Seattle Houseboats 2020 Top Questions Answered

Aside From Our Listing Inquiries, These Are The Top Questions About Seattle Houseboats From 2020

We kept track this year and aside from appointments and questions about the incredible Seattle floating home listings and sales we had this year, these are the top other Seattle houseboats questions we received from online inquiries.

What is the difference between a houseboat and a floating home?

My original explanation is that “houseboats” is the umbrella term which covers floating homes, liveaboard vessels, and barges (and now FOWRs). I still argue that this is historically correct because even the Seattle Floating Homes Association has called our floating home tour a Houseboat Tour in days gone by.

***Small disclaimer.  I live on a floating home.*** 

Some of the historical Lake Union buffs and “old timers” like me still call “floating homes” “houseboats” from time to time.  I personally consider them interchangeable, except that the modern definition of a houseboat and a floating home are two different things now. Both get to enjoy the lake lifestyle, though….

Enter The FOWR System

The city came up with a plaque system and now we have and official category: Floating On Water Residence (FOWR). So I am still personally arguing that houseboats is the umbrella term which covers everyone on the lake including floating homes, FOWRs, and barges.   I am usually outvoted by most on this point, but I will probably always call my floating home a houseboat regardless.  In any case, most are correct. An actual houseboat by today’s standards in Seattle is a FOWR and I live in a floating home. The simplest explanation is that a houseboat is more “boaty”.  It is built on a hull and  has boat systems in place for water and waste in most cases. There are some incredible houseboat options lately that are actually connected to the sewer, too.  A floating home is built on a floating foundation, is mostly permanently moored and always connected to the city’s sewer, water, and electrical.  My apologies. If I have confused you, call me and I will try and explain again. 

A couple examples of a floating homes and a FOWR which we happen to have listed currently: Here is a Floating home and here is FOWR

Westlake floating home

How much does a houseboat cost in Seattle? How much do floating homes cost?  

That is a good question. This year we saw overall houseboats sales range from $90,000 to $4,500,000 for for all types of houseboats including floating homes. Two floating home sales hit the four million dollars and over mark for the first time. There are 56 sales in the MLS as of this moment and we know there are two additional ones closing and also at least a few that sold off market completely out of the mls.  This is why it is so very important to tell us what you are looking for. We are highly networked into this amazing community and we can help you secure your Lake Union home!

Where are the houseboats in Seattle?  Where is the best place to live on a houseboat? 

Anywhere.  There is a saying that basically says if you are lucky enough to live on a houseboat then you are lucky enough. This is so true.  This lifestyle is like none other.  Whether you are on a floating home or a houseboat, you are living a similar lake life. Living on Lake Union is like nothing else.  It is an incredible contrast of urban and natural settings married together perfectly. The people that live on the lake are all interesting and life is never dull. This map needs to be updated to include larger houseboat collections.. 

Can you rent a houseboat in Seattle? 

Yes and no.  We get so many calls about nightly rental inquiries.  In short, it isn’t allowed. http://www.seattleafloat.com/seattle-floating-homes-airbnb-resource/

Can you live on a boat in Seattle?  Yes… but a houseboat is more convenient.

Seattle Houseboats Realtors and Your Advocates:

Let us tour you through this beautiful floating home! We are Seattle Floating homes experts and here to be your absolute advocates when it comes to houseboats living. We can help you from start to finish and beyond and welcome you to our beloved neighborhood. Have questions? 206-850-8841 houseboats@cooperjacobs.com

3110 Portage Bay Place E #F – Seattle Floating Home Listed Today!

Seattle Houseboats For Sale Market Info:  seattle floating homes for sale

3110 Portage Bay Place E #F – Seattle Floating Home Listed Today!

Looking for Seattle floating homes for sale?  At the end of this quiet dead end street is one fantastic Seattle floating home for sale –  equipped with all the splash you come to expect from living on the lake in Portage Bay.

Generous spaces in this Portage Bay floating home allow for a flexible floor plan including a large master bed and bath capturing killer views of the canal. Three rooms in all, a remodeled bathroom, and a charming kitchen with tons of storage.

Huge accessory raft for kayaks, moorage for your boat, and an enclosed deck for privacy. One reserved parking spot and NO DUES!  $799,000

  • 2 + Bedroom
  • 1.75 Bath
  • Built in 1960
  • Accessory Float
  • Boat Moorage
  • Parking
  • Owned Slip
  • NO Dues!

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 floating homes

Seattle Floating Homes Market Houseboats Plus A Housebarge

lake union houseboatsSeattle Houseboats Market Update:

In the last sixty days, there have been many significant sale in the Seattle houseboat community.  There have been nine closed sales in the NWMLS for Seattle floating homes and also for Seattle houseboats which are classified as a barge (house barge).

Here are some of the details of the Seattle houseboats which have closed in escrow:

2727 Fairview Ave E #3  This is a grandfathered in Seattle housebarge which was gorgeous. It has 2 bedrooms and was listed on 4/5/2015 for $399,000 and sold for $404,000 after 6 days on the market.  It is located on the Hamlin Pier in Eastlake.  No sales tax on Seattle housebarges for sale if you can find them.

3125 Fairview Ave E #B This 2 bedroom 875 square foot Seattle floating home was listed on 4/30/2015 for $575,000 and sold for full price three days later.  I closed in escrow 5/29/2015.

