Multiple habitats adorn this sensational Seattle waterfront property. Upland home is situated on stately lot with a beach cottage at the water’s edge and a dock out to the end flanked by floating homes and moorage income opportunities. We are Seattle waterfront homes and Seattle floating homes experts. Let us know how we can help you. SeattleAfloat.com. 206-850-8841
Portage Bay waterfront property available! Once in a lifetime opportunity to stake a large claim in this spectacular piece of Portage Bay’s sought after sunny Gold Coast. Extremely rare and special income producing waterfront property is a great investment as is, but also offers flexible future uses. Gorgeous views of Portage Bay, UW, and the Cascades, plus a unique look through the Montlake Cut for an endless boat parade. Drive through driveway, covered carport, and large gardening space lead to the main house which is a duplex and has show stopping views.
Easy to see why this Portage Bay beauty is so sought after in its current listing. Very rare and very beautiful property will likely be snapped up in first week of the current listing. Listed by Courtney Cooper Neese.
Meander down the waterside pathway and make a stop at the waterfront beach house, and then walk the 100 +/- foot dock and marina portion which offers deep water lake moorage and an incredible lifestyle for water enthusiasts. There are three floating home slips and two of the three floating homes are included in the sale. The third slip is the smallest and provides rental income from the tenant floating home. Lastly, there is a fourth slip for additional end of dock moorage opportunities. Offered at $5,890,000
If you have been looking for the perfect Portage Bay waterfront property or even at other Seattle waterfront homes for sale, you should consider touring this one. Feel free to reach out to me and I am happy to provide you with more info. I also have 23 years experience and live on the water so I am happy to walk you through any questions or details. If you are interested in buying or selling a Seattle area waterfront home, please consider calling or texting me. Courtney Cooper Neese 206-850-8841. courtney@cooperjacobs.com
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 Afloat! Looking forward to working with you!
Even with what seems like an unusually long rainy season, Seattle houseboats are changing hands – both on and off the market. I know of at least three Lake Union floating homes in escrow that never hit the MLS at all – including one on the 2025 Fairview dock in Eastlake, one in Portage Bay, and one in Westlake. I have heard rumblings of others. If you are a houseboats buyer, please reach out. Let me know what you are looking for and I might be able to get you an opportunity as well. I live here and I have my ear “to the ground” as to what is happening on the lake. I know of quite a few sellers who are in fact interested in selling their home should they receive an offer, but would otherwise not list their homes in the MLS. This is why it’s important to work with someone who actually LIVES in the community.
Three out of five floating homes for sale in the MLS are pending. Three out of five are being represented on at least one side by Courtney Cooper Neese at Seattle Afloat. Call me if you are interested in buying or selling on the lake. I look forward to helping you 206-850-8841
Seattle Floating Homes in the MLS
As to the Seattle floating homes that are on the market, I was involved on at least one side or the other of the three that are pending in escrow in the MLS. There are two others that are active in the MLS – both on the Log Foundation docks and both listed by other brokers. If you are a seller, then please reach out. I know what the current buyer pool looks like at any given moment and I look forward to maximizing your return. That is because if you win, I win. I have a personal vested interest in our home values because…I live here. I am also really excited to talk to you about the market!
Seattle Floating Homes Market Outlook For The Second Half of 2022
Bottom line is we are all looking forward to more sun, but it hasn’t slowed down our market. Our neighborhood has limited opportunities each year and an overall cap in the number of floating homes in the city. This will make values steadily climb as long as the buyer pool holds. You can call or email me – or text – anytime. 206-850-8841 houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
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.
Most Seattle houseboats move around to different docks more frequently than Seattle floating homes do. There are a few Seattle houseboats that are hooked up to city sewer, but the others have black water tanks and can be mobile. Seattle floating homes on the other hand are far less mobile and don’t usually move around. We have seen just a couple dozen or so moved in the last decade and a half. This morning, the Gold Coast of Portage Bay was treated to an incredible show as Fremont Tug adeptly maneuvered a very large float up a very narrow channel.
Fremont Tug carefully inching “The Cougar House” up the channel to the open Bay to make it’s way to a “shipyard”.
Seattle floating homes usually remain where they are moored these days, although they used to move around more before we were hooked up to sewer in the 1960s. Back then, most of the floating homes were on leased docks and they moved around depending on the moorage rate or where there was space. These days most of our docks have been converted to cooperative or condo and so our homes stay put.
So when and why do Seattle Floating Homes move?
There are lots of reasons why Seattle floating homes can be moved, but it still does not occur often. Basically it’s the four R’s: Repairs, Reconstruction, Replacement, Relocation.Repairs and reconstruction can be done on site without moving the home and usually they are, but sometimes the logistics of contractors parking, loading, and going up and down docks is just too disruptive when compared to moving the home out to a dedicated waterside work yard. If a repair is major enough then it needs to be moved to a “shipyard” to work on more extensive fixes. Reconstruction would be when someone wants to take the current home down to the float and rebuild or make a huge change to the outer shell.
Replacement is when you take the existing old dilapidated houseboat and float and replace with a new one of the same footprint. That has happened quite a bit over the last decade and beyond. It’s getting hard to find really great historical floating homes that haven’t been destroyed. The city has a “net zero” policy currently so if you bring a new one in, then you have to take an old one out.
