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?
Westlake Floating Home For Sale – Booking showings now. $1,895,000Lake Union Landing – Over 50% sold, it has been my pleasure to launch this beautiful coop and I am so thankful for the quality builds going in here. Seattle afloat represented the Seller and Buyer for this beauty. Buyers had lost out on at least two other homes and are so happy to have found their perfect spot on the lake. Represented the Seller and the Buyer on this beautiful Portage Bay waterfront home that is part of the Stillwater floating home coop community that Seattle Afloat launched.Cute 2 bedroom Eastlake Seattle Houseboat has great dock position. Rented moorage. $395,000Gorgeous houseboats are being built one at a time by FullerStyle Houseboats at Lake Union Landing. I am so grateful to be their exclusive listing broker!
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.
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 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.
When people are looking at Seattle floating homes, they almost always want to know about the end of the dock moorages. The Dox dock has two docks so there are four end of dock locations and lots of floating homes toward the end. If you can find a floating home on this dock community, it offers stunning panoramic views of Lake Union, from the Seattle skyline to Gasworks Park – if it has good dock position.
Located in a charming floating home neighborhood, this floating home dock features a clean, well-planned open design and remarkable views. This dock is a Coop moorage & there is room for boats on some slip.
Lake Union is your own private “swimming pool”
off street parking
Want to see any floating homes? Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 houseboats@cooperjacobs.com We specialize in Seattle houseboats for sale. Our Seattle Realtors are waterfront experts and have been in the floating homes community for well over a decade. We are huge advocates for the community and promise to honor your special home and our neighborhood.
Seattle Floating Homes Market: Welcome Home To The Log Foundation
Looking for Seattle houseboats living? The Log Foundation’s Seattle floating home at 2025 Fairview Ave E #Q, thoughtfully designed by local architect, this waterfront living dream has huge upwards investment potential. Come aboard this very special Eastlake floating home to enjoy a slice of nature and art.
Light, bright and a beautiful upscale kitchen with more than ample storage. A cleverly designed built in kitchen table to maximize space. Two bay windows to relax and day dream in the living room. Master en suite on upper level with flexible room for office or upper den. My favorite part of this is the wide open channel views out of the bedroom corner.
Enjoy your private south facing balcony to soak up the west facing sun. A few more steps up to enjoy the amazing roof top views. Moor your boat or water toys. Wonderful neighbors & great co-op dock! Low dues! $750,000
Call or text us to see it as it won’t last long at this price. Want to look at a property that actually pencils out as an investment? Let us know and we will show you how the numbers work on this one and others.
Seattle floating homes experts: Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841/ houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
Seattle Floating Homes For Sale And What’s Happening With The Market
School is officially in session today so I am calling this the end of summer Seattle floating homes market report. A lot has happened this summer, but the market overall had a very slow start. I think I had mentioned this several times in previous articles I have written. It seems like anything under about $800-900,000 sells somewhat quickly and anything up to $2.5 million is not selling as fast. Then there is a micro market for floating homes in the $3 million dollar range that are selling quicker than expected. There isn’t a lot of rhyme or reason to who will be in the buyer pool for a floating home at any given time so making sure that you are staying on top of the market is the best course of action.
There are a lot of things that have been changing in the Seattle houseboats world overall, so just keep asking questions if you are wondering where you stand compared to the market. For us, we have been most successful by keeping an open dialog about what is happening in the market – whether good or bad pricing wise. Our efforts have been on marketing, getting the word out, education regarding our community, and also just keep sellers on course with pricing.
