Westlake Floating Homes Are Beautiful

Contact us. We are your Seattle Houseboats Experts and look forward to helping you and answering all your questions. Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
Contact us. We are your Seattle Houseboats Experts and look forward to helping you and answering all your questions. Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 houseboats@cooperjacobs.com
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.
Flotation: 6-9ft Styrofoam logs. 41 55-gallon flotation barrels
HOME
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.
We just listed an incredible Seattle Floating Home on the Flo Villa dock! If you have been looking at Seattle houseboats, then you should know that this one has been completely remodeled! $775,000
It’s your time! Live the iconic lifestyle you have only dreamed about! Located in Eastlake’s enclave of floating homes on Lake Union, this mid-dock beauty is completely remodeled with an open one bedroom plus flex space floor plan. Boasting vaulted ceilings and hardwoods, this home is incredibly light and bright and has a new kitchen! Enjoy cozy extras like the heated bathroom floor plus it has new electrical, plumbing, windows & insulation throughout. With an actual growing willow tree and a fabulous relationship to the water, this is home is a great place to live Life Afloat In Seattle.
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.)
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).
The Seattle Floating Homes Market In General: If you have been watching the Seattle houseboats market at all, then you know that there have not been a lot to choose from as of late. Seattle floating homes have trickled onto the market very slowly and many have sold off market as demand increases. It is our pleasure to introduce this gem into the mix as it is a great spot to call home in Seattle!
Rare second from the end South facing Lake Union floating home in Eastlake with incredible features. Great interior spaces, French Doors to the back deck which opens up to a large channel and easy Lake action.
Enjoy relaxing in your “backyard” on your grandfathered in accessory float, plus there is space to put your own small boat alongside. Coveted Co-Op Owned Lake Union Moorage Slip and a well maintained floating home all on one of the most well run docks in the city. This is truly an opportunity and it isnt often that these come up so close to the end of the dock. $725,000
Some of the basics on this Seattle floating home for sale:
Although it is almost always more expensive dollar per square foot to purchase a Seattle houseboat, the low dues and low taxes make this home more affordable than a land home overall. They are quite a unique way to live in the city and we would be happy to tell you about it. Let us know, please, if you are interested in seeing this Seattle floating home or other Seattle houseboats for sale. We are happy to show you our favorites and walk you through the steps of purchasing one.
Courtney Cooper 206-850-8841 Courtney@CooperJacobs.com
Seattle Houseboats market staying afloat…
We know of a few Seattle floating homes that have sold recently off market including a front row Roanoke Reef floating home … We also know of at least two others about to hit the market so stay tuned, but if you are interested in looking at Seattle houseboats right now, you have three choices.
We recommend this 950 square foot Seattle floating home with a rooftop deck. It is listed for $499,950. Here are the remarks from the MLS listing for this Eastlake houseboat:
This is a great opportunity to live life afloat and own your own moorage and great well run co-op dock! Extremely stylish floating home has a beautiful owner’s suite perched on the second floor. Nice open floor plan, kitchen with stainless steel appliances opening up to a casual great room. Fun decks and spaces, plus a roof top deck!
The other two choices are within the same Log Foundation co-op dock. There is an adorable one on the same dock listed at $449,000 and then a couple docks South but still within the Log Foundation is an end of dock Seattle floating home still located in the Log Foundation and listed for $2,888,000. It is on the most southern Seattle floating home dock in Eastlake so imagine the Seattle skyline views you have from there! It is supreme.
There is one other “on market” option and that is the very last homesite available at Wards’s Cove. Ward’s Cove is the newest Seattle floating home dock and 11 out of the 12 slips have sold. It was listed for $630,000, but is currently under $600,000. Ward’s Cove offers many amenities and some well designed floating home plan options, PLUS it is fee simple ownership. This is RARE. Another rare perk? Parking!
Please let us know if you are interested in any of these or if you would like to see something else we may have upcoming… 206.850.8841 courtney@cooperjacobs.com
Interested in dipping your feet into Lake Union’s Houseboat Community?
Seattle floating homes are few and far between – there are around 500 of them in the city and only about a dozen sell each year. Here is a one bedroom with a rooftop deck: 2025 Fairview Ave E It is a really good option if you want a nice combination of modern and Seattle houseboat living. Seattle houseboats offer a unique perspective to waterfront living.
The “Higher” Costs Of Living on A Seattle Floating Home:
Many Seattle floating homes buyers are misinformed as to the cost of living on these. Yes, dollar for dollar as far as square footage goes, there is a premium, but compared to other Seattle waterfront homes, this seems irrelevant. The interesting part is that the cost of actually living in a Seattle floating home is significantly less than a land home once you purchase it. The taxes are less and the dues cover a lot of the utilities you would pay more for in a land home. For instance, the taxes on this Seattle floating home are only around $2000/year. In a land home, they would be $3000 or more easily.
