Hello! Seattle Floating Homes and Seattle Houseboats Neighbors! Hoping this finds you well in the new year! My family and I are very grateful to have you as neighbors. I greatly appreciate that you keep choosing me when it comes time to buy or sell your homes. It is truly my honor.
Besides selling a lot of Seattle houseboats and floating homes, there were a few big life changes in 2022!
Married! You may have seen my name change on the signs: Courtney Cooper -> Courtney Cooper Neese. At age 50, my prince charming finally found me. He came in the form of a tall and handsome home inspector named Joe who sponsored a top 20% real estate broker lunch, that I was featured at. And.. the good news: he loves floating homes, too.
Joe came with a spunky and beautiful daughter so London and I gained not just one family member, but two!
Lastly, My daughter got married, too! On the last day of the year, we hiked in the snow and got to experience a beautiful fairytale wedding that only Madison could have come up with. My new son in law is very special.
Gratitude.
This floating community is like no other! While many admire us from the outside, one really does have to live here to truly understand our various intricacies! Each dock is so different and each geographic section of our community is different as well, but we all exhibit the same fortitude no matter which side of the lake we are on. I long admired Seattle’s floating homes community and thought I understood it before I lived here, but it wasn’t until I was highly involved and living in it that a true understanding was born. Very grateful to have had the chance to work with incredible buyer and seller clients through all this. It’s more about you rather than the numbers. Thank you for always wrapping your arms around me.
– Courtney Cooper Neese, Seattle Afloat
Are You Interested In The Lake Union Market?
Westlake Floating Home For Sale – Booking showings now. $1,895,000Lake Union Landing – Over 50% sold, it has been my pleasure to launch this beautiful coop and I am so thankful for the quality builds going in here. Seattle afloat represented the Seller and Buyer for this beauty. Buyers had lost out on at least two other homes and are so happy to have found their perfect spot on the lake. Represented the Seller and the Buyer on this beautiful Portage Bay waterfront home that is part of the Stillwater floating home coop community that Seattle Afloat launched.Cute 2 bedroom Eastlake Seattle Houseboat has great dock position. Rented moorage. $395,000Gorgeous houseboats are being built one at a time by FullerStyle Houseboats at Lake Union Landing. I am so grateful to be their exclusive listing broker!
Seattle houseboats offer great channel views and beautiful light and scenery.
Seattle houseboats come in many different shapes and sizes and you can find them in various spots along the shores of Lake Union and Portage Bay, but we love it when we are able to represent a true legacy floating home on the lake. Located in one of the most established Seattle floating homes coop docks on Lake Union, this vibrant spot will relax and excite you every time you come home.
From the listing of this Seattle Floating Home Just Listed by Seattle Houseboats Specialists Courtney at Seattle Afloat:
Another legacy Seattle floating home is available for the first time in decades. Located on one of the acclaimed Log Foundation docks in the southern most part of Eastlake, this home is a huge opportunity! Awesome light filled vaulted ceilings and spaces offer just the right amount of openness for modern living. Enjoy the charm and intimacy that comes with this amazing lifestyle which is like no other. Live surrounded by lapping water peacefully, yet in the middle of the city, plus how cool is it that you can kayak or SUP right from your home? Take a swim channel side in the warm summer evenings or cozy up for the winter. No matter the season, this house is the place. $799,995
Listed by Seattle Houseboats Specialists at Seattle Afloat
Seattle Houseboats Open Houses:
Open all weekend – today 12-3 and tomorrow 2-4!
Interested in selling your Seattle Houseboat or Floating home?
If you own a Seattle floating home in Eastlake, Westlake, Northlake, or Portage Bay and are interested in seeing what your home might be worth in this market? There is always a great demand for Seattle waterfront homes and Seattle floating homes and each one is so different so we have buyers waiting to see what comes on the market that suit them! Let us know if you have one they can look at!
Please email us directly or call/text us to speak with one of us: houseboats@cooperjacobs.com 206-472-1005 We are Seattle waterfront and floating homes experts and here to help you.
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
Represented by Seattle Afloat: Lake Union Landing Slip 1 and beautiful Seattle houseboat Pearl closed in escrow for full price yesterday.