Many higher end Eastlake floating homes are coming on the market as a result of recent success in the three million dollar and up range. Many lower end floating homes are experiencing longer market times. Feel free to call us if you have questions: Courtney 206-850-8841
Some of our favorites if you are on the hunt for one of the Seattle floating homes for sale:
2025 Fairview Ave E #Q: 800 square feet, 1 bedroom, 1 bath, rooftop deck, and boat moorage! $850,000
Come aboard a very special Eastlake floating home to enjoy a slice of nature and art. Light, bright and a beautiful kitchen with ample storage. A cleverly designed built in kitchen table to maximize space. Two bay windows to relax and day dream in the living room. Master en suite on upper level with your private balcony to soak up the west facing sun. A few more steps up to enjoy the amazing roof top views. Moor your boat or water toys. Wonderful neighbors & great co-op dock! $850,000
2822 Boyer Ave E #2: 1852 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 1.75 baths, rooftop deck, and boat moorage PLUS guest boat moorage and parking: $2,175,000
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 hrdwd, Pedini Italian cabinets, underlit glass molded cast glass staircase + 6 antique operable brass portholes frm 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! $2,175,000
What else is going on? How about the tour? It’s in Eastlake this year! Tickets are just about sold out for the 2018 Seattle Floating Homes Tour so grab them quickly while you can – it is THIS SUNDAY!
Again, if you want to learn more about our community or buying and selling a Seattle floating home, please do call us if you have questions: Courtney 206-850-8841 Regarding any statistical info from the NWMLS: Information and statistics derived from Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
Looking for your perfect Seattle floating home to live the most amazing lifestyle in this city?
The Seattle houseboats market is finally heating up and inventory has loosened up enough that buyers are having choices, but at the same time these Seattle floating homes for sale that are on the market are getting more serious looks. Let’s look at what’s going on. There are nine Seattle floating homes on the market ranging in price from $850,000 to $3,499,000. The median price for the current offerings is $1,795,000 so there is definitely a shortage of the lower to medium end floating homes for sale. In fact the only floating home for sale on Lake Union currently that is under a million dollars is not in an owned slip. All other eight floating homes for sale are in a condo or co-op dock and have secured moorage ownership. Five of the nine floating homes for sale are in Eastlake and on Fairview Ave E. The remaining listings are in Lake Union’s Eastern arm, Portage Bay, which has become a hot commodity in recent years.
Featured Seattle Floating Homes For Sale:
We are full service Seattle floating homes specialists. We can help you navigate the process of purchasing a floating home and help educate you on all the ins and outs of them. We are happy to show you these and others on the market – no matter who they are listed with. We also have our finger on the pulse and know what’s coming on the market. I live and work in this community and I love it. I am a Floating Homes Association board member and give back. Call us and we can show you our favorites: 206-850-8841
2017 Fairview Ave E #N: 2 Bedrooms, 1.5 bath $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.
3146 Portage Bay Pl E #G: 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths $1,999,000
Beautifully 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.
2822 Boyer Ave E #2: 3 bedrooms, 1.75 baths $2,350,000
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 hrdwd, Pedini Italian cabinets, underlit glass molded cast glass staircase + 6 antique operable brass portholes frm 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!
We look forward to hearing from you soon! – Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 courtney@cooperjacobs.com
Come Home To This Oasis! Newly Redone Seattle Floating Home With Space Needle Views in Eastlake:
Let’s talk about this Seattle floating homes location for a minute and the incredible peaceful yet exciting combination of living surrounded by nature in the middle of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s the perfect place to live after a busy day at work!
Walk or Uber from South Lake Union . Feel your shoulders relax and unwind as you walk down the 2017 dock because just strolling down this dock is a real treat.
This is the southern most dock on Lake Union with wide open views of the lake and city. The 2017 dock is one of three that makes up the famed and well organized Log Foundation. Besides being one of the most well run cooperatively owned dock groups on the lake, this community has also elevated container gardening to an absolute art form. It is truly paradise.
PS – you can also walk to cool places like Serafina, SLU, Essential Bakery, Starbucks, Pete’s Market, and more.
Step aboard your newly remodeled floating home in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood. 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 Lake Union and city skyline 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. $1,850,000
2017 Fairview Ave E #N
Newly listed and just featured in Curbed Magazine, this home was redone top to bottom and can be yours before Fourth Of July! Call or text Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 or email houseboats@cooperjacobs.com for your private showing or more information.
Seattle 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.
“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.
At 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.
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.
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.
Here 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.
