seattle houseboats

Shakes On The Lake: Seattle Floating Homes During An Earthquake

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

Earthquake Bathtub Sloshing Effect Verified on Seattle Houseboats

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

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

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

Helpful Reading Resource For More on Our Floating Homes Community

Staying Afloat by Jeri Callahan (hardback)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

seattle houseboats

Seattle Houseboats Living: Floating Home Just Listed

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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.
  • Full Listing and to schedule and appt.

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

Seattle Floating Home $699,000 Just Listed In Westlake!

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Welcome to the 2420 Cooperative Seattle Floating Homes Dockseattle floating home for sale in Westlake

2420 Westlake Avenue North #8
Seattle, Washington 98109

The FLOAT

You should always start with the float on a Seattle floating home, but most people start with the house itself to make sure it checks all the Seattle houseboats boxes.  Each one of these is so very different, but it is important that once you identify the perfect Lake Union floating home that works for your living style, then you go right to the float. The true value in Seattle floating homes in across Lake Union and Lake Union’s eastern arm Portage Bay is the slip dimensions.  The slip sizes for any given slip were largely determined and set in stone across coop docks by looking at any existing structures that occupied the slips at the time that the dock was converted to a coop. These dimensions were then recorded and grandfathered in.  Many of them exceed the limit of brand new homes allowed on the lake so slips with footprints larger than 1200 square feet are especially valuable. seattle floating homes

Length: 37.4ft  Width:  30.8 ft

Water Depth:  45ft with no obstructions.

Stringers:  11 pressure treated stringers running east to west.  
Decks The front deck is constructed of treated 2×6 surface boards and 4×6 joints.

Log pack. Beneath the stringers are 9 old growth logs that run east to west. They provide both structure and flotation for the home. They are in a stable configuration, anchored securely with stringers pins.  

Flotation:  6-9ft Styrofoam logs. 41 55-gallon flotation barrels

HOME

  • Early 1900’s year built | 2 beds | 1 Bath | Approximately 700 sq ft
  • Hardwoods | wrap around deck | sunroom | boat moorage
  • $500 Home Owner Dues include:  dock water, sewer, garbage. Dock maintenance, DNR lease, pay off for 8 slip marina, and floating home moorage real estate taxes
  • Personal property tax (paid biannual or annually) is $1,200
  • 8 slip marina owned by 2420 Cooperative anticipated paid off by December 2018
  • Laundry and shower facility at the head of the dock is for the slip tenants.
  • Home Insurance $1900 annually through Lloyds of London underwriters.
    July 2018 Home and Dive Inspection performed.
  • New mini split (heating/cooling) and new attic insulation.
  • New steel moorage arms in 2018.

Seattle floating homesFrom Our Lovely Seattle Floating Home Sellers:

Things We Love About Living Here

We love to hop on our bikes and cruise along the newer Westlake bike trail to Fremont.
We would sometimes attach our pet bike carrier since our favorite bar in Fremont Norm’s on 36th Ave allows dogs inside!

We walk out our sliding glass door and hop on our Paddleboards and other water toys to unwind after a long working day.  However our favorite time is in the early morning hours when the city is still sleeping. SUP yoga anyone?

We love to watch the beautiful yachts cruise into the Westlake marinas and play a game of how this billionaire made their profits!  Plus we like the privacy of living next to a quiet marina instead of a house around every corner.

Nature is everywhere we look and our favorite is to see the Blue Heron hunt for its food right outside our door.

We love to hear the sounds of seaplanes in the distance.  The next time we want to go to the San Juans, we can kayak to Kenmore Air to catch a ride.

The Floating Home Association (FHA) is an awesome community that is always bringing the floating home community together.  Sometimes it’s a dock party (Docktoberfest) or it’s an informative annual meeting (each April) to discuss how we can continue to preserve and improve our lifestyle.  

Above all, we love to tell people (when asked) that we live in a houseboat or floating home.  It never fails to bring a slew of questions about what it’s like and that they’ve always wanted to do the same thing.

Want to see this one?  Call/Text Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841  or email us at houseboats@cooperjacobs.com We are Seattle Floating Homes Experts and happy to help you with this special kind of Seattle home.  

Just Listed in Eastlake!

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Seattle Houseboats : Eastlake Just Listed!

On the southern most Seattle floating homes dock in Eastlake, you will find this beauty! It is officially a two bedroom, but we are calling it a one PLUS bedroom because it offers flexibility in living on Lake Union – two bedrooms, one bedroom with office/playroom/den, or combine the two for a large master suite. Your choice, but lots of options on pretty much one of the best run coop dock on the lake, The Log Foundation.

  • 1 + Bedroom
  • 1 Bath
  • Dues are only $345/month
  • Owned co-op moorage for your home

I love the story of this particular home.  It was hauled in and completely refurbished and is just gorgeous and charming on the inside.  It has always been one of my favorites and offers easy living with close location to Amazon and other South Lake Union places, plus Downtown.  Eastlake is a great neighborhood and the water lifestyle is like no other. Rarely can you step into the Seattle houseboats lifestyle at this price.

A turn key opportunity to start living on the lake in our beautiful city! This sweet floating home in Eastlake exemplifies tiny living to the maximum. Toasty radiant bamboo flooring leads you to a large living room with french doors out to your wrap around deck. Two bedrooms now or make into one custom larger suite. Newly remodeled bathroom to soak in the tub after a session on the lake with your SUP or perhaps a jog around Lake Union. A lifestyle you won’t want to pass up!

Seattle floating homes

Seattle Floating Homes Market Houseboats Plus A Housebarge

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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.

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