Lastly relocation. This happens when a floating home owner wants or needs to change locations. Usually this happens when their floating home is in a leased slip and they would like to either move to a different leased slip or buy a slip to put their home in. In addition if a floating home owner is not paying their moorage rent then they are subject to eviction. Floating home owners who wish to relocate their homes, must pay for the logistics of doing so which involves unhooking and rehooking and moving in and and out all of their neighbors. Then they must do the same for the new dock. It can cost upwards of $75,000 depending on the specific details. Slips for floating homes currently begin at $600,000 and go up to $2M depending on dock position and location. Usually you have to find a dilapidated floating home in a coop or condo owned slip and then buy it with the intention of demolishing the old one and replacing it with your relocated home. They have to be similar in size and you are not allowed to occupy a larger footprint than the current one you are going to demolish. This may require cutting down your floating home to a size that matches. This is just the tip of the iceberg on the process, but you get the idea. They don’t move often.
Are You Interested in Learning More About Seattle Floating Homes?
If you are interested in living on the lake…. Choose someone who lives in the community.
Yes! I live in a floating home full time and I am a Realtor who specializes in them. I have spent years protecting and loving this special place we call home. Because of this I am organically networked into the community versus a broker who doesn’t live in Seattle or currently on a dock. I am on the board for the Floating Homes Association and also for the dock I live on. You need a specialist. Email, Call or text me anytime. 206-850-8841 courtney@cooperjacobs.com
Portage Bay floating home just closed in escrow! Seattle Afloat represents another lucky buyer and seller!
Seattle floating homes inventory is down so it’s no wonder we got so much activity on this one! Let us know if you are interested in buying or selling a floating home or waterfront home in Seattle. Lots of options wither way and we look forward to speaking with you about your situation. We just closed on this beautiful spot on the lake. Two bedrooms and 1.75 baths with gorgeous high ceilings and tall view windows. This is one of the floating homes in the Shelby Street area that look right up the Montlake Cut with a perfect front row seat to Opening Boat Day!
Welcome to the Gold Coast of peaceful Portage Bay! Incredible light filled end of dock floating home with views across the bay and straight up the Montlake Cut. Enjoy opening boat day from your front row seat or hop in your boat and head to Ivar’s. Enjoy living on the 3.2 Portage Bay Loop and just steps from neighborhood favorite Little Lago. This beauty has 2 levels of living with timeless wooden details and tall beamed ceilings. Large picture windows and sunny decks take in the constant boat parade. Open floor plan and warm fireplace plus forced air heating. Easy commute in all directions and fantastic waterfront living. Price includes home only.
Feel free to reach out for more info on this or other opportunities on the lake. houseboats@cooperjacobs.com. call/text 206-850-8841 We are floating home experts and I live on the lake in a floating home. I look forward to talking to you more!
Positive: Professionalism, Responsiveness Today we bought a floating home via the specialist expertise of Seattle Afloat. I think the best word to describe the experience is awesome. We now have the beautiful, design-centered home that matches our style at an affordable price… surrounded by an amazing community. Our home now floats …with an amazing sun-deck view of the Seattle skyline. We bought it while living on the East Coast during a pandemic – challenging! But it all worked with their successfully maneuvering us through the process. What I like most about them is I could truly trust them – and with that trust and their understanding of the “essence” of our quirky needs…we got an amazing property today.
Portage Bay is such a lovely corner of the city and my favorite Seattle floating homes neighborhood on the lake. I admit that I am partial in a big way to Portage Bay. I live here. Where else can you be nestled in on the lake alongside some of the most historic homes in Seattle, and neighbors with not only one but two well regarded yacht clubs, Seattle Yacht Club and Queen City Yacht Club?
Portage Bay has incredible sunrises and although we are looking mostly east, the sunsets expand over our skies here, too. We get fantastic sunny days from the south and despite having some of the most incredible gatherings for opening boat day and the Christmas Ship finale, we have the reputation of being “Peaceful Portage Bay”. It’s always exciting for me to welcome a new neighbor into my neighborhood. I got to do just that yesterday as we sold another floating home on the lake. This time in the eastern arm of Lake Union called Portage Bay on the floating home dock just next door to the one I get to call home.
Obviously I love Portage Bay, but I also want to highlight this incredibly special floating home our new neighbor is buying. The ceilings are at least eight feet high and have gorgeous sturdy exposed beams. Unfortunately, most people initially miss these beautiful beams and the warm wooden wrapped windows and doors because they walk in and the view is one of those that just stops you in your tracks. There isn’t another view in Seattle like you will see in Portage Bay. It is an interesting mix of looking at an intimate bay filled with rowers and a beautiful boat parade. Beyond the water is the full waterfront side of University of Washington including the Husky Stadium across the way combined with Montlake Bridge in the front of the Cascade Mountains. To the left is the new Portage Bay Park and beyond that is the University Bridge. I once heard it described as a four bridge view for some end of dock floating homes in Portage Bay because they could see not only the University and Montlake Bridges, but also the 520, Ship Canal Bridges.
If you can manage to tear your eyes away from the view, you will see that you are in a large living room with a cozy fireplace and an open kitchen overlooking it. The entry is welcoming and there is an open staircase leading upstairs. There is a sleeping space and bathroom on both levels. There are also view decks on both levels. You are at the end of a long dock and it feels like you are on your own island. Yet in the city. It’s breathtaking.
