{"id":5299,"date":"2020-04-05T08:30:54","date_gmt":"2020-04-05T15:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/buying-houseboat\/"},"modified":"2024-01-29T17:46:30","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T00:46:30","slug":"buying-houseboat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/buying-houseboat\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Questions You Should Ask Before Buying a Houseboat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Buying a house is a big decision. Buying a boat<\/a> is a big decision. But buying a houseboat? Now that is something you really want to consider carefully. Whether you are figuring out if a houseboat is a good investment<\/a> or if living on one will save you money, there are many aspects you should consider. <\/p>\n

If you are thinking about buying a houseboat, here are 15 things you should know:<\/p>\n

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  1. How Much Is the Average Houseboat?<\/li>\n
  2. What Should I Look for When Buying a Houseboat?<\/li>\n
  3. Can You Get a Mortgage to Buy a Houseboat?<\/li>\n
  4. Should You Buy a New or Used Houseboat?<\/li>\n
  5. How Will You Use Your Houseboat?<\/li>\n
  6. Is It Cheaper to Live on a Houseboat?<\/li>\n
  7. Do You Have to Pay Taxes on a Houseboat?<\/li>\n
  8. What Are the Financial Advantages and Disadvantages of Owning a Houseboat?<\/li>\n
  9. Do Houseboats Depreciate?<\/li>\n
  10. Can You Live on a Houseboat Year-Round? <\/li>\n
  11. How Much Does It Cost to Dock a Houseboat?<\/li>\n
  12. How Fast Do Houseboats Go?<\/li>\n
  13. What About Using the Bathroom on a Houseboat?<\/li>\n
  14. What About Pets on a Houseboat?<\/li>\n
  15. Are Houseboats Worth It?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    <\/source><\/source>\"Buying<\/picture><\/figure>\n

    1. How Much Is the Average Houseboat?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    While an average houseboat costs $50,000, there are many different types of houseboats which greatly vary in price. Some look more like typical houses, while others appear to be 100% boat. Perhaps the most popular style of the houseboat, though, is a flat pontoon or barge-like vessel<\/a> topped with four walls and a roof. Many of these kinds of houseboats come complete with a full second story or, at least, a deck where owners can sit out and relax on the water.<\/p>\n

    While prices vary dramatically, you can certainly find a decent-quality houseboat in the 600-square-foot range for around $50,000. If you go much less than that, you may be dealing with a fixer-upper. And, if you go much higher, you could end up with a slightly past-its-prime yacht. Of course, there are also more luxurious half-a-million-dollar plus options available to the wealthier houseboat buyer.<\/p>\n

    2. What Should I Look for When Buying a Houseboat?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    The main thing you have to consider when looking at houseboats is your lifestyle. How much room do you need? How many pets do you have? Do you like going for a jog every morning? Do you like to cook? All of these things and everything else you do on a daily basis needs to be considered. If you look at your future houseboat lifestyle with rose-colored glasses, you are more likely to make a mistake. Be honest with yourself when weighing the pros and cons of living on a houseboat, because both certainly exist.<\/p>\n

    3. Can You Get a Mortgage to Buy a Houseboat?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    It depends. If the question is whether you can finance<\/em> the purchase of your houseboat, the answer is yes. But, the thing to understand is that there is a difference between a houseboat and a floating home. A floating home is just like a barge that is tethered to a dock. You CAN get a mortgage on a floating home. But a houseboat has an engine and moves. As such, lenders think of houseboats more like RVs.<\/p>\n

    You can get an RV loan to pay for your houseboat, but the terms will generally be shorter than what you can get with a traditional mortgage. There are some lenders, however, who offer loans in the 20-year range for a houseboat.<\/p>\n

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    How Neighbor is changing boat storage<\/h2>\r\n\t\t <\/header>\r\n\t\t
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    Transparent monthly savings<\/h3>\r\n\t\t

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