Seattle Houseboats for sale in the MLS: Here’s what was said about the beautiful Pearl houseboat in the listing that we put on:
Lake Union Landing and FullerStyle present to you Pearl, a stunning 2021 houseboat and the latest addition to this sought after co-op owned community. Pearl has a gorgeous nautical curved bow with windows placed strategically to incorporate natural light and views. She measures 36×14 and is fully equipped with high end and custom finishes plus city water and sewer. Luxurious design and uncompromised spaces will leave you pinching yourself daily wondering if you really live here. Stroll down the gated and private wide tree and bench lined dock boulevard like no other and enjoy the sights and sounds of lake living. Shared off street parking and steps to Burke Gilman Trail, local eateries, and UW campus. In city paradise!
Lake Union Landing is a beautiful tree lined wide boulevard style dock over Lake Union with full skyline views and a front row seat to all the action and boat parades on the water. It is like nothing you have seen to date in the city and full of surprises at every corner. This dock is incredibly special, but adding to this is the stellar designed and built houseboats by FullerStyle making Lake Union Landing Seattle’s premier new dock for floating residences. We are 50% sold now and slips are released on a limited basis. We have three currently available. Let us know if you would like more info. call/text 206-850-8841 or email houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
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
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.
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.
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.
Welcome to the 2420 Cooperative Seattle Floating Homes Dock
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.
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.
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.
From 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.
Come Home To This Oasis! Newly Redone Seattle Floating Home With Space Needle Views in Eastlake:
Let’s talk about this Seattle floating homes location for a minute and the incredible peaceful yet exciting combination of living surrounded by nature in the middle of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s the perfect place to live after a busy day at work!
Walk or Uber from South Lake Union . Feel your shoulders relax and unwind as you walk down the 2017 dock because just strolling down this dock is a real treat.
This is the southern most dock on Lake Union with wide open views of the lake and city. The 2017 dock is one of three that makes up the famed and well organized Log Foundation. Besides being one of the most well run cooperatively owned dock groups on the lake, this community has also elevated container gardening to an absolute art form. It is truly paradise.
PS – you can also walk to cool places like Serafina, SLU, Essential Bakery, Starbucks, Pete’s Market, and more.
Step aboard your newly remodeled floating home in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood. Gorgeous kitchen includes granite counter tops, new cabinets, under counter refrigerator, and warm your toes on the heated Travertine floors. Or opt to use your outdoor grill while soaking up the sun and Lake Union and city skyline views. In the lower level, a comfortable master bedroom with ample closets, a cozy fireplace, and access to the lake from your deck. Second bedroom plus bonus room. $1,850,000
2017 Fairview Ave E #N
Newly listed and just featured in Curbed Magazine, this home was redone top to bottom and can be yours before Fourth Of July! Call or text Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 or email houseboats@cooperjacobs.com for your private showing or more information.
Seattle Houseboats SOLD! This Seattle floating home sold for over List Price! 3 bedroom/1.5 bath – Eastlake!
Serving the Puget Sound’s Waterfront and waterside communities: Seattle Houseboats & Floating Homes, Seattle Waterfront Homes and Neighborhoods Seattle, Washington is filled with beauty over and around the waters of the Puget Sound and surrounding lakes. With over two decades of serving the water based community, Seattle Afloat is well known for successes. Whether on the lake with Seattle houseboats and Seattle floating homes or on land with Seattle waterfront homes, we are your absolute advocate for all things waterfront and waterside around the Puget Sound.
Please email/call/text to discuss your needs: houseboats@cooperjacobs.com 206-850-8841 Seattle Afloat is your source for the best in Seattle waterfront and floating homes expertise. We are here to help you.
Courtney is a can do person! Trustworthy, professional, efficient, connected and kind. Look no further for your realty needs.
– Christine K ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We have worked with Courtney since 2017 on several transactions. She is a great marketer and deal maker – always able to handle the inevitable sensitive issues and arrive at fair deals for buyer and seller. We are grateful for her considerable knowledge of waterfront and floating home properties and would highly recommend her for any real estate deal.
