You have all probably driven or walked past a marina, seen houses right on the water, and experienced at least a pang of envy or curiosity when thinking about all the possibilities that such an idyllic lifestyle can offer. Imagine, waking up every day with amazing waterside views, your boat or bike just a few steps away, enjoying walks with your family and friends, or gorgeous sunsets around the dinner table.

So, floating houses are just like those built on solid land but instead of a foundation, they have a float which allows them to rise and fall with the tide by adding buoyancy. Their main purpose is to serve as a residence and they can be found on water bodies such as lakes, rivers, or coastal areas. The marinas where you find floating homes communities are called moorage and at the dock, the houses will be connected to sewer, water, electricity, and other utilities.

The design and construction of a floating house are the result of careful planning and collaboration with architectural and building professionals. It is most typically positioned on top of a ‘float’, a sturdy platform that serves as a structural foundation and provides buoyancy. Floats are made of high-quality materials such as fir logs treated with steel beams, steel pins, concrete, or composite materials. It’s important to ensure the float is both stable and durable. During assembly, the house is carefully integrated with the floating platform.

Strictly speaking, a floating home is a house structure on floatation devices. However, according to the Oregon State Marine Board, there are other floating structures as well.

One of them is a ‘Boathouse’ which is also a covered structure and used mainly for storing and protecting water vessels just like a garage. It’s not intended as a living space either temporary or permanent. vs Houseboat

The other structure aka a ‘Combo’ or ‘Combination’ is just as its name suggests a place partly used for storing boats and partly as a residence. This adds a great advantage i.e. having your boat protected and close to you at all times. However, it also has one big drawback since the boat well needs to look towards the water so you can get the boat in and out easily. Since this is the waterside, the view towards the water and the outdoor space might be reduced depending on the size of your property.

Yes, a houseboat is not the same as a floating home. It is, indeed, a boat that has been converted into a living space and can become your temporary holiday home or a permanent residence. Perhaps the main way to distinguish a houseboat is that it has its independent way of moving via a motor whereas a floating home cannot move by itself.

Yes, indeed floating homes can be moved. If you buy a floating home and want it moved to a different moorage you can hire a professional floating home mover who will take care of this for you. They will assess your home and advise whether it is sturdy enough to withstand moving against the water current. They will also provide professional electrical and plumbing services to disconnect your home from the current location and reconnect at the new one. We, at www.FloatingHomesForSale.com can assist you not only with finding a professional mover but also with all the other work involved with insurance, moorage negotiation, and choosing your best options. It costs between $7,500 to $10,000 to move a floating home.

Once you start looking into it, you’ll discover that financing a floating home doesn’t give you as many options as homes on land. A limited number of lenders will finance your purchase depending on where you live (only 2 or 3 in Oregon) and require a minimum 20% down payment.

Since floating homes are not considered real estate, they won’t qualify for special loans or down payment programs that you might be able to get if you’re buying a home on land.

Unfortunately, you cannot use an FHA or VA loan to finance the purchase of a floating home. Usually, loans for floating homes are available for 15, 20, or 30-year fixed-rate periods with interest rates around 0.5 to 1.5% higher than for houses on land. This will all depend on your specific credit rating and will vary from lender to lender.

If you want to qualify for financing the lender will request a float inspection to determine whether the float is in a good enough condition for the house to qualify for a mortgage. This is in addition to the inspection of the house itself. You can expect to pay around $700 for the float inspection. We can assist you with the inspection as well as recommend contractors if any float work needs to be done for you to qualify for financing.

Your current land-based real estate agent might be experienced with traditional real estate but if you are buying a floating home there are many additional factors to consider such as float inspections, moorage, float inspections, loans, utilities, and red tape specific to floating properties. Our tea[1] m at www.FloatingHomesForSale.com is experienced specifically in floating homes and knows the ins and outs of buying and selling. We live on floating homes, list and sell them, and our team has a combined experience of over 50 years in these specialized floating home real estate transactions.

So, if you want to have experienced professionals who have all the knowledge and the right background representing you, then you need to look no further. We can save you not just money, but the frustration and headaches to make sure that all aspects of your purchase are handled with expertise and care and without putting you at any financial or legal risk.

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Financing a floating home is different from financing a traditional home, and not all mortgage brokers or banks are equipped to handle these unique transactions. Since floating homes don’t qualify for conventional home loans, they typically require specialized financing options.

