Houseboat vs Floating home
What’s the difference between a houseboat and a floating home? The simple answer is that one is a lot more like a boat and the other, a lot more like a home. But it is a nuanced answer:
| Houseboat (FOWR) | Floating home | |
|---|---|---|
| Looks like | A boat | A home |
| Price | $50k to $1m | $500k to $6m |
| Size | 150 to 1,000 square feet | 500 to 3,500 square feet |
| Dock type | Recreational marina | Designated floating home dock |
| Slip ownership | Usually rented or leased | Usually owned (co-op or condo) |
| Slip lease fee | $500 to $1,500 a month | n/a |
| HOA dues | n/a | $0-$500 a month |
| Connection to dock | Tied to dock using mooring lines | Permanent connection using arms or chains |
| Water supply | Connected to dock water via a garden hose | Connected to city water with a permanent connection |
| Electricity | Shore power connection, typically 30 amps | Connected to Seattle City Light (100 to 200 amp panel) |
| Sewer | Not connected, will need to be pumped out 2-3x a month | Connected to Seattle Public Utilities (but usually via a dock pump) |
| Towability | Easy to tow | Hard to tow |
| Lenders | Sound Community Bank | See out list of lenders |
| Fixed supply | Yes | Yes |
Examples of houseboats
Examples of floating homes
