Move to a Houseboat in Seattle

What it costs: $765,000

Who: Ingrid Rasch, 65, Lake Union, Seattle, Washington

"I grew up in the Seattle area and fell in love with the floating homes a long time ago. But my ex-husband never liked the idea of living on one, so I shelved the idea. After we got divorced, I moved to Boston for a job -- I work in nonprofits -- but the East Coast never felt like home, and in 2002, I decided to move back. I wanted to buy a house, but everything had gotten expensive. Then my friend heard about a houseboat on the dock where they shot Sleepless in Seattle, and we decided to go see it.

"We got there too late to do anything but take a quick look, so I made an appointment to go back in a couple of days. That night the broker called to say there were two offers in already, and did I want to put in a bid?

"I said that's way too fast, no thank you. But I woke up at four that morning and just knew I wanted to live there. It felt as if it was meant to be. I called the broker at six, and by 1:15 that afternoon we had closed the deal. I'm still shocked by what an impulse decision it was -- if I'd been thinking clearly, I would have asked about maintenance fees and how you get repairs done. Over the past five years, I've put in almost $200,000 to update the roof, kitchen, bathrooms, and decks. It's harder to find contractors when you're on a lake since you can't use materials, like spray paint, that might contaminate the water.

"You can get more house for your money pretty much anywhere else, but I wouldn't trade houseboat life for anything. I love the close-knit community -- there are nine houseboats on my dock, and we all take care of one another. We use kayaks to visit neighbors and restaurants on the lakes; when my grandchildren stop by, they gobble up their breakfast, hop into the water and don't come out until dinnertime."

Expert Advice

Enrico Pozzo, an agent with Coldwell Banker Bain

Prices have soared. Expect to pay $900,000 for a houseboat in move-in condition.

The process isn't quite like buying a house on land. Buying a floating home involves purchasing the home itself, then buying or leasing the moorage, which is the point on the dock where the home is attached. (There are other big houseboat communities in Sausalito, California, and Vancouver, B.C.)

Don't forget to budget:

Homeowner dues: These average $300 per month in Seattle, and cover the cost of maintaining the docks, garbage and sewage, and your lease on the lake.

Divers: Homeowners hire divers once a year or after a storm to check that the house stays level ($50 to $100 per visit). If necessary, they replace or reinflate the barrels beneath that stabilize the structure ($300 to $400 per repair).

-- Virginia Sole-Smith

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