Mike & Mimmi S ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Seattle Houseboats And Seattle Floating Homes For Sale
Have you seen the current Seattle floating homes for sale right now? There is a pretty good mix of Seattle houseboatson the market right now!
Founder Courtney Cooper Neese has lived in both waterfront and floating homes over the years and has over two decades of experience. She is well networked into and currently lives and works in the community. There isn’t another resource that can provide you with more up to the minute information on what’s on the market, what might be for sale, and other neighborhood happenings. She is an excellent resource for anything related to living in the community, too!
Interested in selling? 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!
If you are interested in buying a Seattle floating home or finding out what it takes to live in Seattle houseboats, please get in touch today. We are happy to give you lots of info about Lake Union, Portage Bay, and Seattle houseboat living in general. We also can put you on a list to be first to get our alerts for any new Seattle floating home listings.
Seattle houseboats and floating homes require specific lenders, inspectors, and insurance providers. There are other quirks, too! We love this lifestyle and live and work in it so we are happy to share it with you and show you why it is the best!
Listings are including Lake Union Seattle floating homes in Eastlake, Westlake, and Portage Bay, and housebarges, and other Floating On Water Residences such as registered liveaboard vessels in Westlake and Northlake.
Seattle Houseboats For Sale: Just SOLD in Eastlake!
Seattle Houseboats Just Sold: Let’s look at 2019 Fairview Ave E in Lake Union’s Eastlake neighborhood
This particular Seattle floating home has a special place in our hearts due to its sentimental background. Though not as famous as its Sleepless in Seattle cousin across Lake Union, this Seattle houseboat is perhaps just as iconic! Located on one of Eastlake’s longest running and most organized cooperative dock, The Log Foundation, this 1930 floating home has had lots and lots of action – even as it was moored in one place and not moving. It was owned by a very longtime and loved Seattle houseboats resident and the home was practically a floating dance hall in its day. We have recently nicknamed the home “Art” after its previous owner and look forward to seeing the new owners enjoy it as much as he reportedly did. There are lots of stories across the lake about the parties that almost always broke out into full on dance soirees and you can tell just by walking into this houseboat that it has had a happy life. We are so thrilled to see it have a loving new chapter.
A little more about this special home…..
So back to the sale itself – Seattle houseboats for sale always are exciting, but closing one is also a cause for celebration. Congratulations on doing such a great job getting it sold. It closed in escrow on 10/13/2015 at a final sales price of $677,500. The floating home has two bedrooms and is 1300 square feet. It has a rather large float for its size and great dock position. It also is well oriented to the lake which is something you don’t always get. Moorage for a recreational boat is possible alongside the home with the permission of the co-op. It also had extra spaces which could function as an office or another nonconforming bedroom. The home is all one level and has the most charming curved ceilings. I was always very taken in with the large open living space and the beautiful spaces throughout. It never felt like a two bedroom home – more like a home with all kinds of possibilities in every corner. As I write this, I personally regret not buying it myself – such a wonderful place with great energy, but alas, there will be other Seattle houseboats for sale and each one is unique and special.
Please call us if you are interested in learning more about Seattle houseboats for sale – We look forward to helping you buy or sell your next Seattle houseboat, whether it is a Seattle floating home, a house barge, or a floating on-water residence. We are excited to help you learn about the lovely Lake Union as well as Seattle Houseboat Living℠.
Courtney /206-850-8841 | houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
A lot can change in a week. One moved through the Ballard Locks into its new permanent home, One back to Active status in the MLS, one went pending in the MLS and a BIG one just hit the market!
These homes range in price from $750,000 to $3,295,000 for an ultra luxury floating home at Wards Cove. (Remember also that these are theSeattle houseboats that are in the Seattle floating homes category only and do not include other Seattle floating on-water residences.)
Pending Seattle Floating Homes:
These include houseboats that are pending in the MLS under Pending, Pending Inspection, and Pending Feasibility. There are FOUR Seattle floating homes that are currently marked as pending and waiting to close in escrow. These include homes on the Mallard Cove dock, Log Foundation, and The Lake Union and range in price from $499,500 for the pending feasibility listing to $1,395,000 for the beauty at Mallard Cove.
