We are VERY excited and proud to announce that Houseboats will be back on the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) as of July 24th, 2015. It is hard to believe that just over a year ago, we, Kevin & Linda Bagley began this endeavor on June 4th, 2014 by meeting with Jerry McDonald, Administrator of Real Estate Programs for Washington State, and Lewis Denny, Manager of Dealer Services for Washington State. The goal was to get Houseboats back on the Multiple Listing Service.

HISTORY:

For decades, Houseboats were listed and sold on the Multiple Listing Service by licensed Real Estate Brokers. In 2013, it was brought to the attention of the Multiple Listing Service that houseboats, although primarily designed as a residence, are technically vessels and in order to broker a vessel transaction, you must be licensed as a Washington State Vessel dealer.

This meant that representation for houseboats was typically limited to Vessel Dealers (aka Yacht dealers), and marketing confined to the listing broker’s websites, Craigslist ads, and flyers. At Special Agents Houseboats, we worked hard to promote houseboats and protect their values through unique and exceptional marketing efforts. We knew, however, that to assure the best representation and overall marketing, getting houseboats back on the MLS was imperative.

With the help of some great people, we were able to get House Bill 1309 crafted, submitted and passed unanimously through both houses.

We would like to extend our special thanks to:

• Jerry McDonald, Administrator of Real Estate Programs, who helped craft the wording for House Bill 1309 and who helped with guidance and direction throughout the process.
• Lewis Dennie, who assisted from the Vessel Dealer side and provided excellent suggestions for success.
• Bob Mitchell, Director of Executive Projects at Washington REALTORS who shepherded House Bill 1309 through the House and Senate and represented our position with skill and expertise.
• The Real Estate Commission for creating the task force and providing a platform for launching this effort.
• Brandon Vick, Washington State Representative, 18th District who sponsored and championed House Bill 1309
• Bill Clarke, Washington Realtors Policy Director
• Nathan Gorton, Washington Realtors Government Affairs Director
• Sam DeBord, Managing Broker Seattle Homes Group
• Justin Haag, Attorney for NWMLS who correctly integrated the new law into NWMLS policy.

The NWMLS Announcement:

Summary

As specialists in Floating On-Water Residences and Floating Homes, founders of Lake Union Liveaboard Association, and key players in the protection of Houseboats in Washington State, we are a great choice for your next purchase or sale of a houseboat, house barge, or floating home. These properties are much more complex than standard residential properties and having the best agents who have specialized in these unique properties for over 9 years is in your best interest. Go to www.SpecialAgentsHouseboats.com to see more and schedule an appointment.

Looking for land based property?

We do that too! Visit www.SpecialAgentsRealty.com

Here are some examples of the types of exciting properties you can expect to see coming on the NWMLS…

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Come aboard the “Water Lodge”, feel the gentle movement of living on the water and listen to the lake sounds. Morning and afternoon watch the geese fly in, not so elegantly landing on the water. High ceilings, all on one level with main level bedroom, built in closets and drawers, 3/4 bathroom, large living & dining room. Enjoy the electric fireplace on a cool winter day, walls of windows with 2″ faux blinds and a wonderful covered front deck. Excellent galley style kitchen has 4 burner range / oven and small pantry. Ladder to large sleeping loft / storage. Covered moorage in liveaboard slip at $600 per month, plus $150 liveaboard fee. We have financing with Sound Community Bank, email for details. Houseboat is 42′ X 12′.

• 42 x 12 Dock Floatation Hull
• 1 Bedroom—1 Bathroom + Loft
• Approximately 400 sq. ft.
• Vaulted Ceilings
• Large Living Room
• Lots of Windows
• Electric Fireplace
• Spacious Kitchen
• Covered Moorage
• Aluminum Decks (Covered) 9×12 & 2×12
• 280 Gallon Blackwater Tank
• Built-in Closets
• Slip Fees: $600 + $150 Liveaboard
• Year Built: 2008

Click to view Virtual Tour

Click below to view our Video!

