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Houseboat Financing Basics

Renier — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:40:00 +0000

Unlike a couple of decades ago when houseboat financing is virtually unheard of, today the right people can get houseboat financing. For seasoned houseboat owners, getting a houseboat financed is maybe as simple as financing a regular house, which is true, but for greenhorn houseboat enthusiasts, financing their first houseboat can feel like an impossibility. But houseboat financing doesn’t have to be impossible; you just have to know the basics.

Why Do You Want a Houseboat

Before diving into anything like houseboat financing, the best place to start is to ask yourself why you are getting a houseboat. The prospect of living on a lake or an inlet is exhilarating, but a loan is loan you have to pay with money. So unless you can afford a houseboat financing, postpone your plan for a few months to prepare.

Basic Terminologies in Houseboat Financing

Now that you’re sure and ready to get your first houseboat, there are terminologies that you have to learn—don’t worry, the terms are closely similar to regular house loans.
Monthly Payment
This is your monthly due to the mortgage company. The monthly payment is directly related to the amount and interest of the loan, but it’s inversely related to the down payment and the term of the loan.

Term of Loan
The term of the loan is inversely related to the age of the houseboat: the newer the houseboat, the longer the term is available to you.

Down Payment
The larger the down payment, the lesser the monthly payment; so pay the largest down payment you can afford.

Depreciation
A houseboat depreciates a lot faster than what accounting computations will show, so if you’re buying an old houseboat, have a reputable marine surveyor check it first before shopping for houseboat financing companies.

Credit Rating
Credit rating is your capacity to pay a loan as being assessed and set by credit ratings companies such as FICO.

Houseboat Financing Versus Credit Rating

Remember this useful tip before applying for a houseboat financing… check your credit rating with the help of a credit ratings company. A bad report of on your credit, whether is true or not, affects the interest rates that mortgage companies want to give you.

Marine Survey for Houseboat Financing

Houseboat financing companies will refuse to grant you a loan for a houseboat whether it’s old or new if you can’t present a recent marine surveyor’s report for it. Not only can a marine survey determine the market value and seaworthiness of your houseboat, it can give you improvement recommendations, which can increase your chance of getting a houseboat financing. So think about the $10 to $30 per foot payment for a marine survey as a necessary investment.

Different Houseboat Financing Terms

There are basically three houseboat financing terms your mortgage will fall into: fixed rate, fixed term; variable rate, fixed term; and balloon payment. If a mortgage company can’t give you a fixed rate, fixed term type of mortgage for your houseboat, then invest some time to find another company. You’ll thank yourself for doing so later on.

Where to Find Houseboat Financing

But perhaps the biggest question you want answered is “where do you find a houseboat financing company?” If you live in Washington, the Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union is the largest financer of houseboats in the area. They offer the most number houseboat mortgage terms you can choose from, so the company is worth checking for especially if you got limited funds.

In closing, houseboat financing are becoming common nowadays. If you do your homework well before buying a houseboat, you can always find a mortgage company that’s willing to finance your houseboat for you.

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The State of Houseboat Insurance

Renier — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:38:30 +0000

It’s hard enough to get insurance for a house built on a rock, you can imagine the strings you need to pull just to get a decent houseboat insurance. But since you bought the property, you need to be covered for any eventualities. The question is how? It’s a houseboat, not a villa, after all.

Getting Houseboat Insurance

If you’re new to owning a houseboat, you need to know one fact about your property: it’s not easy to insure a houseboat. You can just imagine why. A lot of things can go wrong in a houseboat: if it’s not going down in flames it can take on water! Not to mention that a houseboat depreciates a lot faster than a regular house or a regular boat.

Although getting the right houseboat insurance is not easy, it can be done. Some houseboat insurers even insure the contents of your boat; you just have to know where to find the right houseboat insurer in your area.

How to Get Houseboat Insurance

Before you show your houseboat to an insurer, there are stops and ends you have to meet. First of all you should have your houseboat inspected by a reputable marine surveyor even if the property is new. A marine surveyor can give a clean health bill to an old houseboat or suggest additions to a new property to increase its chance of getting the right insurer right off the bat.

Moreover, you need to learn the right questions to ask a houseboat insurer.

Questions to Ask a Houseboat Insurer

1. What are the navigation limits
These are the limits that a houseboat insurer issues before insuring a houseboat. Make sure that you understand all the navigation limits and how some of them can be avoided.