Please let me know if you are interested in finding your special place on the lake. We have incredible floating home neighborhoods in Seattle and I would love to introduce you to my neighborhood. Westlake is divine and Eastlake is so cool. Many people don’t know that there is even a dock in Northlake in Fremont! And Portage Bay. – Courtney
You can reach me at 206-850-8841 or at CourtneyCooper@kw.com
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
Discovering the Gold Coast of Portage Bay Lifestyle
There are only around 520 Seattle floating homes on the lake. They are dispersed around Lake Union with the largest concentration being in Eastlake. The next largest floating community is located in the eastern arm of Lake Union. We call it Portage Bay and it is a very little known secret of us houseboaters. Those who live in Portage Bay (myself included) choose to stay there for a number of reasons.
My section of Portage Bay is in the south end of the bay with incredible sunrises and peeks at the beautiful sunsets, too. We are surrounded by the largest yacht clubs and some of the most beautiful land homes I have ever seen in Roanoke Park. We have a 3.2 mile walking loop using two bridges and we have Roanoke Park and Montlake Park. We have Little Lago, a neighborhood treasure. We also have Johnny Moe’s pizza. If all this wasn’t enough, then consider the fact that you can walk a quarter of a mile over the hill to enjoy all that Eastlake has to offer in the way of shopping, restaurants, and bars.
Stillwater Luxury Floating Home Available In Portage Bay For The First Time
Enjoy your efficient and warm fireplace while watching the boat parade all around you.
Portage Bay is simply divine to live in and so while I consider it an absolute luxury just to live in the Portage Bay floating home community, I also must highlight the homes in which I find to be true luxury all over the lake. We happen to have an incredibly luxurious floating home listed right now! Every touch and every corner has been well thought out for the ultimate in luxury living on the absolute Gold Coast section of Portage Bay. When I say Gold Coast, I am referring to the sunniest portion of Portage Bay that is drenched in southern light much of the day. Many people think Portage Bay is not very sunny, but that isn’t the case here.
2816 Boyer Ave E, Slip C
Let us know if you would like to see this stunner – four levels of living including a roof top and a state of the art basement under the water line. By the way if you want to talk about acoustics under the water while watching a movie, please reach out. This provides the most incredible music listening or movie watching experience around. It’s also a very peaceful place to take a nap. In fact, all of Portage Bay is considered more peaceful than the rest of the lake. While we are in the middle of the city, we have a very interesting combination of calm remote like living and convenient in city living. It’s an escape and city living.
Reach out to us if you would like more information. We invite you to come experience life on the lake and let us know what questions you have. This is a fantastic opportunity to change your lifestyle in luxury. We have been talking to a lot of people lately that want to live a more peaceful and therapeutic life and the lake offers this while not giving up the convenience of the city. – Courtney. houseboats@cooperjacobs.com 206-850-8841
Just one of the four levels on this home in the water – and surrounded on three sides plus room for your play boat and a garage space for your car (with electrical).
We specialize in lifestyles.
Living on a floating home is a definite lifestyle. We are also experts on Seattle waterfront homes, Seattle’s many waterside neighborhoods, Puget Sound Islands including Bainbridge Island homes for sale. We can also help you with fun over the mountain places like Suncadia and Roslyn homes for sale. Washington residents love to work and play hard and we are surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty. Trust us to offer you direct and non-biased sound investment advice when looking for your place to live and play. (Just email or call/text me for more info 206-850-8841 courtney@cooperjacobs.com We are happy to help!)
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
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
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.
This incredible state of the art luxury property offers Seattle floating homes living at its best with a roof top, garage parking (with electrical charging), a basement for movie night or a gym, and parking for your companion boat! Nestled in the Portage Bay and drenched with Southern light. $3,600,000. 206-850-8841 for a private showing.
There can be many reasons for choosing to live on Lake Union, but Seattle floating homes living comes in many styles and price points. I am talking about Seattle floating homes, not Seattle houseboats in this article. We used to call them all Seattle houseboats, but a few people on the lake decided that they wanted to make it very confusing so now we have Seattle houseboats (or the ones with the FOWR plaques),Seattle floating homes, and barges. Either way, no matter what type of Lake Union lifestyle you choose, you will be living your best life because there is nothing like living on that lake. Being in the middle of the city, but also surrounded by nature is truly the best.
Seattle floating homes living in particular for me is the best – I love the fact that I am floating on water. but also as a water baby at heart, the proximity to all the things I want to do is highly optimized. Living on one of the 520 Seattle floating homes means that I can jump in the lake whenever I want. I love boating and living on Portage Bay means that I can head off to Lake Union or Lake Washington in a breeze. Docking up to one of the many waterfront restaurants is one of the true luxuries in life that the lake affords you that – especially if you can find a floating home with a boat slip. We know of a few so let us know how big your boat is!
We are Seattle Afloat and your absolute source for the lake as Seattle floatinghome experts. We are happy to share this lifestyle with you! It is truly like nothing else and no one has more stories than us. Twenty years on the lake and are highly networked in. I love living in a Seattle floating home and we love working and playing on them. Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841
Portage Bay New Construction Luxury Home: Just listed and offers four levels of incredible living.
