Seattle Houseboats Market Update April 2015:
Actives: There are five Seattle houseboats for sale in the “floating homes” category currently. List prices of these active Seattle houseboats range from $510,000 to $1,750,000. There are Eastlake floating homes, Portage Bay floating homes, and a gorgeous Westlake floating home on the 2420 Westlake dock that we put on last week.
Here is some more on that one since we obviously feel it is the best of the Seattle houseboats on the market right now:
2420 Westlake Ave N Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
- 2 bedrooms
- 1.5 baths
- amazing rooftop deck
- ownership in income generating private marina
- built in 1929, but 2008 remodel is more accurate of its presentation
- 1065 square feet
- $500/month dues
- float size is 42 feet by 24 feet
- annual taxes are only $1831
- next dock over from the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat
- $985,000
Pending Seattle houseboats: Currently there are four Seattle floating homes that are pending in the MLS. In addition to these Seattle floating homes there is a house barge which is also pending inspection. List price of these pending Seattle houseboats is $695,000 to $1,690,000. One of them is on a leased dock, one is on a fee simple dock and two are on co-op docks.
In addition to these pending Seattle houseboats, there are two more which we have helped facilitate and which are pending in Eastlake – priced at $575,000 and $920,000.
SOLD! Seattle floating homes sold in the last 30 days - Just one has closed according to the MLS. 2351 Fairview Ave E #K was listed for $1,050,000 and sold for $1,000,000. It has a garage and is on a condominium dock so the dues are lower and the taxes are higher.
Before I go on, let me clarify what a Seattle houseboat is since there is a lot of bad information out there:
In short, “Seattle Houseboats” is the general umbrella overall term which encompasses ALL of the following:
- Seattle floating homes – no motor and more permanently connected to sewer, electric, docks, etc.
- Vessel Seattle houseboats – navigable and move of their own propulsion but also act as livaboards.
- Seattle House Barges – not self propelled, city has grandfathered a number of them in, some hooked up to utilities.
A little about Seattle houseboats from Wikipedia:
Seattle is home to a relatively large collection of houseboats (capable of moving under their own power) or “floating homes” (houses built on floats) neighborhoods, particularly in Lake Union and Portage Bay. The earliest houseboats in Seattle were recorded in 1905, and peaked with over 2,000 houseboats in the 1930s. There are currently approximately 500 houseboats in Seattle. Most houseboats are designed and built for inland lakes and waterways only.
*Molly Cartwright and I are Seattle houseboats REALTORS not just real estate agents who sell Seattle houseboats. As actual paying members of the National Association of Realtors, we are able to able to ethically sell homes. Realtors abide by a strong code of ethics which non-Realtors are not required to. Make sure that when you are buying Seattle houseboat that your broker is also an actual Realtor – not just a real estate agent. It makes a difference in how they are perceived by industry professionals and you want someone representing you who has a good reputation and who you know will act honestly and ethically in a transaction.
If you are purchasing a vessel type Seattle houseboat then make sure that you are using a licensed vessel broker not just a real estate agent. Vessels are indeed boats so proper licensing should be in place to sell them. Molly and I also have our vessel license through our SeattleAfloat.com Seattle houseboats division. You have a choice when it comes to who represents you.
More pictures of our gorgeous Westlake floating home listing:
Please call or text Molly if you would like more info or a private showing: 206-841-6800
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.