Seattle Floating Homes that have sold in the last 60 days through the MLS –
There have been three Seattle houseboats in this category which have closed in escrow in the last sixty days.
2420 Westlake Ave N #7 we listed this one – pretty great place in Westlake.
2017 Fairview Ave E #K This is on the Log Foundation Dock
You can see full details of these floating homes on the listing sheets here: Seattle houseboats sold 10022015 If you are interested in looking at the various dollar per square foot and market time, then here is an overall market sheet to look at the differences in these numbers: Seattle Floating Homes Market 10022015 Please let us know if you are interested in learning more about Seattle floating homes. We are Seattle houseboats Realtors and love what we do!
OH! I almost forgot the fun part! For years we have been asked about the burned up houseboat in Eastlake and whether or not the owner will sell it. The answer was always no because we knew they were having their dream floating home built in Canada to replace the burned up one in the exact footprint. It happened this last week! Seattle’s newest floating home was floated right through The Ballard Locks and put in place on one of the more perfect days in Seattle. The Locks posted a picture on Facebook.
Seattle Afloat®– The Seattle Houseboats Market Is Floating Despite Reports On Low Lake Union Levels…
Here we are in the final days of August 2015 already and the Seattle houseboats market has been incredibly surprising and action packed so far this year! Multiple reports on the risk associated with historically low Lake Union levels and still we are Afloat in Seattle™! As of this AM, in the last 30 days there have been 5 SOLD Seattle floating homes that have closed in escrow through the NWMLS. These are not the “For Sale By Owner” Seattle houseboats and these are just the Seattle floating homes – not the other types of Seattle houseboats like floating on water residences, etc. Just floating homes. Cooper Jacobs Real Estate has Seattle Realtors that specialize in Seattle houseboats and Seattle waterfront homes. (Seattle houseboats experts we were involved in two of the last five sales below.)
2818 Boyer Ave E #2 in Portage Bay is a 1 bedroom, .75 bath 600 square foot Seattle floating home. It was built in 1930. It was listed for $395,000 and after 5 days on the market sold on 7/21/15 for $410,000 (103.80% of sales price to list price). $683.33/sq ft
2031 Fairview Ave E #N in Eastlake is a 885 square foot 1 bedroom and 1 bath home built in 1925. It was orignially listed for $510,000 and dropped its price to $499,000. After 90 days on market, it sold for $465,000 (93.19% sales price to list price). $525.42 square foot
2420 Westlake Ave #7 * in Westlake is a 1065 square foot 2 bedrom and 1.5 bath floating home that we listed. It was built in 1929, but completely redone and sold for $875,000 after 103 days on market (97.44 % sales price to list price) 821.60 a square foot *Cooper Jacobs Real Estate represented the Seller
1214 Hamlin Ave St #9 in Portage Bay – A 3 bedroom 2 bath 1500 square foot floating home built in 1971. It was listed and sold for $1,298,500 after 11 days on market. $865.67 square foot
2466 Westlake Ave N #19* in Westlake – we represented the buyer for this fabulous Seattle floating home. It is a 2 bedroom and 1.75 bath home built in 1940. It was listed and sold for $1,350,000 with 7 days on market. *Cooper Jacobs Real Estate represented the Buyer
So what is for sale in Seattle Houseboats world now on Lake Union?
There are five Seattle floating homes for sale in the MLS right now. These do not include Seattle houseboats for sale by owner. They range in price from $499,000 to $1,495,000 with an average days on market of 38 days. The median list price is $750,000. They are all in Eastlake! In addition there is one floating home that is pending in the MLS priced at $2,895,000 (Wards Cove).
Our favorite by far of course is a great floating home on The Log Foundation dock which happens to be one of the best run and most established coop on Lake Union. If you are looking for Seattle houseboat living, then this is a great choice! It is a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom 1300 square feet floating home built in 1930 with lots of updates.
It is south facing! To be south facing and in Eastlake is highly coveted. This one is all one level and well oriented with the water. It is listed for $697,000. Please let us know if you would like to see it. It won’t last long. Also, if you are looking for Seattle houseboats for rent, there are some available right now (A lot of people ask about Seattle houseboats for vacation rental, but the majority of these homes are rented long term).