This incredible new construction home is a Portage Bay water oasis. It was built recently with all state of the art systems and flotation. It’s extremely rare to find a Portage Bay newer construction floating home that has views and is surrounded by water on three sides. It’s even harder to find a newer floating home that checks all the boxes including rooftop, boat slip, garage parking, and a basement. Yes, you read that correctly. It has a basement. And a garage!
Loaded with upgrades that you will only see in the most stately of homes on land or water, this Portage Bay new construction home is a luxury stunner. The bedrooms are on the water level so that you can lull yourself to sleep with the lapping water. There is great deck access at this level to access your boat or take in a dip in the hot tub after a trip out in the kayak or SUP. The main bedroom closet and bathroom suite will blow you away with high end finishes and enough room for all your shoes and clothing.
This was one of the last three Portage Bay new construction floating homes to have a basement area. The basement offers a flexible amount of peaceful underwater and quiet space. If you have ever wanted a large theatre room with perfect acoustics then this might be the place. As it currently sits, there is a large family/rec room, large craft/storage room for all your gear, laundry and half bath, plus a cool organization system at the base of the stairs. There is a hatch at this level as well for coming up to the deck directly.
Let’s go back up the stairs of this Portage Bay masterpiece! Upstairs, the modern but comfortable floor plan is incredible with open air living right out to the water facing deck. The gleaming kitchen is a cook’s dream with upscale appliances and views of the lake all around. Enjoy meals in the large dining area or warm up in the living room with sleek fireplace. There’s another casual sitting area on the other side of the kitchen that is a little more private with a half bath on this level off of that area.
If you happen to be extremely popular and have more guests than this large level will allow, then have them go up the wide staircase to the expansive roof top deck. This rooftop is the largest we have seen and has space for dining, lounging, playing, plus a cool firepit.
Except for the basement which offers peace and solitude, the views are incredible from every other level of this Portage Bay new construction home in different ways. At the water level and upstairs you will be drenched in reflective light off of the water. The water level views are of the surrounding smaller parts of the bay and largely south facing. In addition, you can see out to the main part of the bay through the channel. Upstairs, you can see the same views from higher up plus larger main Portage Bay views. You will feel like you are on top of the world as this Portage Bay new construction home was built to take in the views all around and in all directions. Bridge to bridge, you will be mesmerized by the Seattle Yacht Club sailing lessons, or just watching the constant boat parade from the two neighboring yacht clubs.
Location wise, you are in the Gold Coast portion of Portage Bay, considered to be by far the best by many as it offers the very best in commuting by car and boat. It is a quiet little walkable neighborhood and nestled in between 520 and I-5 by car and Lake Washington and the rest of Lake Union by boat. If you are an avid boater then your access to both Lake Washington and the canal and Puget Sound beyond the Ballard Locks is optimized. Portage Bay is just across the water from the University of Washington and not far from University Village. The neighborhood has a couple little shops, but mainly the locals love Little Lago. This is an oasis in itself and offers the very best in quick grocery items as well as espresso, a gelato bar, fresh bakery items including quite possibly the world’s best chocolate chip cookies in three packs, and a small menu with a big punch. You can order breakfast, artisan hand made sandwiches, creative salads, and wood fired pizza which gently spreads its sweet sent through out the neighborhood.
This is one of those Seattle floating homes that won’t change hands again and will end up being a sought after legacy home. It has room for all your toys and your entire lifestyle with no compromises. It’s the perfect in city retreat or full time residence and offers the very best in Seattle waterfront homes living. $3,850,000
Please feel free to call for more info on this Portage Bay new construction floating home. I am happy to give you a private tour, too, and tell you why I love living on a floating home in Portage Bay. – Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 – I’m happy to help you buy or sell your floating home or just talk about the current market. I appreciate you.
We have been discovered! Again! Of course we all know that living in one of the 520 Seattle floating homes is the very coolest way to live! It seems that our community is more sought after than ever currently as we experience multiple offers and shorter market times. We do find that when inventory on land decreases, floating homes are a creative no brainer that a buyer may not have thought of before. This has been going on for years.
Breaking Records And Raising The Bar
Last year alone, we had an unprecedented amount of record breaking multi million dollar Seattle floating home sales – each one higher than the last. We represented Seattle floating home buyers and sellers in some of these and we are so pleased that our lake homes are rising in value, even breaking into the $4M price point in 2020!!! The highest Seattle floating home sale occurred in 2020 with an end of dock floating home on The Lake Union Dock in Eastlake. It closed off market and was a FSBO (for sale by owner) and closed at $4,500,000. No brokers represented either party in the sale of 2031 Fairview Ave E #H.
We always make sure to report even these off market sales in our updates because they are not in the MLS for the public to be able to use for a comp or verify facts. We will always represent them as accurately as possible and won’t take credit for sales we don’t make. It is possible to sell your floating home without a broker, though obviously I don’t advise it. We want you to have all the correct information when making a decision about listing your floating home. It’s an important decision to make.
Just in the last couple weeks alone, we have had two quick cash floating home closings, received THREE offers on our $2.1M Portage Bay floating home, and with our help, our buyer prevailed last night, too!!! We were able to secure a purchase for an adorable A-frame floating home in Eastlake on the Flo Villa dock. There were three other offers, but our buyer trusted our experience and market share on the lake and took our advice. We are so happy for our buyer and we adore helping people make their dreams come true.