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!
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
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:
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 Afloat®– The Seattle Houseboats Market Is Floating Despite Reports On Low Lake Union Levels…
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
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
So 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.
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!
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 Bedrooms
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:
2019 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
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%.
You can see the full NWMLS sheets and comparisons here:
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:
Views
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)
Seattle Houseboats On Lake Union – Inventory Is Afloat!
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 justSEATTLE 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“.)
OK, 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?
If 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
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 #G
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
To the Seattle houseboats community: thank you for your business.We love serving the Seattle floating homes 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 Afloat / Cooper Jacobs Real Estate
The 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!
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.
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
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
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
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)
This is similar to other Seattle neighborhoods where inventory is difficult to come by. We do know of a few Seattle houseboats on the horizon as far as market inventory, so stay tuned and we will keep you posted, but in the mean time, I wanted to get a Seattle Houseboats floating homes market update online.
Seattle Houseboats Market Update for floating homes on Lake Union and Portage Bay:
Currently there are four Seattle houseboats listings which are Seattle floating homes. Interestingly enough, these Seattle houseboats are priced across the board. There are two Seattle houseboats that are one bedrooms and listed at $449,000 and the new listing priced at $525,000. These are both in Eastlake and are wonderful choices and happen to be on the same dock. The dock these two are on is one of the most well run Seattle floating homes co-ops on Lake Union. It consists of three docks belonging to “The Log Foundation” and is known for its great reputation. The three docks in The Log Foundation are the most Southern Eastlake docks that there are so they are a great choice for views and also if you happen to be commuting to South Lake Union (Amazon). Cats are ok and small lap dogs, too, but you still have to get them approved by the board.
2025 Fairview Ave E #R is the newest one listed of these four. It is a one bedroom/one bath home with the awesome roof top deck everyone wants when they think Seattle houseboats. It is 950 square feet and has a great spot to have your boat alongside. This home is part of the larger cooperative (The Log Foundation) and they own the moorage slips, so it is a secure way to own a Seattle floating home. Let us know if you want to see this one or any of them.
There is a great Portage Bay houseboat for sale right now and also another end of dock Eastlake home. These are priced at $750,000 and $2,888,000. Personally, I think the Portage Bay floating home is a great buy. We have sold end of dock Seattle houseboats and look forward to seeing some great ones come on the market as we have a few buyers ready and willing and eager to purchase an end of dock home. After all, this is Seattle Waterfront Living℠ at its best!
OH! Almost forgot! If you are interested in Seattle New Construction floating homes, then there is one more slip available in the MLS for the newest Seattle houseboats dock, Ward’s Cove. This is Seattle floating homes – not vessels or barges and the new floating home does have to meet certain building requirements and specifications.
We are happy to walk you through any of this. Have a great day!
This Seattle floating home is at the end of the South side of the dock. It offers both privacy and lovely views of Lake Union.
If you have been shopping for Seattle houseboats, then don’t miss this one! It has 2 bedrooms, 1 very large exquisitely remodeled bathroom, and a desirable open floor plan. This floating home is roughly 1184 square feet with a large wrap around deck, and working fireplace. It was completely redone in 2001 and also has a new roof this year. The square footage of the storage spaces alone adds up to at least another room. It is truly something to see! Fully renovated with flexibility as it can be perfect as is or take advantage of large float size with a 2 story 3200 square foot home.
Large float: 1827 square foot float. In top 5% of floats on lake and home only occupies slightly over 50% of float. This home is great to live in as is or can be a expanded to up to 90% of float size
Expand up (18 feet from water line) or out for larger Lake Union dream floating home
Den/office/mudroom has its own entry and room for an additional ½ bath
Parking available at an additional cost
New roof in 2013 with reinforcements added for roof top deck expansion
All new floors – maple hardwoods
All new electrical panel, wiring, and fixtures
All new Anderson windows, wood trim, French doors
All new stainless appliances in kitchen and large washer and dryer in mudroom
360 degree views from roof which has charming circular staircase ascending to it
Room for 24 foot boat tied up to home included plus additional kayak space.