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Wonderfully remodeled 40 x 14′ house barge “Big Brother” located on Eastlake at Hamlin Pier floating home community. 2 bedrooms, full bath & aprox. 1,000 SF of living space, connected to city sewer. Large living room, sunny updated kitchen with new appliances, quartz counters, soft close cabinets & pantry. Forward & aft covered decks. Rooftop deck w/lake & Space Needle view. New roof, laminate flooring. No sales tax as a registered house barge #940028. Monthly dock rental fee $732.82. Financing available!

Live the life you’ve always dreamed of in this beautiful Seattle House Barge

Waterfront you can put your toes in.

Download Flyer

CLICK HERE to request more information.

Click below to view our Video!

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The HGTV Houseboat Hunter episode featuring Special Agents Realty is now available on line.  Kevin Bagley helps Scott Dossett find his dream houseboat on Lake Union in Seattle. If you have not had a chance to see this episode, you can now view it online. Scott looks at houseboats and house barges on Lake Union with his sister Amy and chooses the houseboat/barge that best suits his needs. Seattle shines in this episode with beautiful shots of Lake Union, Seattle Skyline, the Space Needle, and the  floating home made famous by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in Sleepless In Seattle.

See if you can guess which houseboat Scott will choose!

 CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE EPISODE

If you have thought about living on a houseboat, feel free to give us a call. We sell more houseboats than anyone else in Seattle and are very knowledgeable about this unusual lifestyle.

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Click to view Virtual Tour

Click below to view our Video!

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Check out this fabulous, fun, funky, Seattle houseboat!

Imagine waterfront you can put your toes in!  Picture owning this one of a kind flagship!  The spirit of Seattle shines through in this fanciful, charming houseboat loaded with character and flavor. Nicely equipped with a 3/4 bath, charming kitchen with nautical cabinetry, and wood ceilings accented with nautical style beams.  Complete with elevated pilot station and wooden ship’s wheel, this vessel has all the right stuff.  Located at Seattle Marina in an over-sized slip, there is room for your run-about behind the houseboat-vessel, or we can move it to a smaller slip.

Special Agents, Inc has submitted application for our vessel brokers license and will be your houseboat vessel go to broker. Coming soon Seattle-Houseboat.com.

Check out the VIDEO here!

Check out the VIRTUAL TOUR here!

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Have you heard the latest news on Seattle Houseboats (or, perhaps the most accurate news, that is)???

For a summary of the definitions of Houseboats, House Barges, and Floating Homes PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Did you notice Houseboats are no longer listed on the NWMLS (Northwest Multiple Listing Service), or did you think there are no houseboats for sale?

On the contrary, there are Seattle Houseboats for sale but they are no longer on the NWMLS nor are they to be sold by Real Estate Brokers! For decades Houseboats were listed on the NWMLS and Real Estate Brokers sold them. Recently, the NWMLS concluded that a Houseboat is a licensed vessel, a boat, and is not property that Real Estate Brokers (agents) are licensed to sell. The new Rules were posted November 1st 2012 but remained on the NWMLS until this month (March 2013). Seattle Houseboat vessels (boats) are typically closed through Maritime Title Services, registered as a vessel with the Department of Licensing and the buyer pays Sales Tax. In 2006, we discovered our houseboat, a dual stern paddle wheeler on the NWMLS, and we purchased it and have lived there since 2007. It fascinated me that we could actually list and sell houseboats on the MLS because they are boats and we became the specialists in buying and selling houseboats and barges.

Part of the reason for this error is the nomenclature used by the NWMLS has been incorrect, leading to the wrong type of “On Water Residences” being listing on the NWMLS. Through our conversations with the NWMLS, we pointed out that they were incorrectly referring to Floating Homes as Houseboats. As a result of these conversations, the style code is being changed and the previous style code of Houseboats will now be Floating Homes. I am very excited about this, as it will help eliminate the problem of listing houseboats, when only Floating Homes are allowed.

The Jury is out whether Seattle House Barges can be listed on the NWMLS and if real estate brokers can list and sell them. Seattle House Barges are vessels that do not require a means of propulsion and are found both in rented slips and in owned slips.  There are 34 Seattle barge vessels approved by the City of Seattle.

1. designed and used for navigation but lacks a

means of self-propulsion and steering equipment

or capability (for example, it is designed and used

for navigation by towing); and

2. designed or used as a place of residence.