Seattle Floating Homes Experts
Sometimes I get called the “houseboat queen” and I laugh, but I am truly honored to have the incredible fortune of being able to serve this community. My community. I live on the lake and I love the lake. I work my tail off to do my very best and I am so thankful for you! Seattle Afloat: At any given time we are prepping floating homes for the market, showing floating homes, writing offers, organizing marketing material, or coordinating other logistics for our buyers and sellers. We have a large network of trusted vendors to help us expertly guide you whether you are buying or selling. If you are new here, then we can’t wait to show you our community! If you are ready for new adventures then we look forward to helping you take full advantage of the incredible return on this investment. Call us, text us, email us. It’s an important decision, but we are here for you. 206-850-8841 – Thank you!
*All data is compiled using NWMLS, escrow, tax records, public records and off market knowledge by Courtney Cooper to be specific to the Seattle floating homes market.* Regarding any statistical info from the NWMLS: Information and statistics derived from Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
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 aFloating home and here is FOWR
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 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
Westlake offers an abundance of scenic views and lovely sprawling Lake Union docks.
Looking for Westlake floating homes for sale?
Westlake floating homes for sale come up from time to time and they are very special among Seattle houseboats! Although the neighborhood was prominently features in 1993’s Sleepless In Seattle movie starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, Seattle’s Westlake neighborhood has long been one of the most private and exclusive enclaves of houseboat living on Lake Union. Located at the base of historic Queen Anne and situated perfectly between South Lake Union and Fremont, you will find this beautiful neighborhood. Luckily, there are Westlake listings here and there. Living in Westlake offers a closeness to city and nature plus an abundance of amenities including the beloved Westlake Deli, coffee shops, and the nicer part of the Cheshiahud Loop!
Westlake Floating Homes For Sale – Location, Location, Location!
Westlake floating homes for sale are located on the west side of Lake Union on docks through secret gateways and staircases and offer an abundance of peace and tranquility right in the city! You can find fantastic views of the lake and wide open channels. Parking is usually easier on this side of the lake and the sidewalks are newer and well laid out with footbridges and paths that interconnect. If you are looking for less congestion and more open spaces, then Westlake is a good choice. We are happy to show you some of our favorite spots and also Westlake floating homes for sale. It is a real treat to see them when they are on the market, and this is a great in city living situation.
Please call/text Courtney at 206-850-8841 houseboats@cooperjacobs.com We are your Seattle floating homes and waterfront experts and happy to help you buy or sell your property. We are also networked into the Seattle floating homes community so we know when others may be coming on the market or open to selling. Courtney Cooper – Floating home and waterfront experts, Cooper Jacobs |Seattle Afloat | KW North Seattle
South facing, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and large deck spaces plus over sized boat moorage, this Westlake Seattle floating home is in the perfect location for enjoying Queen Anne, Fremont, and South Lake Union. Situated on the banks of Westlake, your sunrises will knock your socks off and take in the city views and constant boat parade. Westlake is an exclusive enclave in the Seattle floating homes community that is reserved for the most discerning lake residences.
Near the end of this private dock sits an amazing floating home built to the satisfaction of a water enthusiast. The traditional floor plan graces three bedrooms up including a three quarter bath. The main floor is open and spacious with beautiful French doors leading you to the water’s edge and wrap-around deck. Primed for the artist, the walls are wrapped with barn wood, stained glass, and active Lake Union views. Crazy close to Fremont bustle or SLU’s booming tech community. Owned moorage. $1,798,000
For a private appointment, please reach out to Courtney 206-850-8841 houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
Boaters Paradise at this beautiful newly listed Eastlake floating home.
This Eastlake floating home is on the eastern side of Seattle’s Lake Union and second from the end of the dock. An outdoor lover’s dream, there is a heated bike locker, racks for your water toys, and a spot to park your companion boat. Catch the amazing sunsets from the beautiful rooftop deck or dine on your floating accessory raft. Either way, there isn’t a better place available to enjoy life afloat in Eastlake. $1,650,000 (Update: Sold on 11/4/2020 $1,900,000)
Eastlake’s perfect sunny southern spot & 2nd from the end, yet offset to open up big views! An artist’s dream w/ soaring ceilings & gleaming wood floors. Custom matching furniture & kitchen by Wes Smith w/ quartz countertops, Liebherr fridge, Fisher Paykel range (gas cooktop/electric oven), Bosch dishwasher, custom pantry storage. A reader’s paradise w/ library wall & rolling ladder. Outside spaces include rooftop & water level decks, large 31+ x 8 foot rare accessory raft & room for your boat!
You can see all Seattle floating homes on this site on the home page. We look forward to helping you learn about life afloat on Lake Union’s historic and gorgeous floating homes neighborhoods!
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.
Awesome spaces in this cool Eastlake floating home – always has been admired and the envy of many in the neighborhood.
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.