2. What is the coverage of the lay-up period
Remember that the longer the lay-up period coverage the lower the houseboat insurance premium you have to pay.

3. What are the liability type covered
This includes coverage for property damage, personal injury, and others. The more coverage the insurer gives, the better, of course.

4. How much will it cost for liveaboard cover
You need to be clear on this since you and your love ones will spend (or live) several days a year in the houseboat.

5. How many marine surveys are required
A houseboat insurer requires regular marine survey scheduled during the life of the insurance. Make sure that the schedule is favorable on your part.

Where To Find Houseboat Insurers in the U.S.

In the United States, the top houseboat insurers include the following:

1. American Marine Insurance
The company is located in California and covers a wide range of insurance for marine properties.

2. BoatUS Marine Insurance
The company has coverage for boat owners in the entire United States and offers a wide variety of houseboat insurance policies to suit all your needs.

Where to Find Reputable Marine Surveyors

You can fine reputable marine surveyors in the country through the National Association of Marine Surveyors, Inc. and the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, Inc. When hiring a marine surveyor, it’s good to do a little research to find a surveyor that’s trusted by your prospect houseboat insurance provider.

With proper research and due diligence, anybody with a houseboat can find the right houseboat insurance provider anywhere they live—so don’t be afraid to own your first houseboat in lake Powell or what have you.

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What you should know to rent a Lake Powell Houseboat

Jovana — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:58:16 +0000

Lake Powell is one of the better known vacation areas for houseboats. Due to the fact that there are thousands of beaches and coves situated in the Arizona/Utah area, there is a great abundance of houseboats available for even the most enthusiastic lovers perusal. The great aspect about Lake Powell is that during every single time of the year, there is something to appeal to almost everyone and if you have a houseboat on the shore of of the Lake, this holds true. While boating might not be very appropriate in winter, in summer the water hits between 70° and 80°, making it the perfect time to find a boat and hit the beautiful vastness of the lake.

Rental Facts about Lake Powell Houseboats

In Lake Powell, most of the houseboats can be rented for a period of three to seven days. These are the standard packages being offered out to many vacation going folk. However, longer stays can be discussed with the owner providing that you make arrangements or find the right houseboat. A houseboat will have everything you need (depending on the size of the houseboat) but generally, the following are standard in a houseboat: a refrigerator, cooking utensils, a grill, heater and a bathroom with a toilet and shower. It is also widely boasted that safety is not an issue in Lake Powell, with boats being lodged in the water, houseboats are renown for being impossible to sink.

Rental Costs about Lake Powell Houseboats

It goes without saying that the rental costs for houseboats will dramatically increase during the summer season (June, July and August) but during the other times of the year, the rental prices will decrease. Depending on whether you prefer a busy, bustling area, you can find a relatively affordable houseboat, with less crowds in September to January for the perfect holiday. You need to decide whether or not you want to pay extra during those three months. Another important aspect to consider is, when you rent out a houseboat, neither the petrol nor the taxes for the boat are included in the rental charge, which means you’ll need to pay for these yourself. Most houseboat owners expect a $1000 deposit with a damage deposit added onto it of $1000-$2000. You should expect to pay this at least two months prior to actually getting to your destination so make sure you plan ahead!

Rent that houseboat from Lake Powell

The truth is that the stunning expanse of Lake Powell coupled with the fact that there are gorgeous, luxury houseboats for any sort of budget, makes it an unforgettable experience for anyone interested sailing the waters of the Lake. Take our advice, start saving and planning for your perfect houseboat holiday at Lake Powell.

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Should you build a homemade houseboat?

Jovana — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:57:17 +0000

You’ve seen the price of used and new houseboats, let’s not kid ourselves – it’s expensive. However, making your own houseboat, while daunting might be cheaper AND a great life experience you might never have the chance to do again. Of course building a homemade houseboat is not exactly the easiest thing to do. So we’ve come up with a few questions that will help you decide whether or not you should build yourself a homemake a houseboat.

Time Enjoyed making a homemade houseboat vs. Time Spent sailing a houseboat

Most people would never even consider building a houseboat for the simple thing: it’s complicated and it generally takes a bit of time to complete (depending on the size). What we want you to decide is, is the time spent building it worth the time you’re missing out sailing it (if you buy it used or brand new). Sometimes, if you tackle something that you’re not 100% certain of how to complete it, it could take months to actually build your own houseboat. Decide which one is more important to you, the experience of building it, or the actual experience of using a houseboat. If you can’t wait, then building a homemade houseboat is not for you.