Want to learn more about Seattle Houseboats and life on Lake Union Afloat? We would be happy to help!
There are some great Seattle houseboats for sale out there, but this lovely Eastlake floating home is making its debut for the first time in a very long time.
2 Bedrooms
1 Bath
1300 Square Feet
Built in 1930
Remodeled Kitchen
South Facing
Owned Moorage on Well Organized Dock
More info about this great Eastlake Seattle floating home:
2019 Fairview Ave E
Look no further. You’ve just discovered the quintessential Eastlake Floating Home. The massive float size is perfect to entertain on your south facing deck. One bedroom & one smaller. Third room for another bedroom, office or den. Newly remodeled kitchen, with gas range, stainless steel appliances, and granite counter tops. Well established Log Foundation Co-op. Great location to enjoy all the Eastlake activities. Extra Boat Moorage with co-op approval. Welcome Home! $697,000
Lots going on across Lake Union! There are three Seattle floating homes for sale in Eastlake right now – ranging in price form $525,000 to $1,495,000. All are two bedrooms which gives you a good indicator that it isn’t about bedroom count for Seattle houseboats! There is one other of the Seattle Floating On-Water Residences for sale in Gas Works Park Marina at $519,000 as well.
Pending Seattle Floating Homes In The NWMLS
There are four Seattle floating homes pending in the NWMLS right now. These range in price from $395,000 for a Portage Bay floating home to $1,298,000 for another Portage bay houseboat. There is one of each in Westlake and Eastlake pending as well. They range in bedroom count from 1 to 3 bedrooms and have other individual perks as well. For instance, our Westlake Floating home for sale is part of a co-op that purchased a money making marina to pay for costs of the dock. It is currently pending. Each one of these homes is so different and that is why when you are looking at Seattle houseboats it is really important to talk to someone who has the experience needed to help you navigate the waters of lake Union and Seattle Houseboat Living ℠.
Closed Transactions on Lake Union: Seattle Houseboats SOLD – at least EIGHT IN SIXTY DAYS.
There were at least two other Floating On-Water Residences as well, but let’s look at the Seattle floating homes segment of Seattle houseboats for sale. There were six Seattle floating homes that closed in escrow in the NWMLS in the last sixty days. They ranged in list price from $499,000 to $2,595,000 and range in sales price3 from $465,000 to $2,475,000 with an average sales price to list price ratio of 98.03%.
You can see the full NWMLS sheets and comparisons here:
Average days on market was 26 days for these. They were all around Lake Union in Eastlake, Westlake, and Portage Bay. The Lake Union Dock had a couple change hands. Fairview Landing also had one sell. We specialize in floating homes and waterfront homes, so happily we were involved in a third of these home sales. We sold a great one at 2466 Westlake Ave N for $1,350,000 (on the market for just 7 days) and we listed the beautiful white floating home at 2031 Fairview Ave E for $975,000 (it sold in 5 days for $971,000). It is difficult to judge these unique Seattle waterfront homes by dollar per square foot. The range of dollar per square foot pricing is as unique as each of these homes – ranging from $525.42 to $1225.85. The median price was $1,160,000. For Seattle houseboats, it really is about your unique needs. Please let us know what you are looking for in a new Lake Union home.
Here are some of the most common things that we get asked about with Seattle Houseboats:
Views
Boat Moorage
Rooftop deck
Neighborhood
Parking
Dock Position (End of dock moorage is always the most desirable and the most expensive)
Form of Ownership (Co-op, Condo, Fee Simple, Leased)
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.
One 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.
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.
Westlake Floating Home – $965,000 and just gorgeous Seattle waterfront living.
This is the perfect place to play all summer and cozy up in winter time by the fire to write your novel. Seattle is full of life and with companies like Weyerhaeuser and Expedia moving in to close in Seattle neighborhoods, Westlake is a perfect place to live! Washington is still ranked as number one for bikes across the country and this Westlake floating home is right on the Burke-Gilman Trail! With beautiful pathways and parks, Westlake has a lot to offer those looking at Seattle houseboats.
