Okay, so it’s technically a housebarge.  What’s the difference you ask? 

Listed by Courtney Cooper & Molly Cartwright

Molly's description of our new Seattle Houseboat listing: 

"There are three types of house oriented living on Lake Union in Seattle:  HouseBarge, HouseBoat, and a Floating Home.  I get asked “what’s the difference?” all the time.  And there is a big difference!  But because the NWMLS only has one option for us to input the type of structure, they’re all bundled under “houseboat”.

A HouseBarge was constructed as a home that floats and is moveable but has no motor or sales tax.  I say “was” constructed because there are only 34 registered or grandfathered housebarges in Seattle.  This is unlike a HouseBoat…which has a motor and is constructed as a vessel and are still being built to this day.  And since it’s a vessel, you will be paying sales tax because it’s considered personal property, not “real” property.

 This handsome housebarge sits proudly in a very active Westlake Marina slip.   It’s #7 of 34 registered housebarges in Seattle King County. 

 The 600 square foot barge has recently been hauled out for a complete and successful survey.  You’ll enjoy one nice size bedroom, a clean as a whistle .75 bath (shower, no tub), take the spiral staircase to the top story just full of possibilities and the views are worth a million bucks!

New paint inside and out, new flooring and carpet, tankless water heater and a sturdy double pontoon fiberglass over plywood hull."

This Seattle Houseboat is special - call us for a private showing if you are interested in a unique Seattle waterfront living situation.

$250,000

Courtney @ 206.850.8841 or Molly @206.841.6800

Listed and Sold:  Seattle Houseboat at 2764 Westlake Ave N

We have a Seattle houseboat buyers for your Seattle floating home!

• 2 Bedrooms
• .75 Bath
• Large Float
• Built 1970

Westlake Houseboat!

You won't find a better dollar per square foot opportunity on the lake right now! Sleepless in Seattle style houseboat living on Lake Union - third from the end of the dock with lots of water spaces. Enjoy a colorful & fun two bedroom floating home with extra large deck for all your kayaks and canoes. Great spaces, remodeled bath with sauna, French doors open up to large back deck with big water channel and Lake Union views!

If you are interested in Seattle houseboats for sale, please let me know what questions you might have.  Purchasing and living on a houseboat is slightly different than a traditional land home and there are pluses and minuses.  I am happy to walk you through all aspects if you are thinking about this lovely lifestyle!

Seattle Houseboat Sales:  Recently Sold at 2100 Westlake Ave N

Let us know if we can sell yours, too!

Wow! You won't find a better houseboat at this price! A classic 1984 Commander sits in her new home on Lake Union's sought after Julie's Landing Marina. A spotless interior remodel completed in 2005 includes tons of handy built-ins, a spacious kitchen and even a gas fireplace. Excellent hull condition.

Spacious roof top deck to soak up the sun and views of the city and lake. Gated community, safe and secure. 15 beam, 45 length, 40 gallon, 30 amp boat/50 amp tower.

• 2 Bedroom
• .75 Bath
• Built 1984

If you are interested in Seattle houseboats for sale, please let me know what questions you might have.  Purchasing and living on a houseboat is slightly different than a traditional land home and there are pluses and minuses.  I am happy to walk you through all aspects if you are thinking about this lovely lifestyle!

2764 Westlake Ave N - Seattle Houseboats For Sale

If you are over on the Westlake side of Lake Union and you want to see some cool Seattle floating homes, call Molly or me - we would love to show you these!  Molly was there until 3 today and had some great activity!

2764 Westlake Ave N, Houseboat C

• co-op owned dock
• 2 bedrooms
• 1 bath
• sauna
• large deck
• large closets
• $350/month dues include water, sewer, garbage, moorage for home, and taxes for owned dock.
• $1053/year for taxes on the floating home itself

My phone has been ringing off the hook today thanks to Today, but it did all start at Active Rain so I wanted to share!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Want to see this great Seattle houseboat? http://www.cooperjacobs.com/18075

I really do owe this to Active Rain since I would not have ever blogged or gotten out there on the internet without them. This listing has six new showings set for tomorrow as a direct result of the segment and more to come in the next week. Fingers crossed for a great buyer because I love this houseboat!

We like to go out and get lots of pictures of Seattle whenever we are showing homes - here is a great shot from a recent Seattle floating homes tour we did for a wonderful couple.  It is a picture of Westlake towards the houseboat community there (Westlake is the floating home community that the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat is in) with Queen Anne in the background.  The picture was taken from Eastlake on the banks of Lake Union looking through some houseboats on the East side of the lake. 

Interested in Seattle real estate?  Westlake Real Estate? Queen Anne Real Estate?  Eastlake Real Estate?

Interested in a unique Seattle waterfront living arrangement? 

I have gotten a lot of email requests for Seattle houseboat listings lately and the fact of the matter is there are not that many Seattle houseboats for sale right now!  The movie Sleepless in Seattle did a number on the popularity of these beautiful homes (as in EVERYONE wanted one!!!) , but I have to admit to always loving them.  I have close friends that live on houseboats and I truly enjoy my visits!  I always leave reluctantly and wanting to move right away to this amazing lifestyle right in the heart of Seattle!  But alas, my three children and giant Newfoundland dogs truly prevent me moving to a houseboat at this point in my life....Someday.

Keeping my eye on the houseboats...

In the mean time I keep my eye on what comes up on the market and try and share the info with what ever buyers I think might like this kind of lifestyle - Seattle waterfront living at its best in my opinion minus any kind of privacy.  The houseboat docks are close knit and each house boat is snuggled up nicely to the next with a small walkway type deck or larger ones in some cases.  Container gardening is taken to new heights and I consider houseboat residents to be among the very best gardeners despite their lack of dirt. 

Pluses and minuses with houseboat living...

I mean can you imagine no yard or garage?  Kayaking to work across the lake if you are lucky? Pulling your kayak or canoe right up to your house and tying it off? Watching seaplanes from your home right overhead? Even with these fantastic benefits, though, these houseboats are often hard to come by and the space inside them is quite limited as far as storage goes.  Every nook and cranny should be utilized perfectly!

Yes I love houseboats!  One of my very favorite memories of an open house was on a Seattle houseboat in Eastlake  - I ended up showing another houseboat to a buyer and actually dropped the key into Lake Union!  The listing agent was furious with me, but it just bounced right out of the key box and they had not bothered to add a clever float key chain to prevent such a mishap!

If you are interested in more info on Seattle Floating Homes or other Seattle real estate, I am happy to answer your questions!

Blogging about a celebrity houseboat - not a celebrity's, but a celebrity.... hmmm

not my listing, but yes the house that Tom Hanks stepped foot in is listed!

http://www.zillowblog.com/sleepless-in-seattle-houseboat-for-sale/2008/04/

Apparently, it is also our breaking news around Seattle!

Does the fact that it is the house that parts of Sleepless In Seattle was filmed in make a difference?  Does the fact that Tom Hanks was here really make it over two million?  It is definitely one of the very best houseboats out there, and what a great spot on Lake Union in Westlake.

Want more info on Seattle houseboats?