We at www.FloatingHomesForSale.com work only with specialist lenders who have many years of experience with floating home financing. Since there are only a handful of lenders who offer floating home loans in Oregon, their terms and requirements might vary greatly. We’ll help you understand your unique situation and the specific characteristics of the floating home you are purchasing so you don’t get lost in the process. After that, we’ll help you work with professionals who understand the nuances of securing loans for this type of property, including considerations like moorage agreements, float inspections, and appraisal processes. Using a knowledgeable lender and having expert guidance from our team will save you time, money, and the frustration of dealing with institutions unfamiliar with floating home purchases.

When you become the owner of a floating home, you can expect some monthly payments in addition to your monthly loan repayment of about $190-1000+ to the Homeowners Association (HOA) or the rental moorage, depending on whether you own or rent the slip.

You will need to apply for tenancy of the moorage (regardless of whether you rent or purchase the slip) which means you’ll have to pass a background check. Things such as a bad credit score or criminal record might affect the success of your application but we can guide you through all the ins and outs.

Moorages are usually owned by a person, firm, partnership, corporation, organization, or association. The owner signs a contract with individual floating homeowners for the use of the moorage. In exchange for payment, the moorage owner provides slips, utility hookups, services, and communal areas to floating homeowners. You might just rent the slip or in some cases as a homeowner, you might be a member of the entity that owns the uplands and has the right to use the waterway ( aka a ‘submersible lands lease’) to moor your floating home. This might be referred to as ‘owning the slip’. However, under Oregon law, all water belongs to the public so in fact, you don’t fully own the water under your slip. There are several protective measures established by Oregon state law for the rights of floating homeowners who own their homes but rent their slips.

FloatingHomesForSale.com is owned by Alissa Westmoreland, also affectionately known as Ali by her team, friends, and customers. Ali isn’t just your average riverside enthusiast – she’s a true waterway adventurer! Nestled in the unique charm of a floating home at the Oregon Yacht Club, Ali’s life celebrates the river’s vibrant beauty. With her many years of experience, Ali has turned her passion for riverside living into a successful business and has put together a winning team of professionals who can answer all your questions whether you want to buy or sell a floating home in the Oregon area.

At FloatingHomesForSale.com, we bring a unique blend of expertise, passion, and dedication to the Oregon waterways and the real estate market. Our founder and owner, Ali, is not only a licensed USCG Master Boat Captain—an expert navigator and storyteller of the rivers—but also a floating home resident herself. This personal connection gives her an unmatched understanding of the lifestyle, community, and unique joys of living on the water.

As a licensed real estate agent specializing in floating home sales, Ali combines her deep personal experience with a long and successful career in real estate. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and her knowledge of the lifestyle make her uniquely qualified to help clients find their dream floating home. Ali’s expertise is further enhanced by mentorship from some of Oregon’s most experienced floating home sales agents, giving her access to a wealth of insights and industry knowledge.

Whether you’re exploring the possibility of living on the water or ready to take the plunge, Ali and her carefully cultivated team are here to guide you with professionalism, passion, and a deep appreciation for this unique way of life. Let Ali and her team navigate your journey to floating home ownership—it’s a decision you’ll be glad you made.

Living in a floating house is not just about the living experience itself. You’ll be doing your share for sustainability and the environment since their eco-friendly construction process, energy-efficient materials and design principles, and smaller ecological footprint contribute to a greener and more sustainable way of living. You’ll be in harmony with the environment without compromising on the everyday comfort of modern living.

Being closer to the great water outdoors, wildlife, and nature at its best will give you ample opportunities to practice sports, and hobbies and generally look after your wellbeing. You can enjoy not just amazing views and space but be part of a community of like-minded individuals. Being near the water is proven to reduce stress and anxiety and will make you feel like you’re on holiday every day.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best moorage for your floating home. Community is very important and just like land neighbors, your water neighbors will be brought together not just by their shared interest in the river but also by whether they enjoy sailing, kayaking, fishing, paddleboarding, kite surfing, or other activities. Each moorage has a unique character and offers different amenities. Portland and the area around it have over 50 floating communities, perhaps the most of any area in the world, so you won’t be lacking choice.

Our team at www.FloatingHomesForSale.com will guide you through the information and the different factors to consider when choosing so you can fully enjoy the floating home of your choice. The character and setting of the river will play a major role too, as it will affect not only the views (forest, urban, other floating homes or boats, mountains, etc.) but also access to your preferred activities. Some moorages will be perfect for fishing, whilst others will be great for motor-powered watersports or offer a quieter location for more contemplative hobbies.