10 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Sausalito Floating Home
By the time most buyers call me about a Sausalito floating home, something has already happened.
They’ve fallen a little bit in love.
Maybe it was a listing with a deck hovering over Richardson Bay. Maybe they walked one of the docks and imagined having coffee there every morning. Maybe they’ve always wanted to kayak from their front door or just enjoy being up close to a marine nature show on a daily basis.
I understand the attraction. I grew up visiting the floating homes and was mesmerized by the lifestyle and proximity to marine nature.
But after spending time exploring the realities of floating-home ownership, I’ve learned that there are questions buyers should ask before deciding that a particular floating home is “the one.”
Not every answer needs to be perfect. What matters is whether the answers work for you.
Here are ten questions I would put at the top of the list.
- How will I finance the purchase?
Start here—not after you’ve fallen in love with a home. Floating-home financing is specialized and the options are limited compared with conventional real estate financing. The home itself can also affect financing eligibility. If you plan to finance, understand your current options and qualifications before getting serious about a particular property. - What exactly does the berth fee cover?
With a floating home, you own the home but typically pay to use the berth where it sits. Ask what is included in the monthly fee, what isn’t and what other dock- or marina-related expenses you should anticipate. Also what is the term of the lease. - What is the hull made of—and what condition is it in?
It’s easy to be distracted by a remodeled kitchen or fabulous view, but one of the most important parts of a floating home is underneath it. Understand the hull or flotation system, its condition, its history and what inspections or repairs have been performed. - What happens here at low tide?
Some homes remain in deeper water while others may settle into the mud as the tide recedes. Neither automatically makes one home “better.” Water depth, berth location and proximity to shore can create different lifestyle tradeoffs. The important thing is knowing what to expect. - Where is the home located on the dock?
Think beyond the view. How far will you walk from your car with groceries, luggage or packages? Do you value being closer to parking and the dock entrance, or would you happily take a longer walk to be farther out over the water? - What are the dock and marina rules?
Don’t assume the rules are identical from dock to dock. Ask about pets, parking, storage, common areas, deliveries and any other rules that could affect the way you intend to use the home. - What can I change about the home?
That fabulous idea for an addition or rooftop deck may—or may not—be possible. Floating homes in unincorporated Marin are subject to specialized standards involving such things as size, height and setbacks, and some projects can require a Floating Home Exception. Before buying based on what you could do to a home, investigate whether you actually can. - Who should inspect and work on a floating home?
Floating homes have some systems and maintenance considerations that conventional houses don’t. When possible, work with inspectors and contractors who understand floating homes and the marine environment rather than assuming every residential professional has the same expertise. - Am I comfortable with the movement, weather and marine environment?
Yes, floating homes move. Tides change. Wind happens. Boats pass. Exterior surfaces live in a marine environment. For many owners, that direct connection with the water is precisely the attraction. A prospective buyer should experience it rather than just imagine it. - Do I actually want the floating-home lifestyle—or do I just love the idea of it?
This may be the most important question of all.
Floating-home living isn’t conventional homeownership with a better view. It is a distinctive lifestyle with its own rhythms, conveniences, inconveniences, responsibilities and rewards.
The Answers Are Different for Every Home—and Every Buyer
That’s one of the reasons I enjoy helping people explore this community.
With approximately 425 homes across 11 distinctive docks, a marina and a landing, these properties are a relatively small and highly individual piece of the local housing market. No two homes, berths or buyers are exactly alike.
The objective isn’t to find a floating home with no compromises.
It’s to understand the compromises—and decide which ones don’t feel like compromises to you.
If you’ve read my floating-home series and find yourself with more questions than when you started, I’ve done my job.
Those questions are where a good floating-home search begins.
Thinking about buying a Sausalito floating home? Let’s talk before you start shopping.
Cari Gennarelli | Bay Area Modern Real Estate
415-602-4434
cari@bayareamodern.com
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