2727 Fairview Ave E #12  This Seattle floating home is on Hamlin Pier which is a leased dock in Eastlake. It was listed for $695,000 on 3/6/2015  and on the market for 22 days before closing on 4/30/2015 with a final sales price of $675,000.

2031 Fairview Ave E #P  The Lake Union Dock in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood.  The next three sold on this dock.  The floating home in slip #P  is 1050 square feet and 2 bedrooms.  It was listed for $725,000 on 4/28/2015 and after 3 days on the market sold for $715,000 and closed on 6/5/2015.  It is the first houseboat on the dock.

2031 Fairview Ave E #B  Another Lake Union Dock gem, we sold this gorgeous Seattle houseboat to our lucky clients who came out ahead in a fierce multiple offer situation. This two bedroom 1200 square foot floating home was listed on 4/1/2015 for $895,000 and sold after six days on the market and closed in escrow on 5/19/2015 for $900,000.

2031 Fairview Ave E #G we had the pleasure of listing this one with LeAnne. We listed it on 4/27/2015 for $975,000 and after 5 days on the market it went under contract for full price.  During the inspection, we adjusted the price somewhat for a final sales price of $971,000.  It closed on 6/10/2015. This Seattle floating home is a two bedroom 1184 square foot houseboat in Eastlake. It is second from the end of the dock and offers some pretty great views and nice finish work.

3236 Portage Bay Pl  Moving over to Portage Bay, this two bedroom Seattle floating home was listed on 9/15/2014 for $1,100,000 and after 152 days on the market, it closed in escrow at $1,067,000 on 5/15/2015.  This houseboat offered a unique situation which make it difficult to price – a couple parking spaces and an on land rental income opportunity. People looking for Seattle houseboats for rent would like the land rental and this one also has no HOA so no dues.

10 E Roanoke Reef St #12  Awwe… Roanoke Reef floating homes!  Roanoke Reef is one of the three standards in Seattle luxury floating homes.  This three bedroom floating home is on the back row and offers 1562 square feet of living space to stretch out for your life afloat in Seattle.  It was listed for 4/5/2015 for $1,690,000 and after 276 days on the market sold for cash.  It closed on 5/8/2015 for a final sales price of $1,640,000.

3212 Portage Bay Place #B  Brand new!  Seattle new construction floating homes in Seattle are few and far between.  This one is back over in Portage Bay again and is one of the latest Seattle luxury floating homes to hit the houseboat market.  It was listed for $1,750,000 on 3/28/2015 and after 35 days on the market it sold for full asking price and cash and closed on 5/27/2015.  The square footage  is 1850 square feet of stunning interiors and three bedrooms which is difficult to find outside of Roanoke Reef, Mallard Cove, or Wards Cove.

So the average days on market for these Seattle houseboats for sale is 56 days.  The average dollar per square foot is $751.95 with a range of $657.14 to $1,049.94 for the Seattle floating homes and $404 for the Seattle housebarge Big Brother that closed.  The median sales price for all of these Seattle houseboats is $900,000.

Seattle floating homesOne Final note on The Seattle Houseboats Market:

The sales price to list price ratio is 99.02% making the Seattle floating homes market a healthy opportunity for Seattle buyers who want to be in city but can’t seem to compete in the current market.  In Seattle land homes for certain neighborhoods, homes are selling for $100,000 to $200,000 and more over list in the same price range.  Why not take your buying power and apply it towards Seattle’s most affordable waterfront and closest in city neighborhood? We still have multiple offers in the Seattle floating homes market, but the competition is at a more reasonable pace. I think if more buyers were aware of the attainability of this amazing lifestyle, then more people might jump in and enjoy this unique lifestyle of life afloat in Seattle. seattle houseboats

Please call us if you would like to learn more about living life on Lake Union. Courtney Cooper  Seattle Houseboats Realtors.  We specialize in Seattle floating homes, Seattle waterfront, Seattle luxury homes, and Seattle neighborhoods. Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, SeattleAfloat.com for Life Afloat In Seattle’s Lake Union Neighborhood.

2764 Westlake Ave N # D, Seattle Floating Home Just Listed!

2764 Westlake Ave N # D, Seattle Floating Home Just Listed!

$365,500 with co-op owned Lake seattle houseboatsUnion moorage

Really adorable Historic Seattle Houseboat D:  Want a Seattle floating home?  Enjoy life on Lake Union in this great floating home circa 1910 but with great updates through the years.  This is one of the originals!  Log foundation with newer roof and deck on co-op owned Lake Union moorage dock!

Sleeping loft, large kitchen, plus additional den/office to the back, this floating home has vaulted ceilings, skylights, and more!  Great condo alternative for in city living with flair.  Cats ok and dogs ok with co-op approval.  Low dues cover almost everything you need!

Just steps from Fremont at the base of Queen Anne along Westlake Ave N, this is the perfect location for easy access to Downtown Seattle, Queen Anne, Fremont, and more and right on the Cheshiahud Loop (Lake Union Loop) with quick access to all the other walking and cycling trails and paths that intersect right in that area! Another perk? Right by new Amazon location!

Throw your kayak in at the end of the dock and enjoy Life Afloat in Seattle™!

Want more info on this Seattle floating home or other Seattle Houseboats?
Lake Union Afloat

UPDATE: THIS SEATTLE FLOATING HOME IS SOLD

© Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services™

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