Obviously Coronavirus and Covid-19 have had a mind blowing effect on the world we live in. Real estate is no different in that regard. When the governor first shut the state down, we were worried about the impact that this would have on our economy overall, but specifically with regard to Seattle real estate and especially the Seattle floating homes market which is my home. What we have found is an actual significant uptick in the Seattle houseboats and floating homes market. My ongoing theory has been that people would much rather be quarantined to the natural beauty of our floating homes neighborhood rather than stuck somewhere else. While I have worried for my friends and family, I personally have really enjoyed being quarantined at home with my son. It doesn’t quite feel like being shut in when you have the boat parade and water scenery before you all the time. Walks around Lake Union, Portage Bay, through the empty UW campus, and surrounding neighborhoods have added depth to our experiences, but I keep coming back to the peace and serenity I feel on the water. I think that this global pandemic has caused a lot of people to reevaluate their living situations.
So how has this affected our Seattle floating home community’s real estate market?
Surprisingly well believe it or not! I ran numbers on Seattle floating home sales beginning with the lock down (not including other kinds of houseboats – just floating homes). The dates are 3/16/20-6/27/20 as of this writing. I then ran the numbers for the same period in 2019. The results are astounding! We have a 217.60% increase in volume year over year. This accurately represents what we are experiencing.
March 16th – June 27th 2020: Ten Seattle floating homes are either Pending or have sold during this time frame with a total volume of $15,841,000. We were/are involved with eight out of ten of these or 80% of the ten floating homes sold or pending.
March 16 – June 27th 2019: Five Seattle floating homes sold during this same time period in 2019. HALF! The volume was even lower at $7,280,000. We were involved in three out of the five of these sales or in other words 60% of the homes that sold during that time.
Uptick in Seattle Houseboats real estate seems to boil down to a few things:
More targeted and precise marketing by us for floating homes listed
More serious Seattle houseboats buyers – they are goal oriented, qualified, and determined.
More desirable floating homes to be quarantined to – our Seattle houseboats community overall is magical
Increased availability – Some of our long time residents have decided to sell what I consider to be legacy properties resulting in floating homes that we haven’t seen listed in decades.
As a real estate broker, I can say that our industry has been turned upside down with this. We have added more virtual tours, photographs, video walkthroughs, and property films than ever before. There have been no open houses. When we were finally allowed to show or inspect homes it was with limited people to the point that in the beginning husbands and wives had to take turns looking with one of us. Masks and gloves are the new norm. Inspections were performed with the agent and inspector facetiming the buyers out in their car. No flyers. No business cards. No new signs because the sign company was not considered essential. Even moving companies were not considered essential. The state has opened up more and it is easier to buy and sell real estate, but restrictions are still in place and will be for a long time. We adapt and excel. Change is always inevitable and it is important to be able to switch gears to best represent your clients safely. We have got this!
The restrictions put in place over this pandemic have actually been beneficial for our sellers who understand and follow our advice. Open houses do not sell homes and invited a lot of “lookie loos” and we spent a lot of effort educating what were sometimes just tourists about our lifestyle on the lake. We are now able to qualify buyer prospects more stringently and we go through an entire run down before we ever go in a house. We sanitize our listings before and after showings. We make sure anyone in your home is wearing masks and gloves. Marketing material is virtual and so our sellers have a “leg up” because we already are the leaders online for floating home marketing. It has been fascinating to watch some of these properties change hands.
Thank you. We are so very thankful for the opportunity and grateful for the chance to advocate for you and this special neighborhood of floating homes in which I call home. We will never take it for granted. Please reach out if you need anything at all houseboats@cooperjacobs.com 206-850-8841
Regarding any statistical info from the NWMLS: Information and statistics derived from Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
Welcome to the newly redone Shelby Dock! Upscale dock rebuild and incredible channel views make this the ideal spot to call home! Just listed by Courtney Cooper for $765,000
Seattle floating homes in Portage Bay have been well sought after in recent years. Here is one that hasn’t changed hands for forty years! Its adorable, too! Ready for its legacy to be passed on to its next occupant, this sweet floating home is the princess of houseboats! From the moment you step down Shelby Street in Portage Bay, you may have the same feeling that most residents here have – one of your shoulders relaxing and the entire day melting away. Many times, I have heard of this account and experience it myself on a regular basis. This truly is peaceful Portage Bay, but that doesn’t mean that nothing is happening here! This home has an incredible channel view to the full boat parade! If that’s not enough jump into your kayak or paddle out on your SUP.
One bedroom with large walk in closet and super cool historical Jalousie windows, stacking washer and dryer and all fir floors throughout. This is a gem and has a large covered wrap around deck complete with haint paint in the eves. Enjoy your fun neighbors and the private coveted lush garden on the shores of this cooperatively owned moorage’s property. In addiiton, it comes with on shore storage at no additional charge. The monthly dues cover all your utilities except for electricity and cable.internet, and the home is equipped with a super efficiient newer pellet stove.
