A floating home is the perfect midway between life on a boat and life on dry land. It’s a more reasonable approach to ‘life on the water’, and many people have begun choosing summer homes like floating homes over buying a boat or renting a tropical bungalow. If you are into the idea of purchasing a second home as an investment and as a vacation spot for yourself, you might love the idea of floating homes.
Although many real estate investors might not consider floating houses as a good investment, that’s not why you want to buy it. You are thinking about a life-long commitment, where you get to experience life on the water, and if things don’t work out long-term, you can consider using it to generate some income.
Regardless of what your plans may look like for your next home purchase, floating homes are the perfect balance between beauty and necessity. When summer comes along, wouldn’t it be great to live right on the water? It sounds like a great idea, and for some people, it is, but there are a few things to consider before fully committing to it.
Article Summary:
1.3 Build or buy? Weigh your options
1.4 Consider the safety of children and pets
1.6 Make adjustments to your belongings
2. Pros and cons of living on a floating home
Living in a floating home
In case you’re tempted by a floating home, whether it’s on the ocean or a river, here are a few things to consider before packing up for the summer.
Experience it first-hand
Before you fully commit to a life on a floating home, full-time or just part of the year, you should know exactly what you’re getting into. Try renting one for a month, or stay in a houseboat themed hotel. Sometimes floating houses can be cramped or damp, and while it may just take some adjusting, not everyone is made for a life on the water.
Do you have sea sickness or motion sickness? Comfort level can go down in some cases when relocating to a floating home, and you have to know if that is something you can cope with. Extreme climate can affect you and your home more than it does on land, so be prepared for that.
Think about the location
Finding a location is arguably the most important part of owning a floating home. What places have room? What are the fees? There’s no use building one until you find a location to put it, so weigh your options before committing! The local real estate agents in Naples FL, could point you at a boating friendly port since the state of Florida has a high number of floating homes all around the coast.
Living in a floating home can sometimes place you quite far away from the city or from your workplace, which means you will have to deal with long commutes. Taxes might also vary based on the location; remember that you can’t build a floating home anywhere. That is why location can be quite an essential factor to consider when seeking life on the water.
Build or buy? Weigh your options
How will you get your floating home? Are you aware of the costs of building a floating home? There are a lot of options when it comes to building one, but size, space, and layout is important. It can also be expensive to have a floating home custom-built, so if you are willing to forfeit a bit of freedom, you can buy one that is already built or even staked out in a pre-existing spot.
Consider the safety of children and pets
Do you have children or pets? If so, consider how they might fare living near water. Teach your children to swim, and give cats and dogs a second thought if they’re not water-breeds. Sometimes the water surrounding your floating home may need to be tested for harmful bacteria such as E. coli. Think that decks can become slippery and dangerous to walk on, and bad weather can damage your home and create a potentially threatening situation if you are outside.
Figure out transportation
We have already mentioned how commuting can be an issue for many floating homeowners as locations might not be favorable for fast commutes. In that case, you will have to figure out transportation. If you have a car, where will it go? If not, are there subway stations nearby? Bus schedules? Will you buy a bike or vespa? There are quite a few choices, but depending on the distance required for shopping, entertainment, and your job, your available options can dwindle.
Make adjustments to your belongings
Some of your belongings might be more prone to mold or deterioration in a wet and humid environment. No one wants to deal with any of those, so you have to consider waterproofing your stuff. Do you have waterproofed containers for documents, prized possessions, and emergencies? Invest in waterproof options for your clothes, food, and any other items that can be damaged by water or humidity. Many of these items can make it much safer to live in a floating home, so don’t neglect this aspect.
Downsize if necessary
Talking about belongings, do you have a lot of them? Floating homes are not famous for their size, and if you move from your house on land to a floating house, chances are you won’t be able to fit in all your belongings. If you plan on living in a floating home full-time, think about how much space you will have. If you have many belongings, this kind of life may not suit you, or you may need to rent a storage unit.
You can still create a spacious design in your small apartment when downsizing, but you can’t easily create more space. Consider the size of your floating home before relocating, and think if you are willing to leave things behind to accommodate your new lifestyle.
Pros and cons of living on a floating home
Pros of living on a floating home
One of the greatest advantages of living in a floating home is that they don’t need a self-propulsion system or a motor, unlike houseboats. Therefore, building upwards or outwards is not an issue as it doesn’t affect the cruising ability since it only needs to float. This also means that you save locomotion costs like gasoline.
Floating home communities tend to be small, and everyone knows each other. It creates an intimate and friendly environment, which for many is a very enjoyable experience. There is always that tight-knit feeling.
For nature lovers, floating homes are the perfect opportunity to experience more of the area’s natural beauty. Floating homeowners usually experience gorgeous sunrise and sunset views. The boat deck is the ideal place to spend time watching local animal wildlife, and you can afford the luxury of enjoying water activities at your discretion.
Cons of living on a floating home
Being the homeowner of a floating house can be an exciting experience, but it does have its downsides. There is a cost to everything and living on the water is no different. Real estate openings on the water can be quite scarce, and there is less inventory for these types of homes and fewer options for you to choose from.
Floating homes are known for racking up quite the monthly bill. With mooring fees, electricity, sewage, water, and other utilities, you look at quite a hefty amount that you have to pay each month. Practical concerns you should consider as a floating house owner have to do with sea sickness or motion sickness. Weather, wind, and extreme climate affect floating homes differently than they would property on land.
The damage they might cause can be devastating if the house is not prepared to face these weather conditions. Values-wise, you are looking at a property that doesn’t scale very well over-time since water causes faster deterioration. Maintenance is key to keeping your floating home in neat condition, but that also comes with extra costs.
Conclusion
You have a variety of options when it comes to floating homes, no matter where you plan on putting one. And houseboats aren’t just quaint, rustic living options, either. Many futuristic, high tech floating homes in Dubai are making a splash, literally.
The houseboat project is gaining quite a bit of traction, and these floating homes have a front seat view to the wonders of the ocean. Built as boats without the propulsion feature, these floating homes literally float, giving shelter to seahorses and other aquatic life. Talk about luxury for everyone involved!Follow The OFFICIAL Realty Agent Hub Directory® for more healthy home living and lifestyle tips. If you enjoy our content, please let us know in the comment section below, and don’t hesitate to share it with your friends and family on your social media platforms.
This article doesn’t seem to me to be grounded in fact. What home doesn’t pay sewer, water, electricity? I live on a floating home in Seattle and the cost is no different than anything else. The only added cost I have found is hiring divers every three years or so to check the floatation system (cost about $900). There’s no mold issue. It rarely moves and if it does it’s hard to notice. The house has only increased in value (as the ones around me). Living here is nothing short of perfection. Ovidiu, feel free to contact me if you would like to update your article.
Hi Stafford. I’m trying to buy a floating home in Washington and was wondering if you know any mortgage lenders that work with floating homes? Any help is appreciated! Looking forward to life on the water!!!
All is great until the marina owner sticks a huge boat in front of your house therefore blocking the view and reducing resale value by 40%