Here is the description of this Seattle houseboat from the MLS:
This is a great opportunity to live life afloat and own your own moorage and great well run co-op dock! Extremely stylish floating home has a beautiful owner’s suite perched on the second floor. Nice open floor plan, kitchen with stainless steel appliances opening up to a casual great room. Fun decks and spaces, plus a roof top deck!
Let us know if you are interested in a private showing of this Seattle floating home or others. We can help you find Seattle floating homes on and off the market and have our fingers on the pulse of this market. We are happy to help you whether you are buying or selling and will work hard for you!
Courtney Cooper (Courtney@CooperJacobs.com 206.850.8841)
The 9 Seattle floating homes for sale right now range in price from $229,000 for a Portage Bay floating home with no owned moorage to $1,250,000 for another Portage Bay floating home with owned moorage. In between, all the others are in Fairview in Eastlake with one exception of another Portage Bay Place floating home. The average dollar per square foot for those active homes is $840.02, but that little guy in Portage Bay is seriously throwing off those numbers because it sits at $458/square foot which is consistent with its lack of owned moorage. The other dollar per square foots range form $623.75 to $1,250.00 a square foot. With floating homes, it really is about the amenities that come with the home. Does it have owned moorage for secure ownership? Does it have space for a recreational boat to be tied up to the home? Is there parking? Roof top deck? Style of home? Size of float, view, location on the dock itself, the list goes on. Long story short, there will always be a range and each home is different. Getting an evaluation from one of us is the best way to find out how much yours is worth and we are happy to talk to you!
There are 2 Seattle floating homes that are pending right now – waiting to close at escrow. These are both Eastlake floating homes on Fairview and are priced at $839,000 for a 910 sq foot 2 bedroom 1.75 bath and $1,195,000 for a 1294 square foot 3 bedroom 1.75 bath floating home. The average dollar per square foot on these is $922.74 and the median price is $1,017,000. One other floating home on the North side of the lake in Fremont at the Lee’s Mooring dock has gone pending inspection. It is listed for $1,495,000 with 1928 square feet.
In the last 30 days there have been 5 Seattle floating homes that have closed according to the MLS. These houseboat listings range in listing price from $895,000 to $1,598,000 and range in sales price from $895,000 to $1,450,000 with an average dollar per square foot at $902.08 and a median price of $975,000. You can see full details here: floating homes market 07302013
2031 Fairview Ave E #G in Eastlake AMAZING view and huge float here – beautiful interiors – go up a level or bump it out for even more square footage. Big time investment opportunity or live in it as is because it is insanely beautiful! 2 bedrooms $1,188,000
2207 Fairview Ave E #8 in Eastlake – beautiful vaulted ceilings and wonderful channel views along with some pretty awesome finishes make this my pick for great houseboats under a million. Huge deck and great space for a boat! 2 bedroom $799,000
Still Afloat In Seattle: Just listed this week!
UPDATE: THIS SEATTLE FLOATING HOME IS SOLD
This Seattle floating home has been remodeled from the studs out with thoughtful finishes throughout. Soaring ceilings and lots of windows invite the summer days in and keep it light and bright during the dull grey season.
Enjoy the security of living in one of the floating homes with coveted owned moorage plus space to tie your own boat up to. It’s a well run dock on Lake Union in the heart of Seattle.
Listed at $849,000
If you are interested in all Seattle floating homes for sale, you can see them from all realtors and all real estate companies on our corporate floating homes page where we showcase all Seattle floating homes listings:
Seattle floating homes for sale
You can also contact me if you have questions about the lifestyle in general or need more information about this very specialized corner of real estate. Courtney@CooperJacobs.com
Seattle Houseboats For Sale Right Now Have Great Range In Price Points – There really is something out there for everyone, but what makes them so different in price?
There are currently 13 Active Seattle Houseboats for sale right now in the MLS. Lots of good choices and most of them boast owned Lake Union moorage for their slips whether it be fee simple as in Roanoke Reef, condominium moorage or cooperative moorage. Only 2 of the 13 are on leased moorage – this means they do not own the slip their homes are in, but rather rent it from the owner.
Priced in Seattle floating homes range greatly right now from $325,000 for a charming Seattle houseboat in Westlake to more than ten times that price at $3,800,000 for a high end newer custom beauty on the Eastlake side.
Variables in Seattle houseboats can range from type of houseboat moorage (owned or leased) to size and style of construction or even bells and whistles as every floating home is different.
Here is a good list to consider when wondering how a Seattle houseboat is priced:
There are of course other factors as each individual has different preferences. It is just difficult to give Seattle floating homes an overall dollar per square foot estimate as each one is so different. You can only compare them to recent sales to get numbers.
