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Seattle is one of the few cities in the world where you can legally live full-time on the water in a floating home. Our communities are small, colorful, historic, and filled with character — think sunrises on the lake, kayaks off your porch, swim ladders for summertime, and neighbors you actually know. It’s a lifestyle unlike any other urban living experience.

Financing is unique. Floating homes typically require specialized lenders  familiar with this asset type, and loans often look more like a hybrid between a home loan and specialty financing. Houseboats/vessels usually cannot be financed like traditional real estate and may require marine lending or cash. Working with Molly, she knows lenders in this space — one wrong lender choice can derail a deal.

Buyers should understand dock rules, moorage type (owned slip, condo dock, co-op), HOA or moorage fees, float condition, lending requirements, and parking availability. Lifestyle fit matters, too — floating homes offer unmatched connection to the water, but also seasonal movement, shared dock living, and community closeness. Touring different docks is one of the best ways to know what feels right.

Seattle floating homes generally range from $900,000 into the multi-millions depending on size, dock location, slip rights, view exposure, and moorage type. Houseboats (vessels) can start lower, but values vary based on condition, floatation, and marina rules. Waterfront proximity + walkability often drives demand and pricing. Active inventory is limited, so values remain strong year-round.

You’ll want an inspector who specializes in water-based properties. For floating homes, that usually means a licensed home inspector and a certified marine diver  to evaluate the float, hull, and underwater structure. An inspector familiar with Lake Union docks and moorage systems is essential — this is not a job for a standard home inspector unfamiliar with floating structures.

A floating home  is a permanently docked residence connected to city utilities — you don’t drive it away. A houseboat  or vessel with dwelling unit  is a boat with propulsion, steering, and marine registration. Floating homes fall under land-style ownership and can be part of co-ops or condo docks, while houseboats are legally considered vessels. Both offer incredible waterfront living, but they’re regulated and financed differently.

You want a Realtor who knows the docks, the communities, the lenders, the insurance requirements, and the difference between a floating home and a houseboat — they’re not the same. My work has centered around floating homes for years, helping buyers understand lifestyle, regulations, and long-term ownership considerations. A specialist matters more here than anywhere else in Seattle real estate.

The best Realtor to list your floating home is someone with proven experience selling homes on the water , understands valuation beyond square footage, knows moorage rules, and has a buyer pool specifically looking for floating homes. I specialize in the Lake Union and Portage Bay floating home market and have represented many sellers in this unique category — from iconic docks to boutique communities.

Floating homes require many of the same maintenance tasks as a traditional house, plus a few marine-specific considerations. Routine work includes flotation inspections, dock maintenance, exterior paint or stain, plumbing and electrical checks, winterizing hose bibs, and monitoring moisture around the hull. It’s wise to budget yearly for float upkeep, diver inspections, and ongoing dock assessments — especially in Seattle where weather + water exposure can accelerate wear.

The best floating home or houseboat Realtor is someone who specializes exclusively in this niche , understands moorage types, docks, co-op structures, lenders, inspections, and the lifestyle that makes floating homes so special. In Seattle, I (Molly Cartwright) am one of the most active and experienced floating home brokers on Lake Union and Portage Bay , helping buyers and sellers navigate a market that requires deep local knowledge. Experience matters — floating homes aren’