Seattle houseboats office view out to Lake Union

August 2015 Seattle Floating Homes Realtors Market Update

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Seattle Houseboats For Sale: 2019 Fairview Ave E Slip D

Seattle Houseboats On The Market:

Just Listed:  2019 Fairview Ave E

Seattle houseboats for sale


For more info or your private showing:

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

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

More info about this great  Eastlake Seattle floating home: 

Seattle houseboats with views of Lake Union2019 Fairview Ave E

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

Seattle houseboats kitchen


Want to learn more about Seattle Houseboats ?seattle houseboats experts

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

Seattle Houseboats Market Update July 2015

Seattle Houseboats Real Estate Market Updateseattle houseboats for sale in westlake

What Is For Sale On Lake Union Now?

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

Pending Seattle Floating Homes In The NWMLS

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

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

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

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

Seattle Houseboats SOLD CMA

Seattle Houseboats SOLD 2015

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

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

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

Seattle Houseboats In The MLS Again Soon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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