Pet friendly dock
Storage everywhere!
Dues: $385/mo cover general dock fund for maintenance, real estate taxes for co-op, and any matters of vote
Offered for: $1,100,000
For Your own private showing or for more information, please get in touch with Courtney Cooper (courtney@cooperjacobs.com) ) of Cooper Jacobs Real Estate. If you are interested in other Seattle floating homes for sale, we would love to show you what is available besides this gem.
There are currently 9 Seattle floating homes for sale that are marked as Active. This number DOES NOT include slips at Ward’s Cove or vessels/barges. This is only for actual Seattle floating homes. If you are interested in learning more about the differences between these diffferent types of Seattle houseboats, then we are happy to help guide you through the differences in all aspects.
The 9 Seattle floating homes for sale right now range in price from $229,000 for a Portage Bay floating home with no owned moorage to $1,250,000 for another Portage Bay floating home with owned moorage. In between, all the others are in Fairview in Eastlake with one exception of another Portage Bay Place floating home. The average dollar per square foot for those active homes is $840.02, but that little guy in Portage Bay is seriously throwing off those numbers because it sits at $458/square foot which is consistent with its lack of owned moorage. The other dollar per square foots range form $623.75 to $1,250.00 a square foot. With floating homes, it really is about the amenities that come with the home. Does it have owned moorage for secure ownership? Does it have space for a recreational boat to be tied up to the home? Is there parking? Roof top deck? Style of home? Size of float, view, location on the dock itself, the list goes on. Long story short, there will always be a range and each home is different. Getting an evaluation from one of us is the best way to find out how much yours is worth and we are happy to talk to you!
There are 2 Seattle floating homes that are pending right now – waiting to close at escrow. These are both Eastlake floating homes on Fairview and are priced at $839,000 for a 910 sq foot 2 bedroom 1.75 bath and $1,195,000 for a 1294 square foot 3 bedroom 1.75 bath floating home. The average dollar per square foot on these is $922.74 and the median price is $1,017,000. One other floating home on the North side of the lake in Fremont at the Lee’s Mooring dock has gone pending inspection. It is listed for $1,495,000 with 1928 square feet.
In the last 30 days there have been 5 Seattle floating homes that have closed according to the MLS. These houseboat listings range in listing price from $895,000 to $1,598,000 and range in sales price from $895,000 to $1,450,000 with an average dollar per square foot at $902.08 and a median price of $975,000. You can see full details here: floating homes market 07302013
My two favorites on the market right now?
2031 Fairview Ave E #G in Eastlake AMAZING view and huge float here – beautiful interiors – go up a level or bump it out for even more square footage. Big time investment opportunity or live in it as is because it is insanely beautiful! 2 bedrooms $1,188,000
2207 Fairview Ave E #8 in Eastlake – beautiful vaulted ceilings and wonderful channel views along with some pretty awesome finishes make this my pick for great houseboats under a million. Huge deck and great space for a boat! 2 bedroom $799,000
2031 Fairview Ave E, Floating Home #G, Seattle, WA 98102 on the Lake Union Co-op Dock
This immaculate Cape Cod one level floating home is at the end of the dock with both privacy and unobstructed views of Lake Union. It has 2 bedrooms, 1 very large exquisitely remodeled bathroom, and a desirable open floor plan. This floating home is roughly 1184 square feet with a large wrap around deck, and working fireplace.
Originally built in 1957, it had a complete remodel in 2001 and has been updated since including a new roof in 2013. Fully renovated with flexibility as it can be perfect as is or take advantage of large float size with a 2 story 3200 square foot home.
Large float: 1827 square foot float. In top 5% of floats on lake and home only occupies slightly over 50% of float. This home is great to live in as is or can be a expanded to up to 90% of float size
Expand up (18 feet from water line) or out for larger Lake Union dream floating home
Den/office/mudroom has its own entry and room for an additional ½ bath
Parking available at an additional cost
New roof in 2013 with reinforcements added for roof top deck expansion
All new floors – maple hardwoods
All new electrical panel, wiring, and fixtures
All new Anderson windows, wood trim, French doors
All new stainless appliances in kitchen and large washer and dryer in mudroom
360 degree views from roof which has charming circular staircase ascending to it
Room for 24 foot boat tied up to home included plus additional kayak space.