Where am I going to store the houseboat in the meantime?

Depending on the size of your houseboat, you will need a significantly large area to keep the work-in-progress until it is finished. Equate that into renting a place, or keeping it in your garage or outside. You need to decide whether the price of keeping it in hiatus will be worth it in the long run. Take a look at cheap renting options or decide if you can keep it in your own back garden. But will the inconvenience be too much?

What are the pro’s of building your own houseboat?

While it might seem daunting at first, we just want to make sure you have all the facts but there are pro’s to building your own houseboat. You create a boat that fits your personality completely. You can build it for a couple, or a family, even a large amount of people. You can put whatever you want in the houseboat, giving it a totally personalized feel. There is a sense of accomplishment to building your own homemade houseboat. And lastly, and possibly most importantly, if built by yourself and done properly it can be cheaper then buying a brand new one.

The truth is, in the end it is up to you and how determined you are to get your own houseboat and how much effort you actually want to put into it in the end. However, if you’ve got the time, the space and the determination, then we suggest you do it! There are plenty of places, like here where you can get more information on actually doing the PHYSICAL building of the houseboats. So get into it!

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Put it on your to-do list: a houseboat vacation

Jovana — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:56:56 +0000

If you have a bucket list, a houseboat vacation should definitely be on your list. There is no better feeling then exploring the expanse of a great lake, or floating down a river, while sitting on a houseboat and knowing that you and only the water that surrounds you is there. Of course this depends on the area you go to but, it is essential that you put a houseboat vacation on your to-do list. However, because we know a lot of you are cautious about it, we’ve answered three of the top questions asked by our readers.

Can I have a houseboat vacation without any experience?

Of course you can! When you go on your houseboat vacation, you’ll get a guide with the particular houseboat you are using for the time being. Generally, once you have this information you’ll be all set to go. However, we do suggest taking some time reading up on the particular houseboat you have rented out. There are also safety guidelines and other information you can read up on houseboats to make sure that you have a awesome holiday packed with lots of fun and laughter.

How much should I budget for a vacation on a houseboat?

Right off the bat, it depends on what you exactly want in a houseboat. Houseboats generally range in sizes from 4 to 12 people, depending on the amount of people it sleeps, the little extras and the location, the price per week will change. However, the average prices for a houseboat is the following:

4 sleeper: $1300 – $1500 per week
8 to 12 sleeper: $2300 – $5000 per week

You should ask definite questions about what is provided on the boat, so you can budget for any extras that you might want. Also, ask how much petrol you will need to fuel the boat for the week, and the budget for that amount. The petrol is not included in the rental price and neither is the taxes and license fees to fish in most states. So make sure you have all of your bases covered.

Which location is the best for a houseboat vacation?

Unfortunately, there are so many great places in the USA to take your vacation that originally we were stumped at this question. However, since we need to be fair, we suggest the following locations: Lake Powell, the Mississippi River, Lake Roosevelt and Florida. Each of these locations will be the best first time houseboat vacation.

Once you’ve decided that you want to experience a trip of a lifetime, you’ve decided on the budget and location, don’t hesitate to book your houseboat vacation as soon as possible. It’s definitely worth it.

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Cruising in style with luxury houseboats

Jovana — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:56:18 +0000

Luxury houseboats are the Rolls Royce of houseboats. If you ever thought a houseboat could be uncomfortable or daunting, these luxury houseboats prove you wrong, over and over. A luxury houseboat is carefully created to fill the demand of more experienced houseboat lovers or the very wealthy who want to spend their time in a place they can really call home.

Standard Features in Luxury Houseboats

One of the most luxurious houseboats boasts a list of extras that actually boggle the mind at one point, we can’t help but make your mouth water with this extensive list of goodies:

Granite counters in the gourmet kitchen
- Waterford crystal and china with logo
- Skylights
- Outdoor grill
- Hot tub
- Cal-king beds in staterooms
- 3 gas fireplaces, mahogany floors with hydronic heat
- Full alarm system
- Laundry facilities
- Helicopter landing pad
- 20-foot Grand Craft Sport Cruiser.

This luxurious houseboat can be found at the www.luxuryhouseboats.com where they offer an extensive list and range of houseboats for sale.

