Sausalito's houseboats are one of the most distinctive residential communities on the West Coast — roughly 420 homes floating on Richardson Bay, most of them owner-occupied, many of them owned by the same families for decades. If you're just starting to look into what "Sausalito houseboats" actually means, here's the short version, with links to the full detail on everything.
Houseboat or Floating Home?
The terms get used interchangeably, but they're technically different. A floating home is a residential structure built on a floating hull, permanently moored in a fixed slip, with no engine or propulsion of its own. A houseboat has its own propulsion system and can move under its own power. Most of what people mean when they say "Sausalito houseboats" are actually floating homes in the technical sense — but the distinction has real legal and financing implications. See our Houseboat vs. Floating Home guide for the full breakdown, or the Glossary of Terms for precise definitions.
Where They Are
Sausalito's floating homes are spread across a handful of distinct marina communities along Richardson Bay — including Waldo Point Harbor (which contains Gate 5, Liberty Dock, Issaquah Dock, South Forty, and A Dock), Gate 6½, Kappas Marina, Yellow Ferry Harbor, Commodore Dock, and Mission Creek. Each dock has its own character, price range, and community feel. The Complete Docks Guide covers all of them in detail.
What They Cost
Prices vary widely by dock, hull condition, and slip position. Our market report shows a median sale price of $1,125,000 so far in 2026, with closed sales ranging from $620,000 to $2,900,000. On top of the purchase price, owners pay a monthly slip fee to the marina — typically $800–$2,500 depending on the dock. Full numbers, updated regularly, are on our Market Report.
What It's Like to Live on One
Daily life on the docks is genuinely different from life in a land home — the commute, the community, the maintenance rhythms, the wildlife right outside your window. Our Life on the Water guide covers what it's actually like, day to day.
How to Buy One
Buying a floating home involves a few steps that don't come up in a standard home purchase — understanding the slip lease, arranging financing through one of the two lenders who actively finance Sausalito floating homes, and getting a marine survey rather than (or in addition to) a standard home inspection. Our 8-step Buying Guide walks through the whole process, and our guide to what to look for covers the specifics that matter most once you're actually comparing homes for sale.