Enjoy living on the banks of Portage Bay in this incredible part of town. So close to Little Lago, that the lovely smalls of their wood fired pizza and hand made espresso drinks billow through the air when the gentle breezes go by. Located on the Portage Bay Loop, this is a great spot to jump on the 3.2 mile loop around the bay which is the eastern arm of Lake Union. Paddle to Ivar’s for some fish and chips or go through the Montlake Cut and check out the waterways of the Arboretum and Foster Island. There is no shortage of adventure and peace here! $765,000
Some of the details of this Portage Bay floating home:
735 square feet
1 bedroom
1 bath (includes a tub!)
sunny eat in kitchen
owned moorage for home
room to tie up your kayaks
on shore storage
private community garden
Regarding any statistical info from the NWMLS: Information and statistics derived from Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
Westlake is one of the highlights of our Seattle floating homes neighborhood. It is truly coveted, but sometimes overlooked. The truth is that Lake Union floating homes in Westlake don’t change hands nearly as often as other parts of our community. Tom Hanks knew this when he lived here in 1993’s blockbuster hit Sleepless In Seattle. Just one stop into the Westlake Deli will keep you coming back for more. The neighborhood is also located on the acclaimed Cheshiahud Loop which offers lots of great options for connecting North to Fremont, Burke Gilman Trail, and more, plus South to South Lake Union and Downtown. Additionally, Queen Anne is right there and depending on where you are in Westlake, there is also an easy foot bridge across Westlake Ave N. It’s limitless.
Westlake views – this dock has a great view of the iconic Sleepless In Seattle home as well as Gas Works Park!
Here are some reasons from one Westlake floating home owner.
“Our bike/walk path is the best in Seattle from Fisherman’s terminal to Amazonville. Also, though Fremont is very walkable and close to us (0.8 mile to PCC), we are also only 1.4 miles to Queen Anne’s neighborhood – an area we always identify with and use daily – several restaurants (re-opening someday), Trader Joes, nail places, pet places, dry cleaners, indoor pool..
I can understand why some people think Westlake is much busier, but it’s quiet on the water and more accessible location. When I lived on Fairview, I had also thought Westlake was more exposed… until I moved to Westlake and soon after I moved there, I appreciated it much more.”
Westlake in short supply per usual
Westlake floating homes for sale come up here and there. They are always sought after and won’t last. Please let us know if you would like to see them or learn more about this incredible neighborhood.
The 2466 Westlake Ave N dock is part of The Sleepless In Seattle Coop
Great view down the channel of the Sleepless coop.
Please call/text us for your private viewing of any available floating homes – socially distanced, cleaned, sanitized, and compliant with state and CDC guidelines. email houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
Pending – 2766 Westlake Ave N Unit #A, Seattle, WA 98109
Peaceful and colorful Westlake floating home with thoughtful details throughout. $798,000
There’s nothing like living on the water. This beautiful craftsman updated floating home proves it! Relax while taking in the expansive views from your new rooftop deck; an entertainment delight! A wonderful flex room is perfect for a family room, home office work space, or turn it into another bedroom. The kitchen and great room join to create a sophisticated space for entertaining guests. Endless counter space and loads of storage. One bdrm w/ full bath all on the main floor.
Regarding any statistical info from the NWMLS: Information and statistics derived from Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
We are excited to show you this cool neighborhood!
Homes in Westlake tend to have deep water and are on the best part of the Lake Union Loop.
Contact us. We are your Seattle Houseboats Experts and look forward to helping you and answering all your questions. Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
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…
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.
Communication. Let your dock know the plan. There may be a loading zone or parking spaces which need to be reserved.
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.
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.
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.
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
What a gorgeous day! We always say that this is the kind of weather that was made to show off Seattle houseboats! This luxury new construction floating home build is no exception to that. This is the last floating home available in the Stillwater Landing development. It is that one that was held back because the design was so incredible. It is also the last basement allowed in Seattle floating homes per current city rules. This luxury lake home is incredible!!! Three levels of living space with high ceilings, luxury finish work, and radiant warm floors. It has boat moorage and garage parking – complete with electrical to install a car charger if you want. It really has it all… and you own your own moorage. $2,950,000
This is a once in a lifetime buy as the city has a net zero policy on these and no more new Seattle floating homes will be allowed to add to the number that we have on the lake already. In addition, no additional basements will be permitted according to the code. It’s also rare to get a garage parking space and be in this incredible corner of Portage Bay.
We would be happy to show you this property. We have lender, inspector, appraiser, and insurance referrals for these special waterfront properties and we are happy to walk you through each step. We look forward to showing you this floating home or others and are your absolute advocates for Lake Union homes and waterfront living. We are here to help and your absolute Seattle Houseboats Experts ℠.
Surrounded on three sides with water, this is truly life afloat. Natural light comes in from every angle and reflects off the lake on to the ceilings. High end finishes and appliances make this a dream to cook and entertain in. Incredible from every angle, this kitchen is a cook’s dream and you won’t ever want to eat out again. .
Not much on the market as far as Seattle houseboats go in the floating home world right now. Looking for the charm of a historical home with the sleek finishes of new construction? Interested in living on the water in Seattle? This is Seattle houseboats living at its finest and a great combination of the two things you like best! This is an adorable newly redone from the inside out Portage Bay floating home.
From the marketing remarks for this Seattle floating home for sale in the MLS listing: “A classic floating home bungalow is transformed into a modern, energy efficient home. Newly renovated 2 bed/2 bath floating home in Portage Bay w/ all updated features and systems. Inviting kitchen for the chef includes Fisher Paykel appliances, glass tiles, quartz counters, and hand built wooden cabinets. Master bdrm w/ walk-in closet. Hardwood floors, bountiful natural light, extends to a beautiful sliding door wall maximizing your views to the west. Awesome lifestyle. Boat moorage included!” $1,098,000 email houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
Check out the cool finish work on this one. High end finishes including Fisher Paykel appliances and lots of stone, glass,and marble!