Pet friendly dock
Dues: $385/mo cover general dock fund for maintenance, real estate taxes for co-op, and any matters of vote
This Seattle floating home has been remodeled from the studs out with thoughtful finishes throughout. Soaring ceilings and lots of windows invite the summer days in and keep it light and bright during the dull grey season.
Enjoy the security of living in one of the floating homes with coveted owned moorage plus space to tie your own boat up to. It’s a well run dock on Lake Union in the heart of Seattle.
You can find out more about this Seattle floating home and this houseboat dock here:
If you are interested in all Seattle floating homes for sale, you can see them from all realtors and all real estate companies on our corporate floating homes page where we showcase all Seattle floating homes listings:
You can also contact me if you have questions about the lifestyle in general or need more information about this very specialized corner of real estate. Courtney@CooperJacobs.com
Besides rain, snow, and dull darkness? A touch of sun here and a glimpse of blue sky there. The current Seattle houseboats market is stirring up as we trudge through Winter and many are starting to think about getting their floating homes and houseboats ready for the Spring 2011 market.
So, Current Seattle Houseboats Market – What is Happening Out There with floating homes on Lake Union and in Portage Bay?
It is hard to weed through the actual Seattle floating homes in the NWMLS right now. The code for them is 24-Houseboats, but that code is also used for houseboats that are vessels and more recently has been used for Lake Union moorage sites at Ward’s Cove. In addition, there is a land home also mixed in with the houseboats because it is at the head of the dock… This can all be confusing for the consumer, so I have gone through and weeded through all the houseboat listings and pulled the Seattle floating homes from them.
There are only 6 Seattle floating homes for sale right now – 3 in Westlake, 3 in Eastlake, and no Portage Bay floating homes. If your houseboat is on the market, then that is good news for you because competition is low. Interested buyers in floating homes have increased in the last two weeks noticeably for us. This is getting the current Seattle houseboats for sale a lot more attention than in the previous holiday months.
Westlake houseboats for sale – There are three Seattle houseboats for sale in Westlake Cove right now. They range in price from $299,000 to $850,000. Westlake Cove is near the Fremont Bridge and on the Lake Union Loop with very easy parking and quick access Downtown – a perfect spot for Amazon employees or anyone coming to work at The Gates Foundation.
Eastlake Houseboats for sale – Also on the Lake Union Loop, there are also three Seattle houseboats for sale in Eastlake. These range in price from $495,000 for a Seattle floating home on a leased dock to $3,450,000 for a contemporary wonder on the Fairview Landings dock.
Summary Seattle Houseboats data on actives– Seattle floating homes for sale range from $299,000 to $3,450,000 with an average of $1,020,494 and median list price of $562,475.
Pending Sales – There is one floating home on one of the Sleepless In Seattle docks that is pending at $975,000.
Last 30 days of escrow closings – Winter has been slow. Over at Lee’s Mooring – 933 N Northlake Way Houseboat #14 closed on 1/12/2011. It was listed for $799,950 and on the market for 249 days. It sold for 90.88% of its list price with a final sales price of $727,000.
If you are a Seattle houseboat buyer, come out and see the inventory. If you have seen them before, come see them again. Sellers are willing to negotiate and your best opportunity is now before the market heats up.
If you are a Seattle houseboat seller, the inventory is low and that means competition is low. There are less buyers, but you can be sure to get in front of them. As Spring approaches, think about what improvements or sprucing up you can do to get your houseboat ready for the market.