Please watch the video and then let us know if you would like more information.
seattlehouseboats@cooperjacobs.com
Cooper Jacobs Real Estate proudly presents:
our gorgeous Seattle floating home listing at 2420 Westlake Ave N.
Please let us know if you would like more info on Seattle houseboats, Seattle floating homes, or Seattle waterfront homes. Also, if you are thinking about listing your Seattle home, please know that we are among the few that pay for our client’s staging bills. This will save you thousands of dollars and can end up netting you tens of thousands of dollars over list price.
Please email one of us for details (no catch – promise).
We just listed this gorgeous Seattle floating home on The Lake Union dock! In looking at Seattle houseboats around the lake, this is one of two that are for sale right now that we really like. It is on a very large float and has a lot to offer for the perfect Seattle waterfront lifestyle.
If you would like to see it, please call or email us at seattlehouseboats@cooperjacobs.com
Open Houses:
Thursday 11AM – 1PM
Sunday 1PM – 4PM
2031 Fairview Ave E #G
Marketing Remarks From the Listing in the NWMLS:
Second from the end on one of Eastlake’s most charming docks, this one level floating home offers an amazing lifestyle afloat on Lake Union! Situated on one of the larger floats on the lake, this well built Cape Cod home features newer appliances, newer roof (with stairs for rooftop access and big views), maple hardwoods, french doors, and a real working fireplace. Catch all the action on the lake from your living room or front deck and enjoy the security of ownership a cooperative dock offers.
$975,000
Seattle Floating Home Features
Double Pane Storm Windows, Dining Room, French Doors, High Tech Cabling, Vaulted Ceilings, Walk-in Closet
To the Seattle houseboats community: thank you for your business.We love serving the Seattle floating homes community and look forward to doing it for a long time. Please email us or call us if you need anything at all
– Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 Courtney@CooperJacobs.com
We are Seattle Houseboats Realtors. Seattle Afloat / Cooper Jacobs Real Estate
You have to go back over a hundred years and look beyond Lake Union to see the roots of Seattle houseboats. Beth Means and Bill Keasler wrote a great piece about Seattle houseboats history on The Seattle Floating Homes Association website. Seattle Floating homes have played a significant part in shaping the city’s history and landscape. We at Seattle Afloat have a whole category on this site dedicated to it: Seattle houseboats history on Seattle Afloat.
There is also a great spot to see amazing pictures and get more information on HistoryLink where the site describes various houseboats around Seattle and their origins:
“Some of these communities — especially those off the Madison Park and Leschi neighborhoods on Lake Washington — were formed by the well-to-do who enjoyed summering aboard their fancy abodes. Others — along the Elliott Bay waterfront, the Duwamish River, Harbor Island, Salmon Bay, Lake Union, Portage Bay, and Union Bay — were mainly inhabited by workers struggling to stay financially afloat.. “
Howard Droker wrote the fascinating book Seattle’s Unsinkable Houseboats in 1977 and there is a great video about Seattle houseboats featuring him on the http://www.lakeunionhistory.org/ website. I have embedded it here because it is worth a watch:
If you are curious about Seattle houseboats and interested in purchasing a Seattle floating home, then please let us know. These are special homes and the ultimate in Seattle waterfront living. You should work with real estate agents who understand the ins and outs of Seattle houseboats. We understand all of the unique intricacies of the Seattle floating home world and we are happy to help you. We can also help you with the various FSBO floating homes available across the lake.
You can reach me at 206-850-8841 or Courtney@cooperjacobs.com
Cooper Jacobs Real Estate for all your realty needs – we have brokers who specialize in all Seattle neighborhoods and suburbs.
A few random Lake Union thoughts – Would love to hear some of your thoughts, too….
Seattle Floating Homes Association Website – One word: Gorgeous. The updated Floating Homes Association website is fresh and beautiful.. I am jealous I didn’t make it myself. Love it. Kudos! You can see it here: www.seattlefloatinghomes.org Jann, I know you had a hand in that and it’s amazing! You can see all the newsletters, updates, tour info, etc. I particularly am fond of the Seattle houseboats history page.