For instance, we recently sold a beautiful Portage Bay floating home at 1214 E Hamlin #3 for $645,000. It is a one bedroom with roughly 800 square feet. This makes the two bedroom 2321 Fairview #3 a complete bargain at it’s listed asking price of $595,000. You can also find amazing prices on the Westlake Floating homes near Fremont – with easy walk to tons of life in Fremont, Queen Anne, or Downtown, not to mention of course South Lake Union. Call if you want to check them out 206-850-8841
The last two days in Seattle have been amazing weather wise. I have been driving around showing homes through rain, sunshine, wind, and sometimes even hale! Luckily the sunshine is prevailing overall and as the days brighten all over Seattle, so does the opportunity to buy one of the gorgeous Seattle houseboats in Lake Union! The floating homes market all across Westlake, Eastlake, and Portage Bay opens up quite a bit as soon as the days get brighter around here because that is the best time to showcase the beauties of the ultimate Seattle waterfront lifestyle!
There are seven Seattle floating homes for sale right now in the NWMLS – these are actual floating homes – not vessels or other types of houseboats. Most of the available floating homes in the MLS are along Fairview Ave E and most are in Eastlake. The most common price for a one or two bedroom currently in Eastlake is in the $700,000 price range. Floating homes on Lake Union in the MLS right now range from $349,990 for a great Westlake floating home option with a huge kitchen and cozy loft (open house Sat 1-4 and Sunday 1-4 this weekend!) to $1,720,000 for substantial floating home on Roanoke in the gated houseboat community of Roanoke Reef. Additionally there is a Portage Bay floating home on the market for $2,200,000 with some extra moorage options.
In between the high and the low of the MLS floating homes price range are the middles. There are four Eastlake floating homes for sale right now that all happen to be within about $20,000 of each other in price. They are also all two story and similar styles and all but one have a great roof top deck for views of Seattle across Lake Union. They range from $749,000 to $770,000 in price and all have 2 bedrooms except for a gorgeous highly remodeled one bedroom on one of the Log Foundation docks (open house this Sunday 1-4).
You can find all of these houseboat listings here (plus any additional ones that come on the MLS):
Seattle floating homes for sale
If you want to see any of them at all please feel free to get in touch with us – homes@SeattleAfloat.com – we are happy to arrange private houseboat tours so you can see what is currently available.
Recent Seattle floating homes sales? There are two pending in the MLS – a cute refurbished one story on another of the Log Foundation docks which was featured in the Floating Homes Association’s most recent newsletter about recycling to the max. It was priced for only $475,000 and had a great wrap around deck. Another pending sale is over in Westlake Cove – a well maintained co-op dock along the shores of Westlake in Lake Union. This one was priced at $575,000 for a shore side remodeled 2 bedroom. Recently one of the Roanoke Reef homes sold as well. It was adjacent to the parking garage there and on the inside of the dock. It was listed as a two bedroom, but had a small office that could be used to sleep in for more space. It had one of the best roof top decks I have ever seen! Listing price was $1,400,000 and it sold for full price in 30 days!
The verdict? Seattle floating homes are a good investment and selling well – even in the fall months last year, they still sold well. It truly is the ultimate in Seattle waterfront living.
Seattle Floating Homes Spring 2014 Update
Happy Spring, Seattle! Seattle Houseboats! I always love Spring because we start to see more Seattle floating homes coming on the real estate market. This has not been the case as of yet, but we are hopeful that the inventory will increase as the days grow warmer and the sky starts being blue more than grey.
Currently there are three Seattle floating homes for sale in the MLS. They are all on one of the three Log Foundation docks. There are two Seattle houseboats for sale on the 2025 Fairview Ave E Log Foundation Dock. They are priced at $449,000 for a 625 square foot one bedroom floating home ($718.40/sq ft) and $499,950 for a 950 square foot one bedroom floating home ($526.26/sq foot). In addition to these Seattle houseboats, there is a 3 bedroom end of dock Seattle floating home for sale on the 2017 Fairview Ave E Log Foundation Dock. Again End of dock houseboat so price is set at $2,888,000 for 1000 square feet ($2,888/sq ft).
Seattle houseboats on Lake Union In Eastlake
In the MLS, there is one Seattle floating home pending, but we sold an additional off market Seattle floating home on the Roanoke Reef dock in the last couple of weeks and so we know of two pending overall. The three bedroom over at Portage Bay Place is 1500 square feet and listed for $750,000. It is currently pending in escrow so we will keep you posted on what it sells for. The Roanoke Reef floating home we sold is on the coveted front row of the Roanoke Reef dock located at 10 E Roanoke Street in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood. The asking price? $2,150,000. It is scheduled to close soon so we can share additional details after it closes, but are very excited to have been able to facilitate this one.
Overall, it is the same story: Low Inventory. Seattle houseboats are the ultimate in Seattle Waterfront Living℠ so there is always a demand. We have several cash buyers waiting to pounce on the right one, so let us know if you are even thinking about selling. We know our Seattle houseboats buyers well and can tell immediately if your home will be a good fit for them or if you would be better served to put it on the open market. We look forward to hearing from you and hope you have a lovely Spring and Summer!
Here is our info if you are curious what your home is worth: Courtney@CooperJacobs.com 206.850.8841