Call or email me if you want to see anything or need a check list:) 206-850-8841/courtney@seattleafloat.com
A lot can happen in a week or two! The Seattle housbeoat market seems to be heating up a bit –
Recent Seattle Houseboats moving from Active status in the MLS –
Charles Buell During A Seattle Floating Homes Inspection
Pending Properties range from a Portage Bay Houseboat on Hamlin Street listed for $645,000 to a beautiful end of dock Eastlake Seattle floating home with huge sweeping views of the city priced at $2,250,000. In between there are two other pending sales in both Westlake and Portage Bay. The median price of these Seattle Houseboats for sale in the MLS is $845,000. In addition to these pending houseboats, there is one that has sold and closed in the last month. 2031 Fairview Ave E #E was listed at $749,000 and sold for $676,500 in 62 days on market which is much lower than the current average days on market of 143 days.
Seattle Houseboats for Sale in the MLS right now –
Lots to choose from in EVERY price range and style. Current offerings range from $325,000 for a 100 year old historical beauty to $3,800,000 for a newer concrete floating architectural wonder complete with underwater porthole windows. Although there is a big range, the median list price of the current offerings is at $622,475. You can find Seattle floating homes for sale right now in Westlake, University District, Northlake, Eastlake, and Portage Bay – both owned and leased dock moorage is attached to various properties so make sure and get the details about each type.
Want to see more info on what is out there including listing photos and virtual tours?
A view across to Eastlake Houseboats from the Sleepless in Seattle Dock
Here are some useful links, but make sure and call me if you want to see something or just have questions. You can also text or email me if that is easier. (courtney@SeattleAfloat.com / 206-850-8841)
There is no better place in greater Seattle to enjoy the festivities of the 4th of July than Lake Union. I first discovered this about 15 years ago on the bow of a boat in Westlake snuggled up to my college boyfriend (thanks Pete) at the time. It was raining of course and it did not matter. The fireworks over Lake Union are nothing short of magical and each year it still surprises me how beautiful they are. It is never the same experience and I never tire of it.
Seattle is a jaw dropping fantastic place to live and work – anyone can find something special in this city. Lake Union special and Lake Union homes are special, so here are the latest on Seattle houseboats – both in Lake Union and Portage Bay.
Seattle houseboats for sale: Lots going on out there – both in the MLS and not in the MLS. I know of at least four Seattle floating homes that are not listed but are available or will be available soon and two of them are at the ends of the docks. End of dock moorage is always something people are interested in so it is fun to track how fast they sell. Let us know if you are interested in any off market Seattle houseboat opportunities so we can either get you in there or keep you posted as to their availability.
In looking at Seattle houseboats in the MLS (including floating homes, vessels, and barges) there are currently 19 opportunities*** to live life afloat on Lake Union or Portage Bay plus a handful of Lake Union slips available for new houseboat moorage. “Houseboats” is a general term and refers to all three types of homes that happen to be on the water. Seattle floating homes are the houseboats I generally refer to in most of the posts I write on SeattleAfloat and elsewhere.
So here are details on the current market regarding the Seattle floating homes for sale in the MLS right now:
Westlake & Northlake Houseboats – there are 4 Westlake houseboats in the NWMLS for sale right now ranging from $325,000 for a historic Seattle houseboat to $975,000 for a new beauty near the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat. In between those ranges, there is a great Westlake floating home on a wide channel with good views into Lake Union and opportunity for boat moorage for only $489,000. In Fremont there is a great dock: Lee’s Mooring and a beautiful floating home for sale on that one for $799,950.
Portage Bay Houseboats – Two floating homes there for sale in the MLS priced at $645,000 and $739,000 (E Shelby St & E Hamlin St).
Eastlake Houseboats: One of the Roanoke Reef houseboats on the front row is for sale- gorgeous views and nice spacious home $1,720,000, There are 4 other opportunities to live on Lake Union along Fairview in an existing houseboat. They range from $575,000 to $749,000 for the four Seattle floating homes for sale***. A really great one is this charming and beautiful Eastlake houseboat for sale on the Willow Dock – it has hardwood floors, a gas fireplace, wrap around deck, moorage for two boats, and lovely radiant heated slate floors in the bath. It is a really great buy on Lake Union at $625,000.