Reality TV and Seattle houseboats. It’s been overdone already. Have you watched those shows on HGTV and other channels? We get phone calls almost every other week from producers hoping to film the next reality TV show featuring Seattle houseboats and us. They ask us to be on these shows, but we say NO. We STRONGLY believe that protecting the Seattle houseboat community’s privacy is far more important than cheap fame for ourselves. We appreciate all that the Seattle floating home community has given to us and we would never ever cross what we feel is a strong trust boundary.
FSBO Seattle floating homes – Word on the docks is lots of private sales going on. Last night it was the talk of the Seattle Floating Homes Association meeting. We verified it with Krista Todd at Sound Community and I verified it with Phil Miller who is a local legend and closes most of the floating homes in escrow. Of course being real estate agents, we are partial to the idea of listing your home in the NWMLS (with Cooper Jacobs Real Estate preferably), but putting that aside, why aren’t you listing your floating home with a Realtor (please also make sure they are actual dues paying Realtors who abide by a code of ethics)? The Realtor’s commissions aren’t that high in comparison with how much more money the open real estate market would bring you in the form of a higher sales price. I know news travels fast on the docks when someone is ready to sell, but even that can’t compare to the global exposure the MLS and the internet offer. I would love to hear some feedback on this. Many FSBO buyers have the false misconception that if they go around the listing agent then they will be able to get the home for a discount to the tune of that full listing broker and selling broker commission. That simply isn’t true. While the seller may be willing to give you somewhat of a discount, in most cases they will more likely want to pocket the savings of not listing it themselves. Any discount you could have gotten would easily be beaten by a skilled real estate agent in a negotiation.
That’s it for now – as always, thank you for your business. We love serving this community and look forward to doing it for a long time. please email us or call us if you need anything at all Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 Courtney@CooperJacobs.com We are Seattle Houseboats Realtors.
Floating Homes are HOT and this one is no exception!
Seattle houseboats come in all shapes and sizes and whether you have been looking for a house barge, floating home, or vessel type of houseboat, you will appreciate what this one has to offer!
Just listed at $985,000 by Courtney Cooper of Cooper Jacobs Real Estate:
2420 Westlake Ave N #7
Here are some of the features in this floating home as well as the remarks from the MLS listing:
2 – bedrooms
2 – 3/4 bathrooms (1 on main and 1 upper)
1065 Square feet
42 x 24 float
$500/mo HOA
$1831/year taxes
Pet friendly
Ownership in a Co-op owned dock
Additional ownership in a Marina
“Whether you are looking for the serenity and inspiration of a lake home or you want to invite all your friends over for a party on your roof top deck, this is the one you have been waiting for. This gorgeous Westlake floating home is dialed in and located on a pet friendly and very sought after dock in Lake Union! Completely remodeled in 2008 with all new surfaces and appliances plus immaculate upstairs master suite and another bedroom/office on the main level. Lots of storage and extras!”
Ownership in a Marina – Another interesting asset of this Westlake floating home:
This is a unique dock on the lake in that it has its own marina! In all of houseboat living, this is not common. There are 9 slips in this Westlake marina location. Each of the 12 floating home owners on the dock have a 1/12 interest in this marina which is separately financed and being paid for in part by coop fees. It is on schedule to be paid off in 2019. The idea is that once the Marina is paid off in full, it will generate enough income to perhaps eliminate the coop dues altogether and could even provide additional income.
Would you like more information on these sales or Seattle floating homes both off and on the market?
Courtney Cooper 206.850.8841 courtney@cooperjacobs.com
Cooper Jacobs Real Estate:
Seattle waterfront homes and Seattle Houseboats Realtors
New Seattle houseboats for sale coming in the market this week. There are some great Seattle houseboat opportunities according to what we have heard so reserve your appointment to see them asap.
The real estate inventory for Seattle floating homes has been so low for all of 2015 thus far so it’s exciting to know that we have so many great new options coming on the lake. Price ranges start in the high $300k range and go up into the multi millions so there is something for everyone in this batch of Seattle houseboats for sale – including houseboats in Westlake, Eastlake, and Portage Bay. There are new construction Seattle floating homes, and historicSeattle houseboats as well as everything in between.
