Housebarges

HGTV House Hunters: Houseboat Episode Airs

 

Seattle Houseboat HGTV Episode Airs

Scott Dosset and his sister Amy did an outstanding job in their television debut on HGTV’s special episode House Hunters: Houseboats, which aired on 12/30 at 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm.  Agent Kevin Bagley with Special Agents Realty assisted Scott in his houseboat search (in reality, Kevin and Linda Bagley). Comments from those that viewed the episode have been very positive.

It was clear that Seattle was at its finest during the filming, with outstanding weather and lots of activity on Lake Union. HGTV’s House Hunter format is pretty standardized with 3 properties considered, leaving the audience guessing as to which one will be chosen.  There is definitely some misdirection that goes on, just to make sure the audience is kept in suspense. As one of the “stars,” I was very surprised at the amount of work it takes on the part of the participants. The segment was filmed over a week long period in August, and comprised 20 hours of video tape to produce the 20 minute episode.

Clearly, Scott had to work even harder. He was tasked to do things like Paddle boarding, Bicycling, Kayaking, Fly Fishing, window washing, and to top it off, he even had to throw a party for his friends and neighbors specifically for the show. As the week went by, we were impressed at what a good sport Scott was at accommodating the film crew requests.

I have to say, that in spite of the amount of work involved,  it was fun and in the end, was worth the effort. We hope you enjoy some of the “Behind the Scenes” pics that we are posting.

If you saw the episode, we would love to hear from you.  Send us an email with your impressions!

HGTV House Hunters: Houseboat episode

 

UPDATE – New Time Slot Added – 7:00 pm 12/30

A new time slot has been added for the Houseboat edition of House Hunters on HGTV – Filmed in Seattle, on Lake Union and featuring Special Agents Realty and Scott Dossett.

The new time slot is at 7:00 pm on HGTV – Friday, December 30th.

HGTV House Hunters: Houseboat episode featuring Special Agents

On Friday, December 30th, at 10:00 pm, Special Agents will be featured in a special Houseboat edition of House Hunters on HGTV. Check your local listings for the channel & time – it may be different if you live in a different area. If you want to stop by the KevLin and watch it, we’d love to have you! Watch as we help Scott Dossett find his dream houseboat!

In this episode, Scott Dossett works with Special Agent Kevin Bagley to look at 3 houseboats to try to find his perfect place. Filmed this July, look for some great weather, great Seattle sites, and of course, learn all about houseboats and life on Lake Union.

Houseboat Hunter Viewing:  12/30  10:00 pm

Where: The KevLin

Houseboat at Ballard Locks

 

Houseboat at Ballard Locks

Special Agents Realty sold this houseboat that is being delivered to its final destination on the Ship Canal near Lake Union in Seattle. Launched at Shilshole Marina, it has to travel through the Ballard Locks to get there. This time lapse video shows its arrival in the Ballard Locks. Lake Union is home to a fairly large number of houseboats, floating homes and housebarges.

Great Houseboat Article on EHow

 

Check out this great Houseboat Article on EHow. If you want to learn more about Houseboats, Living on Lake Union, Floating Homes, or Seattle Waterfront, we specialize in these and would love to hear from you. Give us a call at (206) 419-0065.

HGTV – House Hunters Special “Houseboat Hunters”

HGTV Crew & Special Agents

Special Agents Realty is proud to be participating with HGTV (Home and Garden TV) shooting a special episode of House Hunters – appropriately named “Houseboat Hunters.”  Kevin & Linda Bagley, owners of Special Agents Realty appear here with the production crew on location. Filming is currently underway with scenes from our houseboat listings, aboard our home “The KevLin” and at our Special Agents Realty office on Lake Union in Seattle.

In this special episode our friend and buyer, Scott Dosset, goes through the process of selecting his houseboat from a selection of 3 great options. Each of the 3 houseboats has its own unique flavor and character, and all are great representations of the outstanding Seattle Lake Union houseboat lifestyle.

The Househunters “Houseboat Hunters” special episode is schedule to air sometime in December. In the meantime, stay tuned to Special Agents Realty for photos, updates, and teasers!

Houseboats as Investments?

Can a Houseboat be an Investment?

We at Special Agents Realty have been selling houseboats, floating homes, and housebarges, in the Lake Union area for the last 5 years. Additionally, we sell lots of waterfront property and land based homes as well (actually more of those than houseboats). We have been through the boom and the bust and have seen homes, condos, houseboats, floating homes all ride the market roller coaster. The financial crisis has hit all levels pretty much equally.

So, how do houseboats fare as an investment in comparison to more traditional homes?  Well, it depends greatly on the style, condition, and character of the houseboat. Houseboats will lose value greatly if they are in need of servicing and maintenance. A well kept, updated, clean houseboat will return a better price than one in need of maintenance or paint. Sound familiar?  Pretty much the same holds true for traditional homes as well. So what is the difference?  Well, houseboats are a much more limited commodity and are definitely more seasonal. When summer rolls around and peoples thoughts turn to the water, the houseboat market definitely increases. The majority of the houseboats we sell are sold between May and September. This should be a clue to those wanting to sell (list in the spring), and those wanting to buy (buy in the fall/winter).