Buying a luxury houseboat

If you’re really serious about buying a luxury houseboat, then take a look at Luxury Houseboats gallery of houseboats that they currently have in stock(http://www.luxuryhouseboats.com/houseboats.htm). The great thing about these luxury houseboat providers is that many of their standard features are offered as custom features at other manufacturers. While they realize that luxury is a hot commodity, that try to make their boats as affordable as possible. Helping the average consumer having more chance to buy one of these beauties.

Renting a luxury houseboat

Of course, most of us can only ever dream of owning a luxury houseboat but that is the beauty of luxury houseboats, they are available to rent from a wide variety of places. However, Luxury Houseboats do provide their own houseboats to rent in either Lake Powell or Lake Mead. Both are a great location to take your perfect, houseboat holiday in the greatest of style.

After weighing up your options, if you can afford to buy a houseboat, perhaps finding the most affordable luxury manufacturer will enable to you get the houseboat of your dream. The truth is that they have definitely become more accessible to the average consumer, allowing you to really cruise in style with a luxury houseboat.

We would love to hear stories about your own luxury houseboat! Why don’t you let us know what features do you have in your luxury houseboat that makes yours better then the rest?

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Your checklist for your houseboat trip

Jovana — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:56:00 +0000

If you’ve never been on a houseboat trip before, then you have to follow our handy checklist. The truth is, that a houseboat vacation is very different from any normal trip you might go on. You need to know what to bring, what to prepare, how much money to budget for. These are all things that are vitally important to ensure that you have a fantastic trip.

Find out everything you need about the houseboat trip

Never assume that something is provided on the houseboat, unless you ask and get reassurances first. You might just pack your clothes and then you would be lost when you actually got into the houseboat and none of these things were provided. Another important aspect you need to find out about before you leave, is the rules that there might be for the specific houseboat trip. It is important to note that every single rental company/person will have a different set of rules for their specific houseboat. Make sure you are familiar with them so you don’t overstep the boundaries while you are on holiday.

Houseboat trip essentials

As experienced houseboat lovers, we’ve gathered a list of all of the essentials you might need for your houseboat trip. If you’ve never been on a houseboat trip before, then we highly suggest that you go through out list and add them to your own list.

Towels
Bathroom mat
Air freshener
Sheets and blankets for the beds or sleeping bags
Pillows
Flashlight
First aid kit
Insect repellent
Earplugs
Games, books, cards
Binoculars
Cellphones and cellphone chargers so you can be in contact with the outside world if something happens

These are just a few of the things that will make your trip far more pleasant and far more safer.

Clothing gear for your houseboat trip

You will obviously get clothing gear according to the climate of the specific region which you are going to, but we would just like to suggest a few general clothing gears you might need for your trip. Firstly a waterproof fanny pack for your wallet and any special documents you might need to carry around. You’re on a river, anything can happen so rather be safe then sorry. Buy a good pair of shoes that can handle slippery terrains (when you’re going on shore) and shoes that are ideal for hiking or going on rough paths. Generally it can get quite chilly at night on a houseboat, so make sure you pack some warm clothing for just in case.

Once you’ve made sure you’ve checked everything off our list, you’re ready to go and enjoy the best houseboat trip ever!

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The quick guide to houseboat rentals

Jovana — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:55:35 +0000

So you’ve finally decided to make that ever important decision: you want to rent a houseboat for a week or two but you don’t know how to go about it. That’s where we come in, our quick guide to getting you on your way to renting your perfect houseboat will make it as easy as possible.

Cheap Houseboat Rentals

Not a lot of people can afford a deluxe houseboat holiday trip, however, thanks to the increase in demand for houseboats, houseboat rentals are becoming more and more affordable for the average consumer. When looking for cheap houseboat rentals, the best places to go are the: “” and “”. Both websites are full of houseboats that are affordable, well-kept and suitable for any number of needs. You can rent a smaller houseboat for two, or a houseboat for a big family. If you want to spend your summer vacation with a big group of friends there are even houseboats that will accommodate between eight to twelve people. It’s ultimately about finding the right houseboat for you.

What you need once you’ve found a houseboat to rent

Once you’ve finally found a houseboat to rent, you need to start working on the logistics of the whole scheme. Most rentals do not include the petrol, taxes and licenses you will need to pay additional to the actual cost of the rent. Discuss with the rental agency what is provided on the houseboat and what you must bring additionally when you come onto the trip. Also, depending on the place you go to enjoy your rented houseboat, you should find out about what there is to do and any scenic trips that you can take while floating down the river or lake.