In addition, we have been working on some other cool off market Seattle houseboats sales. Please let us know if you want to see a summary of all Seattle floating homes sold in the last year – both on and off the market for comp purposes. We are happy to look at your Seattle floating home if you would like a current market value.
Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 Courtney@CooperJacobs.com
Cooper Jacobs Real Estate
We have Two of the top Seattle floating homes Realtors in our office and look forward to helping YOU.
Seattle Houseboats Market Update: What’s Out There?
wide open views
In the MLS, there are three Seattle houseboats for sale currently in the Seattle floating homes category. They all three have a 1 in front of them. As in ONE MILLION. Specifically, there is one available in Portage Bay for $1.1M and two Seattle houseboats available in Eastlake (including one of the Roanoke Reef floating homes) ranging in price from $1,599,900 to $1,795,000. There is also a Seattle houseboat for rent in Eastlake at the end of the dock. In escrow, there is one Seattle floating home on Fairview in Eastlake that is pending – priced just over a million dollars.
Seattle Houseboats Sold
In the last 60 days in the MLS for Seattle houseboats sales, there have been two recorded. Both of these Seattle floating homes were priced under a million dollars…
3012 Fuhrman Ave E #D Listed on 11/22/2014 by Seattle Houseboats Realtor of Cooper Jacobs Real Estate for $229,000 and under contract officially on 11/25/2014. It closed with a final sales price of $235,000 on 12/18/2014. This little Portage Bay floating home was an absolute writer’s paradise – a perfect Lake Union get away!
2207 Fairview Ave E #1 Listed by another company on 6/25/2014 and went pending in October on 10/07/2014 and then closed another two months later on 12/5/2014. So six month on the market – listed at $800,000 and sold for 91.25% of that asking at a final sales price of $730,000. It’s a 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath Eastlake floating home with 986 square feet and built in 1920.
Overall on The Seattle Houseboats Market…….
The story with Seattle houseboats is still inventory. Anything under $500,000 is moving faster than other price ranges. That being said with the proper exposure, the right buyers will find your floating home. If you are a buyer, then there are options in the MLS as long as you are willing to shell out the money that this unique Seattle waterfront homes lifestyle affords. We are a good contact because we know of AT LEAST THREE Seattle houseboats that are available or will be soon if you are looking for something specific. Utilizing a Seattle houseboats broker is key if you are going to be successful in being alerted immediately if something may be or is available. Please feel free to drop me a line as well. We love our jobs and it shows. We are excited to work with you!
Dead of Seattle winter during the holiday break… what could possibly be shaking down on Seattle Houseboats real estate?
Not a ton, although, if you are a buyer, this is a great time to get out there because you have no competition on the lake or otherwise.
Right now there are only a couple choices in Seattle floating homes for sale and they are both priced between $1.1M and $1.6M – one in Eastlake and one in Portage Bay.
As far as recent sold Seattle houseboats, We listed the little guy in Portage bay at 3012 Fuhrman Ave N, Slip #D for $229,000 and it closed just before Christmas on 12/19 with a final sales price of $235,000. We also listed and sold the Seattle floating home on 2331 Fairview Ave E, Slip #A which closed on 10/31/2014 and had a final selling price of $345,000.
Other recent Seattle floating homes for sale that have closed in escrow are as follows:
2207 Fairview Ave E #1 Listed for $800,000 and sold for $730,000 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths 986 sq feet closed 12/9/2014
2351 Fairview Ave E #K Listed for $1,150,000 and sold for $1,100,000 2 bedrooms, 1.75 baths 1300 square feet closed on 11/14/2014
There are quite a few off market Lake Union and Portage Bay Seattle houseboats opportunities at the moment as well. Spring will being more of these listings to light, so let us know what you are looking for and we will keep you in mind as they come up. Courtney 206-850-8841 houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
Feasibility. There are FOUR Seattle floating homes that are currently marked as pending and waiting to close in escrow. These include homes on the Mallard Cove dock, Log Foundation, and The Lake Union and range in price from $499,500 for the pending feasibility listing to $1,395,000 for the beauty at Mallard Cove.
