Houseboats For Sale Florida Craigslist (2024)

FAQs

Do houseboats hold value? ›

Do Houseboats Depreciate? Like most things, yes, houseboats depreciate. If you maintain your houseboat well, though, it can hold a good amount of its value. There are certain timeless types of houseboat designs that do even better than others when it comes to maintaining value.

It may feel so expensive that you'd be willing to move right off dry land to find somewhere cheaper. In fact, according to Rightboat, a digital boat marketplace, living on a boat could save someone thousands of dollars a month. “We often associate living on a boat with wealth and prestige.

Expect houseboats to be less seaworthy than boats specifically designed for transportation. The vast majority of houseboats are intended to be confined to lakes, rivers, and small bodies of water, not the open seas.

While that is a hefty investment, houseboats can last up to 50 years or longer if cared for properly. Although houseboats can't be bought with conventional mortgages, you can often find them listed on real estate websites and work with an agent to purchase one.

On the other hand, houseboats require more maintenance than floating homes and properties on land. This is because most houseboats float on a hollow hull constructed out of fiberglass over wood, which requires painting every 3-6 years.

Regardless of the material, any houseboat requires a certain amount of maintenance. All houseboats have through-hulls, or holes in the hull, that let outside water into inside systems like toilets, showers and sinks.

Here's the major con of buying a houseboat: They tend to depreciate in value over time, whereas houses generally build equity. Plus, houseboats are technically considered personal property, not real estate, so landing a traditional mortgage isn't possible for buyers.

Maintenance – Regular homes need maintenance to stay in tip-top shape, and that's even more true for houseboats. Sitting in water constantly is hard on materials. To keep your houseboat seaworthy, budget for monthly and yearly maintenance.

You can live on a houseboat year-round in many states, but some of the best places are Florida, Maryland, Arizona, Utah, California, Washington, Oregon, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Texas.

Can you permanently live on a houseboat? ›

Most people choose to use their houseboat for vacationing and weekending, but some do live aboard their houseboat full-time. Either way, one of the main concerns any houseboat owner has is maintenance chores. However, these roughly translate into the same type of commitment you'd have with any home.

The Disadvantages to Living on a Houseboat

In addition to payments on the boat itself, you likely will have to pay rental fees for the slip you are using in the marina. A houseboat typically has less living space than in a traditional single-family home.

From the looks of it, driving a long and wide houseboat seems like it'd be pretty challenging, but luckily for our customers, it's not all that hard! In fact, as long as you know how to drive a car, you should be able to operate a houseboat just fine.

Who says your retirement home needs to be on land? Sea-loving seniors can choose to live on a boat and enjoy the “liveaboard” life. They range in price on Boat Trader from $6,000 for a houseboat that needs work to $1.4 million for a yacht. You can choose to live, eat, sleep and shower on a beautiful vessel.

Here's the major con of buying a houseboat: They tend to depreciate in value over time, whereas houses generally build equity. Plus, houseboats are technically considered personal property, not real estate, so landing a traditional mortgage isn't possible for buyers.

Are floating homes a good investment? Floating homes can be a good investment in areas where they are popular and real estate is at a premium. However, their value depends on location, maintenance, and market demand. They often appreciate slower than traditional homes and have unique maintenance costs.