Seattle's Portage Bay Houseboats - life afloat outside of Lake Union.  There were about two thousand houseboats on Lake Union, Portage Bay, and Lake Washington in the early part of last century, but today there are less than 500 and they have been completely evicted out of Lake Washington.  Besides Lake Union, Portage Bay has a beautiful community of floating homes tucked into a lovely little nest at the base of Northeast Capitol Hill.  Right now there are 5 Portage Bay houseboats on the market ranging from $375,000 for a bank owned houseboat to $2,490,000 for a beautiful floating home with a 50% interest in 9 moorage slips (!!!).

Portage Bay houseboats - floating homes are different!  If you have ever thought about living in a houseboat, there are some things to consider before doing so.  I would look carefully around your home and decide what you could and could not live with because there is no storage for the most part on these babies. There are actually some houseboats with basements believe it or not - one in particular I can think of with a wine room, but for the most part it is cramped quarters and the simple life. It just also happens to be the most perfect Seattle waterfront living I can think of!  Renting a houseboat in Seattle might be a nice choice to try it out. 

Portage Bay Houseboats:  Making the Decision  There are also careful considerations when purchasing - what kind of float does it have? How close to the shore are you (makes a significant difference in the rocking factor)?  What type of moorage does it have (condo and coop are the best by the way)? What maintenance has been done?  And when it comes time to purchase, there are additional steps.  The financing and insurance are different - the taxes are different.  You need to get an inspector for the house itself and one for the float (diving inspection).

If you are thinking about buying a Seattle houseboat or Portage Bay real estate and want more information, let us show you what is out there and answer your questions: realestate@cooperjacobs.com  

Waterfront Homes Around Seattle...

Interested in waterfront homes for sale in Seattle, Washington?  There are a lot of different choices so which type of waterfront living is your favorite?  Seattle, WA is blessed with all kinds of water and there are many different ways to live on the water!

Some of my favorite Seattle waterfront homes and neighborhoods:

1. Floating homes aka houseboats are a popular option to dream about!  Seattle floating homes are to me the ultimate in waterfront real estate!  What could be more waterfront than living on the water?  There are not many houseboats left in Seattle and these floating home communities are very special!  They require special financing, inspections, and more, but to live on Lake Union or in Portage Bay would be my number one pick for Seattle waterfront real estate!  Seattle floating homes

2. Riviera Beach in Matthews Beach is a close second for Seattle lakefront living.  This little community is nestled on the West banks of Lake Washington with perfect little lots and right across from the Burke-Gilman trail.  If you want more privacy than houseboat living could offer, this might be a great choice!  Matthews Beach Real Estate

3. Sheridan Beach in Lake Forest Park, Wa is a great option for North Seattle - situated North of Matthews Beach on Lake Washington, Sheridan Beach offers a private beach club membership and wonderful views of Kirkland.  Lake Forest Park homes

4. Richmond Beach, Shoreline, WA. 

Richmond Beach is one of my very favorite beaches in the Seattle area and it is quite historic!  Perched on Puget Sound, this West facing community has some of the most amazing mountain and Sound views! 

Richmond Beach homes have a huge variety and are all oriented towards the downward slope and the water.  Because of this and the large park, a great option is to buy a big view home and walk to the public beach. Richmond Beach Real Estate

5. Bainbridge Island:  Want to work in Downtown Seattle and live the Seattle dream by commuting via ferry?  If you are a walk on passenger or even a cyclist, then the ferry system can be a very quick way to commute back and forth between work.  Many people like to live in Winslow on Bainbridge and walk on the ferry to ride over to Downtown.  Without having to rely on putting a car on and off the ferry, the commute is pretty easy!  Bainbridge offers a ton of waterfront homes and options!  Bainbridge Island Real Estate

6. Lastly, Go check out the Washington State coast!  A lot of people think that Seattle is on the West Coast, but it is actually 2 1/2 to 3 hours in from the Pacific Ocean.  We are on the Puget Sound which comes in from the Pacific Ocean.  If you want to check out the ultimate in waterfront homes, go take a trip and check out our pretty coast!  Ocean Shores is quite affordable with oceanfront lots starting at under $200,000!  Washington Coast homes

That is it for my Seattle waterfront homes and neighborhoods - these are just a few highlighted communities!  There are many more options as well in waterfront homes around Seattle:  Mercer Island, Bellevue, Kirkland, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Sammamish, and more all offer different ways to enjoy our beautiful state! 

What are you interested in and what kind of waterfront home do you want?

Waterfront homes around Seattle

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services:  Seattle real estate