Read the rules of the houseboat before renting

Every single houseboat rental agency or houseboat owner will have a different set of rules for their specific houseboat. Make sure you have asked for a list of rules or a handbook that you can read before deciding to actually rent the houseboat. You might be a smoker that accidentally rents a non-smoker boat. Or you might like to take a pet a long but find out that you can’t have pet’s on the boat.

Renting a houseboat is easier then you think it is, so feel free to jump into your next houseboat holiday as it is worth doing.

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Advice when buying new houseboats for sale

Jovana — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:55:23 +0000

Finding a brand new houseboat to buy can be a daunting prospect, especially for someone who has not much experience in the houseboat industry. It is important therefore to get as prepared as possible when buying your new houseboat, after all, being prepared brings rewards.

Before you by your new houseboat

Before you actually intend of buying your houseboat, we have a quick list of guides that will enable you to purchase with ease and safety. No point in finding a houseboat and not being ready for the seller.

- Have a checklist: Here is a free checklist which indicates what you should be looking at when you go to actually survey your possibly new houseboat. This includes the equipments, options and the condition of the houseboat.
- Consider the offer: You can change the offer to suit your circumstances. For instance, tell the owner you will only buy once you’ve actually test sailed the houseboat, to see how it handles in water. Or the offer is only final once you’ve brought in a marine surveyor.
- Bring someone along: If this the first time you’ve bought a houseboat, then bring someone along who is more experienced. It could help you with any tricky situations you might find yourself in.

What do you need in your new houseboats

If you’ve already done a bit of research, you’ll notice that each houseboat is a bit different. Some are very basic, with only a few standard features and others have an exceptional amount of goodies to entice a new houseboat owner to buy. You’ve got to choose which one you want. Obviously it all depends on how much money you are willing to put into it but we’ve got to warn you in advance. If you’re thinking of buying a basic houseboat and then modifying it yourself at a later stage, this probably isn’t the best idea.

It is generally well accepted that doing this will be more expensive then actually buying a fully-loaded new houseboat.

Where to go to find houseboats on sale

Depending on where you live, or what area you’d like to buy your houseboat, will change dramatically but we have a small list of some of the best houseboat dealers in the business:

1. www.yachtcouncil.com
2. www.buyaboat.net/
3. www.boatcouncil.com/

With the right advice and the right places to go to, you could be on your way to houseboat happiness in no time.

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Your guide to planning the perfect houseboat holiday!

Jovana — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:54:55 +0000

There are a few quintessential rules when planning your perfect houseboat holiday. It’s summarized as simple as the three a’s: area, accommodation and activities. Once you’ve planned out these three things, your houseboat holiday will be perfectly planned.

The perfect houseboat holiday area

There are many holiday areas for houseboating that are perfect, but it really depends on where you are and how far you want to travel. There are a few houseboat holiday locations that are preferred to others, of course.

Lake Mead: Lake Mead is suited thirty miles out of Las Vegas, perfect holiday area for those people in the Arizona state. It extends to about a hundred and twelve miles, making it the perfect lake to go and truly have an adventure.
Lake Powell: Lake Powell is truly a sight to behold due to the fact that it extends into the Glen Canyon; it makes for a remarkable sight seeing adventure. You will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy yourself on the houseboat and off.

The perfect holiday houseboats

The first factor you need to work on when choosing a houseboat is: how many people are tagging along? Obviously the more people renting out a houseboat, the cheaper it will become individually for every person and the better and bigger the houseboat will be. Make sure if you’re going with a big group of people that you organize exactly who will be coming (getting a commitment from them), getting their payment for the trip up front and planning with every person what their duties will be on the boat. This makes sure you avoid having to work this out while you’re on your holiday.

The perfect houseboat holiday activities

Depending on the area you are going to, you can plan your activities accordingly. However, we do have a few suggestions. If you’re going to a Lake, make sure you’ve found out about hiking trails or other activities that the Lake can provide. Imagine stopping your houseboat on the side of the Lake and going for a long and luxurious hike in the surrounding area. If you’re not feeling that adventurous make sure you have a lot of board games, books and cards to entertain you on the trip. If you don’t come prepared with a plan, you might find yourself getting bored quicker then you would like.

Plan for these three a’s and you won’t ever have a problem having the perfect houseboat holiday!

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