Floating homes on Lake Union - one of my favorite Seattle real estate options! What better way to live in a Seattle waterfront home - truly waterfront here on all sides, but also be close to everything going on in the city? Lake Union, to me, is one of the most central areas right in Seattle and a great place to be for proximity to pretty much all that Puget Sound has to offer. Of course there is Downtown Seattle, too, but living on Lake Union in one of the gorgeous floating homes is so much more appealing to many. Residents on the lake enjoy Downtown at their doorstep via the streetcar, Seattle Center, the newly developed Lake Union Park, quick access to I-5 and 520 or I-90 for commuting in all directions, easy ferry access, Seattle Center, and more!
The Lake Union floating homes in Seattle are a different kind of real estate simply because they float and it is important to talk to a Realtor who knows the difference between a houseboat, vessel, and floating home. While the terms houseboat and floating home are used interchangeably, they are two very different things, and a Seattle floating home is the best and closest form of living on the water to traditional Seattle real estate. A true Seattle floating home will be in the higher price range of the houseboats offered for sale, but offers the most secure investment real estate wise in most cases.
There are many Lake Union floating homes that are offered for sale through the year, but less choices overall than traditional Seattle real estate. This is because there are only around 500 floating homes in Seattle and people who choose this lifestyle tend to stick to their docks. The lifestyle isn't for everyone. There are pluses and minuses and the biggest concern for most prospective houseboat buyers is the lack of space to stretch out or store your stuff. These homes usually are pretty tight quarters, although I have seen some amazingly spacious ones recently! Floating homes owners tend to be very creative people both with space and decorating or gardening. I was recently in a floating home in Eastlake that had hinges on each stair going upstairs so that the steps could open up for storage. The dock gardening that goes on here is jaw dropping! This is container gardening to a new level and I love peeking at all the decor!
If you are looking for a different kind of Seattle real estate, then Lake Union floating homes might be a good choice for you! There are also some great floating homes on Portage Bay, but for Lake Union floating homes look to Seattle neighborhoods like Eastlake & Westlake first and then also over to Queen Anne and Wallingford for vessels. Make sure and check out Portage Bay homes, and Boat Street over in the U-District has a few great docks! Either way, what a great way to live the Seattle dream!
Are you interested in Seattle Floating Homes?
Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services 206-251-5948
Courtney Cooper
Seattle Realtor, Owner/Designated Broker/EcoBroker
Cooper Jacobs Real Estate
206-850-8841
(Seattle real estate - search all MLS listings from all companies for FREE), SeattleAfloat.com (Seattle Houseboats), GreenLakeLoop.com (Green Lake Blog), QueenAnneBoulevard.com (Queen Anne Blog), MagnoliaView.com (Magnolia Neighborhood Blog)
About Me:
Seattle real estate has been a big part of my life for well over a decade since I began my career in real estate,but also before that time when I was in the process of purchasing my own first home. Buying your first home can be quite overwhelming,but I have managed to help many first time home buyers along the way.
Move up Seattle buyers and other types of specialized purchasing is a great passion of mine! I love Seattle houseboats and you can find me down on the docks of Lake Union and Portage Bay several times a week. Other aspects of Seattle real estate that I adore include Queen Anne Real Estate,Wallingford Real Estate, Ballard Real Estate, Green Lake Real Estate, Laurelhurst Real Estate, Magnolia Real Estate,andSeattle Waterfront Real Estate.
In addition to being a Seattle residential broker and founder of Cooper Jacobs & Seattle Afloat, I am also a member of CBA (Commercial Brokers Association) and head of the Cooper Jacobs Commercial Division in an effort to provide excellent commercial real estate services to the Seattle commercial real estate industry. With a background in accounting and management, it is my great pleasure to coordinate our Seattle commercial brokers.
About Cooper Jacobs Real Estate's Seattle Branch:
My office at Cooper Jacobs Real Estate LLC is located centrally near all my favorite Puget Sound neighborhoods just a few blocks up from Lake Union in Seattle’s Wallingford. Cooper Jacobs Real Estate is a wonderful place filled with talented Seattle real estate brokers and I count myself extremely lucky that I get to spend so much time with these wonderful people. We specialize in different Seattle neighborhoods and suburbs in both residential and commercial real estate and are all very passionate and excited about each of our favorite Seattle neighborhoods and industries!
©Courtney Cooper ©Cooper Jacobs Real Estate LLC


I had never thought of real estate as being on water as a floating home, thanks for a new concept!
Great post. Lake Union has a great reputation not just for great living but for great boats. Thanks for writing about it.
Hi Steve and Dave! Thanks for stopping in and saying hi! I love lake Union and write about eh housing around it quite a bit. It is one of my very favorite parts of working in Seattle! :)
I am a floating home owner in Providence, RI and would like some information as to how your black and gray water disposal is plumbed. If there is someone out there who would like to help me sort out a couple of issues it would be great. Send an e-mail to Doris@ymsail.com.
Best Regards,
Doris S. Mullaney
Yacht Management Services
47 Gooding Avenue
Bristol, RI 02809
401-254-8881
Hi Doris - I will send you a couple contacts that the vessels around here use. The floating homes here are actually hooled up permanently to the city sewer. This is a good thing! :) Thanks for stopping in!