GMAC Real Estate The Seaworthy Second Home
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The Seaworthy Second Home

Takeaways

  • Floating homes have a rich history.
  • The main drawback is insuring a home that might float away or sink.
  • Floating home communities are often close-knit and a little offbeat.

Did you know?

  • Just like with a boat, it's a tradition to name your floating home.
Your next sidewalk? You're in the market for a second home getaway, but the traditional lakeside retreat or beachfront condo just isn't appealing. You love the idea of buying close to water and at the same time you want something different. Something with a hint of romance. A second home with a sense of adventure. Maybe your perfect second home can be found on a floating concrete barge. Floating homes are a relatively small, but interesting second home market.

Floating homes have a line of forebears with some areas tracing a lineage of living on the water back to the 1800s. Floating homes have all the amenities of their land-locked brethren such as running water, electricity, telephone service and cable TV. And a floating second home will come with a strong sense of community, albeit a little quirky, with the neighbors.

Get a Little Funky Now

The floating second home is a fun alternative to the traditional getaway. How many people can say their second home rocks a little as they step on the front porch? Instead of pondering slab versus pier-and beam foundations, the option turns into boat hull versus floating barge versus stilts. Of course, technically homes built on stilts aren't "floating" and they are referred to as "arks."

Floating second homes are not without drawbacks and the most important is probably easy to guess – homeowner insurance. Homes that have a realistic chance of sinking, or tipping over in severe storms tend to make insurers nervous. Not to mention the potential a floating home might break loose and float away leaving no evidence of the insured property behind. Insurance for floating homes is available, but expect to pay more than traditional home insurance.

If the idea of a floating second home appeals to you, remember there's a tradition of naming your home, similar to naming ships. What are going to name your new floating second home?

Search for Second Homes for Sale

To search for a selection of second homes for sale, please visit lifestylehomesearch.com, or visit the website of a GMAC Real Estate Office that serves the area where you'd like to buy a second home. To learn more about buying Second Homes or Vacation Homes, explore the rest of this section, or contact a GMAC Real Estate Agent.