Lake Union Moorage Slips: If you are interested in building or having built a brand new construction houseboat, then look to Ward’s Cove which is one of last brand new Lake Union Moorage slips for sale. There are four in the MLS ranging from $675,000 to $930,000 for the slips on a state of the art dock.
Email us if you want to see any of these or have questions about Seattle floating homes in general. homes@SeattleAfloat.com Have a safe holiday!
***7/3/2010 Later day update: New Seattle houseboat listing popped up in the MLS – there is now another Fairview houseboat listed – a one bedroom on one of the Log Foundation co-op docks for $495,000***
Wow! A lot can happen in a week! Bring out the sun and outcome the Seattle houseboats for sale! I wanted to update you all on the new floating homes and give you an overall idea of the market. There are now 13 Seattle floating homes for sale – They range from $349,990 for a 100 year old beauty on a co-op dock in Westlake to $1,720,000 for a fee simple ownership floating home in beautiful Roanoke Reef. The median price for these Seattle floating homes for sale is $725,000.
There are currently 4 Westlake floating homes for sale – 2 in Westlake Cove, 1 on the 2420 dock, and a beauty on the dock just North of the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat. This particular one is in the same co-op as Sleepless, but on the South half of the dock just North of it and it is gorgeous! I got a chance to stop in yesterday and see it before my open house. It is listed by famed Rick Miner and he showed me all the great features of this brand new floating home listing. New construction in floating homes is rare and this one is worth seeing!
Seven of these floating homes are in Eastlake. Most Seattle houseboats in Eastlake are on Fairview Ave E, but there are a few docks that fall into other streets. The least expensive floating home on Fairview is a beautiful 1930 houseboat with hardwood floors, radiant heated slate bathroom, roof top view deck, double moorage for multiple boats, and gas on the dock. It is on the beautiful Willow Dock which gets its name from the amazing tree at it’s shore side. There is also a larger floating home on the shore end of the dock with huge spaces – listed at $650,000.
Two homes from the Log Foundation are currently for sale – This is a wonderful floating home community at the South end of Fairview and offers beautiful city views. These are great two bedrooms at $725,000 and $749,000 and happen to be a couple that I love going into. There is also one in Mallard Cove for $1,250,000 – a larger home at 2000 square feet and quite beautiful. The last in Eastlake is the Roanoke Reef home that is currently for sale – it is on the very South end of the dock and has some great spaces including a basement of sorts. In addition, there is one floating home moorage site at Ward’s Cove that offers the newest in floating homes for Seattle. It is listed at $850,000 for the slip.
Other areas of Seattle floating homes: Lee’s Moorings in Northlake aka Fremont has a floating home for sale with a wall of windows – one bedroom at $799,950. It is one of the brightest floating homes we have seen and worth the visit if you are in the market. The dock is very nice, too. Over in Portage Bay, there is a houseboat on Hamlin which just came up for $645,000 – a one bedroom with 800 square feet of living space, but unique shape and quite appealing. I know of one on Boat Street also – high $400’s, brand new, and a great location near the U-District. It is listed with a broker, but has not shown up in the MLS as of yet. I happened to see it while checking on my friend’s houseboat on that dock. The Boat Street dock is leased moorage owned by the University of Washington so the homes are lesser in price, but not as much security for your moorage as an owned dock.
Pending Houseboat Sales – Two Seattle floating homes went pending this last week – one of my favorites on the Lake Union dock in Eastlake and a jaw dropping remodel job in Westlake at the Old Boathouse dock under the Aurora Bridge (This particular one got three offers in a matter of two days). It is gorgeous, too – completely unique and the fridge was an upscale drawer model which really opened up the spaces in there. It has a stunning spiral staircase going up to its view bedrooms and a view deck plus a roof top deck – just amazing. I am sure the lucky new owner will love living there!
Happy Summer!!! That is all for now – let me know if you are interested in seeing any of these at all – I can also help you find the financing and other particular items you need to buy a floating home. courtney@seattleafloat.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
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