats at one time to just around five hundred or so of the floating home variety. They are scattered throughout Lake Union and in Portage Bay.

Speaking of dwindling.seattle houseboats

The Seattle houseboats market has had a dwindling inventory and we are down to just a couple options right now in the floating homes world. This particular home is my favorite.  “Annie O” is her nick name.  She is houseboat “O” because the slips on the dock are lettered according to the alphabet, but I like her nick name personally.  She is a jewel and is priced perfectly at $599,000.  Two bedrooms are not always easy to come by in the land of Seattle houseboats, but this is a beautiful two bedroom and it has been lovingly restored by the famous Sid McFarland and also upgraded and improved by its current owner who has a real artist’s eye.  If this doesn’t make you want to go buy a boat or a kayak to tie up to it, then that is okay because there is lots to do in this community.  Annie O happens to be on one of the very best docks in one of the very best co-ops on Lake Union.  You will own the slip you and your home are in so there is security of knowing that this log pack is not going anywhere.  Let us know if you would like more information on this perfect little Lake Union gem!  Courtney 206.850.8841  Please call or text for more info. 

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

Slim Pickings In The Floating Home World… Three Words: We Need Inventory

Seattle floating homes – what’s for sale right now…

Seattle floating homesThere is only one in each Portage Bay, Eastlake, and Westlake and all three are under $500,000.  There is a serious shortage of inventory on Lake Union and Portage Bay in the Seattle floating home world.  In addition to the three Seattle floating homes for sale currently, there is also one slip left at Ward’s Cove if you want to go big and build your very own custom New Construction houseboat.  There is a cap on how big you can go square footage wise at Ward’s Cove, but the dock is supreme and the floating homes that have been constructed so far have made the most of the limitations and are quite beautifully constructed. It is an intelligently planned community and a great design overall.

If you have been thinking about selling but are sure that right now is not the time to put your houseboat on the market, then you should call or email us and we can show you the historical market trends and why right now is actually better than in the spring or summer. We have a backlog of qualified buyers who have been looking for additional properties.  To illustrate this, we just sold two of our Seattle floating homes listings – one of us representing the seller, and the other representing the buyer to meet for a successful close.

You can reach out to us anytime – Call, text, or email.Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

We specialize in Seattle floating homes and would love to talk to you about what we can do for you and how we are different.  We also have a couple Staging specials going on right now until January 15th for our listings so ask for details on that (or we will just tell you if you forget).  We look forward to talking to you!

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