There are approximately 425 floating homes in Marin County with the overwhelming majority of them located in Sausalito. These floating homes can be found across several different marinas, with each floating home having its own distinct style and personality. Some of the marinas and docks where you can find floating homes are Commodore, Liberty, Yellow Ferry, Main Dock, A Dock, Kappas, Gate 6 Co-op, and Sausalito Shipyard and Marina. Within those you'll find East Pier, West Pier, Issaquah, and Gate 6 1/2.
Most floating homes in Marin County are priced in the $500,000 - $800,000 range. While this sounds like an excellent price point for waterfront living in Marin County, there are also monthly fees associated with owning a floating home which often range from $700 - $1,500 per month. These fees cover such things as berth lease, water, garbage, sewer and parking.
In addition to monthly fees, prospective floating home owners should also budget for property taxes (which are initially determined by the sale price) as well as homeowner's insurance to cover their floating home. Insurance premiums for floating homes are often considerably higher than a similarly priced single family home or condominium.
Financing a floating home can present a challenge since floating homes are considered personal property (as opposed to real property) which significantly decreases the pool of available lenders. Cash buyers are commonplace with floating homes however a few Bay Area lenders can provide financing for floating home purchases if buyers have a strong credit history, are able to make a 20% down payment and meet other lending criteria. An experienced Marin Realtor should be able to provide you with Floating Home Lender referrals.
When buying or selling a floating home in the San Francisco Bay Area, it's critically important to work with a local real estate agent and brokerage that is well versed in these unique homes. If you are committed to buying a floating home in Sausalito, we'd welcome the opportunity to assist you. Contact us or simply complete the brief form below and we'll put you in touch with one of our experienced Floating Home Realtors.