Of importance for Houseboat buyer’s, it is imperative that you are knowledgeable about the Seattle City Houseboat and Barge Regulations. We (Kevin and Linda Bagley) are the founders of LULA (Lake Union Liveaboard Association) and are very active with the issues and politics surrounding Houseboats and Barges.  Kevin is a Seattle Council appointed Stake Holder negotiating for the rights of existing Seattle Houseboats on Lake Union and keenly aware of the current issues surrounding Houseboats in the Seattle Shoreline Master Plan. If you have any questions or concerns and want ACCURATE information about Seattle Houseboats or Barges you need to contact Kevin Bagley or Linda Bagley.

There are excellent books on Amazon.com “Seattle’s Unsinkable Houseboats” and “Seattle’s Floating Homes”, which give some of the Seattle history.

While the NWMLS and Real Estate Brokers sort out what can and cannot be sold, we at Special Agents, Inc. have taken the necessary steps (legally licensed) to sell Floating Homes, Houseboats or housebarges. We soon will have a new website afloat for ALL listings. Stay tuned!!

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Seattle Department of Planning and Development proposed the new Shoreline Master Plan to the Seattle City Council in January 2013. This proposal was accepted and approved by the full council to be submitted to Department of Ecology.

The Review process for Department of Ecology can take 6 months to a year to review the hundreds of pages of proposed changes to Seattle Shoreline management areas.

As a part of this proposal:

NO NEW HOUSEBOAT STYLE VESSELS are permitted in the Seattle Shoreline Management areas as a liveaboard vessels.

New houseboats (includes rectangular shaped houseboat style vessels) of any kind or manufacture are banned as liveaboard houseboats in the SMP areas.  If you have a houseboat under construction, if you are looking at the cheaper houseboats in the Olympia, Portland or Vancouver areas – we strongly recommend that you do not bring them into Lake Union, the Ship Canal, or the Duamish river marina, Shilshoe or  Elliot Bay. You may receive a Notice of Violation and will be required to remove it from the SMP areas.  We urge Brokers to advise buyers they cannot use NEW Houseboats as liveaboards, that they may not be legal for living aboard and encouraging this could be a disservice to your buyers. Buyer’s should check with DPD before making the investment as a liveaboard in the Seattle waters.

Existing Houseboat Vessels in the SMP areas continue to be the subject of controversy with DPD.  DOE (Department of Ecology) has stated that they did not task the city of Seattle to remove houseboats. DOE tasked DPD with addressing “Overwater Use”, rather than a particular style of vessel.

With the thousands of trawlers, yacht style and sailboat liveaboards the miniscule number of existing houseboats likely make up less than 1% of the greywater that goes into the water. It is important to note that houseboats are not designed to be able to pump Sewage into the waters, while pointy bow yachts, trawlers and sailboats are frequently designed to allow this. We do not believe a responsible person would pump sewage in our waters.

There have been comments made that make it seem like Grey water is the issue (water from showers, sinks, and washers).  However, greywater is NOT addressed in the SMP other than through Best Management Practices (BMP’s). These BMP’s apply to ALL vessels regardless of shape. With houseboat style vessels comprising a very small percentage of liveaboards, the contribution of grey water from houseboats is miniscule when compared to all liveaboard vessels.

We applaud Department of Ecology for contributing $20,000 to Seattle to hold Stakeholder Group meetings with a Facilitator beginning March 2013 that have been tasked with the following goal:

Develop and consider alternatives for an orderly process to establish the status of residences on the water that are not identified as legal floating homes or legal house barges and are not clearly identified as vessels. For the purposes of this memo, these structures will be referred to as “on water residences”.

The Stakeholder group is comprised of the following people;

• Kevin Bagley, Lake Union Liveaboard Association
• Joseph Bogaard, Save Our Wild Salmon
• John Chaney, Lake Union Liveaboard Association
• Patrick Dunham, Lake Union Liveaboard Association
• Barb Engram, Lake Union Liveaboard Association
• Margie Freeman, Marina owner
• Al Hughes, Washington Liveaboard Association
• Gail Luhn, Shilshole Liveaboard Association
• John Waterhouse, Naval architect
• Chris Wilkie, Puget Soundkeeper Allianc

Based on comments made by City Council members, we caution against bringing a new houseboat (or an existing houseboat that is currently located outside Seattle waters) on to Seattle Waters.