It is our belief that houseboats are going to become more and more scarce. This should, according to supply and demand, increase their value. However, in today’s market, nothing is assured and predicting the market has always been difficult.

All in all, houseboats remain one of the most affordable ways to enjoy waterfront living. As people discover the fantastic lifestyle, amazing community, and uniqueness of houseboat life, they will become more desirable and less available. This could lead to increased demand and higher prices, making houseboats a reasonable investment as well as a fantastic lifestyle.

If you would learn more about owning a houseboat and houseboat living, give us a call. We sell more houseboats than anyone else on Lake Union. Additionally, we have 3 websites that can help you learn the details about houseboats and the buying process. Please take a look at our 3 websites: www.SpecialAgentsRealty.com, www.LakeUnionLiving.com, and www.AffordableHouseboats.com, and give us a call at (206) 419-0065, email us, or stop by our office on Lake Union at 2401 N. Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103 (about half way between Gasworks Park and Ivars Salmon House.)

 

Lake Union Beat features Houseboat vs. Floating Homes

Lake Union Beat features  Houseboats vs. Floating Homes article by Special Agents Realty broker, Kevin Bagley in their premier issue.

We are very excited to announce that Special Agents Realty has 2 prominent positions in the premier issue of the Lake Union Beat.

The  Lake Union Beat is the brainchild of Peter Charles Hansen and focuses on Life in the Heart of Seattle. The premier issue is 12 pages, but they are hoping to double the size of the paper by their second issue. With articles focusing on topics and issues related to Lake Union living, the nearby neighborhoods and businesses, this topical paper is sure to be a big hit.

In the premier issue, the article “Houseboat vs. Floating Home; Which is better? A houseboat, or a floating home? For that matter, what’s the difference?” was created by yours truly and was featured on our Special Agents Realty blog. This article details the technical differences and points out advantages and disadvantages to both houseboats and floating homes.

In addition to the article on Houseboats and Floating Homes, the entire 11 x 17 back page of the newspaper features 3 of Special Agents Realty Houseboat & House barge listings in the Seattle, Lake Union area. These houseboats are the most affordable way to experience waterfront you can put your toes in. Plus, they have the advantage of being located near great Seattle Neighborhoods like Fremont, Wallingford, Westlake, and the University district.

We are truly excited for Peter Charles Hansen and the Lake Union Beat newspaper and look forward to reading about the Heart of Seattle and Lake Union living.  Best of Luck to Peter Charles!!!

Pick up a copy and show it to your friends. Also, spread the word on the great neighborhood publication that is fun, topical, and of great interest to those living on and around Lake Union.

Houseboats Rock in Declining Market

Seattle Houseboats were a hot item for Special Agents Realty this summer. With 7 houseboats being sold by and 5 of those listed by Special Agents, the Lake Union houseboat market was driven by Special Agents Realty activity. Every houseboat (see definition below) that was sold on Lake Union was sold by Special Agents Realty.

Houseboat vs. Floating Home: The Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) combines both houseboats and floating homes into the same “Houseboat” bucket. However, the city has specific definitions treating these dwellings differently. A Floating Home is taxable as property, and they are typically on owned property (though not always). They are required to be permanently attached to the dock and to be served by a sewer system. TRUE Houseboats are not subject to property tax, however the buyer pays sales tax at the time of purchase. The 7 “houseboats” referred to above are in this later category.

So why was this such a big season for houseboats? There are a number of factors including financing, weather, and the availability of agents that understand the houseboat market.

Financing: This was the first year in the last 5 years that financing for houseboats was available in Seattle. Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union launched their houseboat financing program this year and it was utilized for some of these transactions. Our hats are off to SMCU for their new Houseboat lending program.

Weather: Although the houseboats are on the lake year round, there is definitely a season for houseboat sales. When the weather is warm and the sun is out, people start thinking about what it would be like to live on the lake. (TIP: Buyer’s should consider buying in the “off season” to get a better deal!).

Knowledgeable Agents: Yes, we are tooting our own horn here… Buying a houseboat can be tricky compared to buying a home. There are a number differences and intricacies that warrant getting an agent with houseboat experience. Agents all around the lake refer business to Special Agents Realty because we have become the Houseboat experts – from surveys to closing, we are the most experienced houseboat agents on the lake.

If you have thought about what it would be like to live on the water, we would love to discuss the possibilities with you. We can tell you about the good, the bad, and the fantastic. We have lived on Lake Union aboard the KevLin for 5 years so we understand the houseboat life. This is a unique lifestyle full of fun and atmosphere. You may sacrifice some square footage, but we have never regretted our choice. If you would like to read our story of how we made this lifestyle change, ThreeSheetsNW.com published this article

Give us a call at (206) 419-0065!