apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

What a cool space. This is probably the most resonable real estate in the SF burbs.

Oh my gosh. I am completely in love....

This 'tour' was a real pleasure.

I visited Mia's open house a couple of weekends ago, and the pictures barely do justice to how breathtakingly cute this houseboat is. The detail is astounding. I hope someone truly worthy ends up buying it!

Now here is indeed the stuff of dreams...

(Speaking of which..) Um... how much would it cost, I wonder, to have it towed up North? Would it manage such a long journey? It is towable?

Okay, I'd better stop now. :P

A Dell? Not sure if she can be taken seriously.

Love the bathroom tile. It looks like the inside of a seashell. Also love the drawers on the built-in bed and daybed.

My apartment's about the size and shape of this boat, and I see a few ideas I would love to steal, like the placement of the sofa and daybed.

With the week I have had, I want to go there, cut the rope and float away in a sea of serentiy and peace. Can't, but want to!

I am gushing, it is my dream boat...and, I didn't even know I wanted to live on a boat!

This is my favorite house tour so far! I love the idea of compact living, Where everything is beautiful yet functional.

amazing, especially that bathroom tile. LOVE it.

What a wonderful and unique home. SWOON!

Oh wow, wow, wow! What a dream! Before we bought our house, I tried in vain to convince my husband he wanted to live on a houseboat. I lost that battle. This place is incredible!

Does anybody know of slips for houseboats in SF? I could really picture living here if only there were an empty slip in Mission Creek.

Cookiedough -- The best source for information would be the Mission Creek Harbor Association (MCHA), which represents the floating-home owners moored there. I can't find a Web site, but you may have better luck.

So... tempted... though I've never owned in my entire life. I wouldn't know where to begin, but wow... I want that houseboat! I do keep saying I want to live closer to the water (I'm in the South Bay).

Beginning is actually pretty simple, in a complicated way -- and the complications are mostly because you have to ask about issues that, with a regular house, you'd take for granted. Start by finding out:

(a) What's she paying for docking (or whatever you call it to park the boat) and does the lease on the dock transfer with ownership of the boat? When is the lease renegotiated? Are there caps on how much docking costs can increase on renewal? Are there also neighborhood association fees, and what do these pay for? Are there regulations about what you can do to your boat? (Usually, there's some regulation that defines what makes a boat eligible to be a docked floating home in a given community.)

(b) How are utilities handled? Are they part of the docking fees or separate? How about parking?

(c) If you want to move the house, what are your options for docking in another location? And you have to ask all the same questions about costs and features there.

(d) Where do you find a tugboat company to haul the boat to the new location and what costs does this involve? Floating homes often have no engines and aren't independently navigable. The seller or her neighbors should be able to point you in the right direction.

(e) What are typical annual maintenance costs? There's routine maintenance to keep the bottom of the boat water-tight, for instance.

(f) Will a bank give a normal mortgage, or is the financing handled more like a car loan?

Don't be daunted by my idea of a "starter" list -- these questions aren't that different from what you'd ask in making a deal on a condo.

This is such an awesome houseboat! I wish i hadn't of just bought my condo. I would seriously consider something like this.

Ok, I think I watch way too many "help me sell my home" shows on HGTV, but I can look at these pics and just HEAR the real estate agents on those shows in my head!

So, I'll pass on those voices to you! (Aren't you guys lucky? LOL!)

1) Not everyone has the same style as you, so do away with the stuff that makes it too personalized. Make the spaces more like a "blank slate" so that potential buyers could see their own things in there. If there is too much stuff taking up space, they can't picture what their stuff would look like in the space.

2) Take out all of your stuff that is stored in closets and other storage spaces (except what you absolutely CANNOT live without) and leave those areas open during showings so that they can see these areas: these should be selling points for potential buyers.

3) Fresh paint and great lighting also helps! Or so say those shows!

Maybe these ideas can help you sell your houseboat!

Living in Seattle I've learned why it may not be selling. Is the boat and the dock sold as one? or is the boat renting the dock slip? Is the slip a condo? Are there any restrictions to what boat types may be docked? Getting a rusting fishing vessel next door for an undetermined amount of time would be quite a bummer.
Also is it septic or hooked up to city water line? If septic how often does it need cleaned out?
I would seriously look into renting this out. It's unique enough and there are plenty of folks interested in giving the adventure a try.

Well half the way through the images I drifted right into the slide show, it was in the sleeping area I imaged painting, sketching, writing and dreaming....this is a wonderful place good luck selling it, I'm not sure how you can!

I think I'm gonna cry.

I.

I agree with the poster who suggested a possible rental option. This would be a GREAT vacation home bringing in thousands a month. When it isn't rented....the owner can still use it as a weekend retreat.

If I had the money....I would buy this in a heartbeat.