No new Floating home sites will be permitted in the SMP (primarily Lake Union and Portage Bay).  There is a new floating home site with a few unsold slips and a few floating homes under construction at Wards Cove and these are permitted. Replacement of a floating home is permitted, but no new home sites where none existed.

House Barges approved (registered) in 1990 – 1995 (and one in 2000) totaling 34 are approved and will remain on the lake without issues. DPD stated throughout the process that only a couple barges had complied with the 1990 rule imposed “All overboard discharges of grey water must be contained and pumped out (exceptions allowed based on hardship)”, however in the discovery process we found that the city had documentation that all barges except two were in fact in compliance or had been granted exceptions.

The definition of floating homes, house barges, and vessels can be found at:

http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/publications/cam/cam229.pdf

In 1990 the city of Seattle also created rule for barges that many barge owners today are not aware of. Recently, very happy buyer’s of a house barge updated their new home by changing a ladder that accessed the upper deck and converting it to a safer staircase and made their upper deck space safer by adding rails and a platform to protect the rooftop deck.  They were told that they needed the original DCLU seal replaced which was misplaced during the remodel. They then contacted DPD to get it replaced, and were told “we don’t issue the decals any longer, but could you send us a photo so we can update our files?”  After sending the photo, the city said “…it appears you have added an expansion” which is not allowed for house barges as they are non-conforming uses and may not expand their exterior dimensions.”  The owners of the barge received the following along with a NOV (Notice of Violation) from DPD.

I regret to inform you that the 3rd story deck on your house barge is in violation of the Shoreline Code and must be removed. If you do not bring the house barge into compliance, you could be fined.

When we last spoke, you requested information on the specific Shoreline laws that would apply to registered house barges. The link provided below is a link to the Seattle Municipal Code:

http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/code1.htm, Enter 23.60.090 where it says “Code Section Number” and hit “Submit Query.” Please go to subsection G, #5, which says: “House barges permitted under this section shall be regulated as a nonconforming use and shall be subject to the standards of Section 23.60.122.” Following the link to 23.60.122, subsection B.  The deck on your house barge would be considered an expansion not subject to the exception.

If you are considering remodeling your house barge, you read the regulations regarding “non-conforming uses” shown above.

Kevin and Linda Bagley are the founders, former president & secretary of LULA (Lake Union Liveaboard Association) and have been very involved in protecting the rights of houseboat / barge owners in the SMP. We will continue to be involved in LULA and encourage anyone that wants to protect the houseboats, barges and liveaboards to join LULA at www.lakeunionliveaboard.com.

If you own a House Barge or Houseboat vessel and are considering selling or buying, you need a specialist in the process. We would love to help in any way we can, so give Linda a call at (206) 419-0065.

If you have ANY questions about Floating Homes, House Barges, and Houseboat vessels, please give us a call. We have lots of resources and information we can provide.

And if you are considering a Land Lubber purchase, give us a call for that too!  We sell residential real estate throughout the Puget Sound region.

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http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=2021303&file=1

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Very dissapointing news!

In addition they state “Floating home loan program will continue to be offered with 15 year and 20 year fixed rate/term offerings. We will no longer offer the 30 year amortization with 15 year balloon product.” Additionally SMCU states they are approacing their concentration limit on some docks which might limit somefinancing options. Thinking of Lake Union Living, contact us. As  liveaboards on the lake and as “The Lake Specialist”, we look forward to making your dream happen.

If you are thinking of buying a floating home you may be looking at a different lender, however if you were wanting to buy a houseboat it is cash, seller carried contract or hang tight until we locate another lender.

Lake Union living is amazing! Special Agents Realty sold through all our listing inventory for 2012, however looking forward to 2013 and having better choices. We may have a couple amazing houseboats coming, so always check in with us.

Floating homes are expected to have an amazing year in 2013 and we need listings for floating homes.  I have buyer’s, I need listings.

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