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.
Much like the water that floating homes live on, we experience ebbs and flows with Seattle real estate. So far, 2019 has been a year full of fun, exciting developments and sales for floating homes.
The #1 question we get asked is “What’s the Market Like Right Now?”
This question can sometimes be construed in two ways. It depends – “are you a buyer or a seller”, right?
My friends, floating homes of course experience the same ride as land homes but only on a smaller scale. What do I mean? I mean when we start to see “price improvement” for homes actively on the market, it can mean there are less buyers and more inventory (sellers). Sellers are coming off a three year high from home sales and some expect to still be in that value system.
Large views and boat moorage come with this one.
Floating homes, however, magically seem to hover around a certain number of homes which sell each year no matter what kind of real estate market we are in. That number is around 25. I am strictly referring to floating homes and not houseboats or vessels which do not have a King COUNTY tax assessor plaque.
Incredible floating home in Fremont.
So far this year we know of FOUR OFF MARKET SALES, two of which SeattleAfloat have completed. This, my friend, is why it is so important to reach out to us if you are thinking of buying or selling because some of these sales are not in the MLS or made public and it could directly impact how you buy or sell in the future.
By including the four off market sales, to date, there are 14 floating home sales as of July 21, 2019. We can still make our magic 25 number of sales because there are currently 13 active floating homes and we are only half way through the year.
Seattle floating homes don’t have views like this very often!
Concentrating on the solds, the median sales price is $910,000. When I wrote the same market update last summer it was $750,000.
Looking at the actives, we see some amazing ranges of floating homes out there. From $499,000 on a condo dock to $3.2M for a brand new construction. The time is now to keep our community alive and vibrant. So many people we talk to each day are appreciative floating homes are a staple in our city. Let’s keep it this way!
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.
There are not that many end of dock Seattle floating homes. A small fraction of the 517 Lake Union floating homes are in end of dock slip locations. If you are longing for a daily boat parade and beautiful open water, then pay attention! call/text 206-850-8841 for more info or a private showing.
Look at this amazing location! Portage Bay is part of Lake Union which you can see in the distance and then the Space Needle in front of the Puget Sound.
The Location.
Portage Bay is Lake Union’s Eastern arm, but also a charming neighborhood in North Capitol Hill. It is a unique residential pocket that despite being cut off like an island from the rest of Capitol Hill and Eastlake by two freeways, it offers a quiet and peaceful serenity like no other. Floating homes here are colorful and range from derelict to upper crust and the adjoining upland neighborhood is full of the most charm you can possibly fit in one corner of Seattle and anchored by the acclaimed neighborhood hot spot Little Lago.
By boat, you can travel to Ivar’s, the main portion of Lake Union, the Ballard Locks, the Puget Sound, Islands, and more or go the other direction through the Montlake Cut and head into Lake Washington for open water sports and an annual visit from the Blue Angels. By car or bike, you are close to everything.
The Shelby Dock’s new beautiful dock.
The Dock Community
Situated at the base of Shelby Street, the Shelby Dock recently went through an entire dock rebuild and upgrade. It is state of the art and all systems have been upgraded and most importantly moved UNDER the dock (no hanging power lines). This was a large undertaking that took a lot of time and money and the result is stunning. The Shelby dock has three loading zone parking spaces for deliveries, temporary parking, and other short term uses. There is an on land cottage that is shared by all 19 floating homes on the dock which includes communal space and also individual locking storage units for members of the dock. The Shelby Dock also has an incredible private garden at the head of the dock and two community boat moorage spaces which are available on a first come first serve basis.
Look at that reflection of University Of Washington!
The House
One bedroom open floor plan floating home has large grandfathered in floating waterside “yard”! Lots of really cool wood details in the home. Lots of windows and large views, great breezes on a warm day as you gently rock. It can be remodeled or replaced with same float size. $1,500,000
The Realtors
We are Seattle floating homes experts and we are here to answer all your questions. This dock is for floating homes and not other kinds of Seattle houseboats.
Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 e:houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
Two Seattle Floating Homes are OPEN SUNDAY 2/17 from 1-4PM
We are holding two Seattle floating homes open this weekend! If you have been wanting to check out the houseboats along Fairview in Eastlake then this weekend is a great opportunity! Priced at $750,000 and $799,000, these two floating homes both have boat moorage and are located towards the south end of the lake. Great commute option for Amazon or downtown. Fabulous lifestyle. Open Sunday 2/17 1-4PM
Peaceful stroll down the dock to your own private piece of Lake Union!
2019 Fairview Ave E #B A fantastic Eastlake floating home ready for your own personal design! We love the generous light and roomy spaces. Hardwoods throughout the main level extending to your back french doors. A super cozy free standing gas fireplace huddles in the corner, one full bath and a bedroom on the main plus lofty space/bedroom upstairs. Folks this one has a tremendous amount of storage. Two fantastic decks to welcome the southern exposure on a wonderful Co-Op dock. Never miss a sunrise or sunset again.
Space Needle Views and a roof top deck.
2025 Fairview Ave E #Q 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!
We look forward to seeing you in Eastlake on Sunday!
In the mean time, please reach out to us if you would like a private showing of these or other Seattle floating homes. You can call, text, email, or message us. houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
