Hausboot kaufen? Das müssen Sie beachten

Would you like to buy a houseboat? Come aboard!

Here you can find out everything you need to know and how to become captain of your own houseboat. Let's go leashes!

Imagine a pair of swans gliding majestically past your bed. The morning fog creeps across the water surface and the waves gently ripple against the boat.

Anyone who starts the day like this is vacationing on a houseboat or owning one. The demand for houseboats is high. More and more Germans are asking themselves how to make this dream come true. However, there are some shoals to avoid before you start a Buy houseboat.

‍We will guide you safely through the wild water on offer and towards an idyllic dock.

First Commandment: You should know what you want to do on the water before you buy a houseboat!

What are houseboats?

houseboats are equipped with their own motor.
They may be up to 24 m long and have CE approval (seaworthiness classification according to wind speed, swell and swimming ability).
According to the European Parliament, these can also be operated as pleasure boats if these criteria are met. Unfortunately, nothing works without this sports boat approval.

What are floating houses?

Floating houses have no motorization.
They are designed for a fixed berth, are built on pontoons and firmly anchored to the desired berth. To get there, it can be towed by another boat.
Some manufacturers offer prospective buyers a trial home. A good opportunity, especially for families, to try out the special but spatially reduced area of life for themselves. As a rule, however, floating houses offer much more space than houseboats.
Models over 60 square meters are standard with most manufacturers. But of course, individual types, designs, sizes, equipment and quality are possible and can be implemented.

2nd Commandment: If you want to travel with your purchased houseboat, you should know the regional conditions!

Should that houseboat serve as a full-fledged home or as a weekend house?

If you want to travel with your houseboat, you must Docks along the route know and inquire about free capacities beforehand.

It is also important to deal with the swell. Because the challenges that each area poses are very different: You can sail in and around Berlin in a relaxed way.

Anyone who goes out on Germany's busiest water route in Düsseldorf is confronted with 7 km/h current and over 1 meter of waves. This is a much bigger challenge that requires completely different skills from skipper and houseboat.

The area is also important for the possible dimensions of the houseboat. With a width of more than 5 meters, you won't fit through the locks in the Berlin area.

The decision for or against living on water has many consequences and should therefore only be made after intensive research — and, if possible, a longer test phase.

3rd Commandment: When you buy a houseboat, you also need a berth!

The basic requirement for a mooring And getting berth in popular marinas is, as I said, the sports boat certification if you want to buy a houseboat.

However, a right to a place cannot be derived from this. No port is required to accept a boat. The type of houseboat often plays a major role. The higher quality your houseboat is designed as a professional sports boat, the better the chances of getting a place in port.

Anyone who wants to buy a floating house or a houseboat should therefore be aware of the pitfalls of getting a berth. But don't be afraid! What has long been normal in Holland is becoming possible in more and more cities and regions in Germany as a result of steadily increasing demand: there are more and more moorings — also approved in and around major cities.

Pioneers with more and more berths are:

berlin
hamburg
dusseldorf
the Baltic Sea region
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
and at some lakes in northern Germany

4th Commandment: You should think about financing your houseboat!

Anyone who wants to buy a houseboat starts at 100,000 euros. Depending on the equipment and model, the new price is also slightly towards 300,000 euros. As always, there are no limits to the top.

credits for people who have a Buy a houseboat However, banks want to give more weight, as these are movable assets whose value retention is more affected by weather conditions. The performance is more difficult for banks to assess and the credit-securing land register entry does not exist. Get free loan offers here.

Banks that specialize in financing ships and boats have a higher chance of success on a loan. In principle, houseboats are rated worse as leisure properties than commercial properties and recycling plays just as important a role as the decline in value, which varies greatly.

Appropriately, the article provides information”Financing houseboats” in more detail about financing.

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5th Commandment: You should think of all costs before you buy a houseboat!

After buying a new, approximately 15-meter boat, you can with 750 euros in monthly costs Count for berth, minor repairs, electricity, drinking water supply and insurance.

Used and therefore older boats have an even higher maintenance factor — this must also be considered. The same applies, of course, the bigger the boat, the higher the running costs. Even the Mooring fees can vary significantly and range between 2,000 and 8,000 euros per year, depending on the region. This calculation of the thumb is therefore only to be understood as a rough average.

A calculation example: In Hamburg, a berth for a 115 square meter floating home costs around 1000 euros a year. Liability insurance, with integrated interior insurance and river casco insurance, is recommended, as flotsam or another boat can quickly cause significant damage.

The costs for this are between: 1000 — 2000 euros per year. Electricity costs are comparable to those of a fixed house ashore if the floating ship is conservatively developed. Photovoltaic or water treatment systems can make the floating house self-sufficient.

Development costs should also not be underestimated. Another 40,000 euros can easily be charged — depending on the length of the supply and disposal lines and whether several residents can share the supply.

6th Commandment: You should check which location you are binding yourself to with your houseboat!

Top location ahead! An old brokerage saying says that the value of a property is primarily based on its location. This also applies, or even in particular, to the situation on the water.

The idyllic moorings or central locations are sought after and can increase the value. However, these places are usually “only” leased. This can significantly influence the resale price of houseboats.

To the berths

7th Commandment: You should buy a houseboat to save money!

Who with his Houseboat also earn money wants, needs above all a good business concept. Here you can save taxes in many places.

Professional rental as a holiday resort or event location can turn a houseboat into a real tax saving model.

It can be written off as a mobile asset and the interest on the acquired sum can also be claimed for tax purposes. Further savings when buying a houseboat are due to the fact that there are no notary or court fees. There is also no need to pay real estate transfer tax and attorney fees. More about legal matters.

8th Commandment: You shouldn't always buy a houseboat, renting can also make sense!

who Do not buy a houseboat but rent, has to calculate other costs: a fully equipped houseboat is between 100 and 400 euros per night.

In addition, there is a berth rental of 20 euros per night when you sail around.

9th Commandment: You should be able to call your houseboat home!

A houseboat It must not be an official place of residence, you think. However, this is a common myth.

In fact, moving onto the boat has been possible for years. And since November 1, 2015 In Germany, can a Boat as a residence be signed in.

The home port is then considered to be the registration address. However, the mail for you does not come directly to the houseboat but is usually sent directly to the marina and distributed to the boats from there.

10th Commandment: You should feel safe on your houseboat!

More can happen on a boat than on land. It is therefore advisable to use one or the other insurance More to complete than perhaps a “normal” homeowner.

This minimizes risk, but of course also maximizes running costs. However, we recommend the following insurances:

Houseboat liability
Houseboatkasko
casualty
legal protection
trailer insurance
River casco
Driver accident protection
occupant accident insurance

Buy a houseboat with a plan - the 10 houseboats