Revealed: Affordable “housing” option comes with water views

This 12m open plan houseboat is for sale for $129,900. Picture: Boatsonline.com.au

A growing number of Queenslanders are swapping bricks and mortar for decks and water in an attempt to find an affordable housing in an increasingly more expensive property markets.

Marine industry experts noted an increase in demand for live-aboard boats as home and rent prices skyrocket throughout the sunshine state.

John Norfolk, owner of Brisbane-based Infinite Marine Brokers, said he had noticed a massive influx of buyers searching for a vessel they could live on full-time.

“I’d say at least 40 per cent of enquires are now for live aboard boats,” he said.

“That’s about a 10-fold increase compared to pre-Covid.”

Australian Bureau of Statistics data from the 2021 census showed 29,369 people were living in either a cabin (land-based) or on a houseboat on census night.

Of that, 1978 were in a marina while 22,354 were in land-based locations, with 5,038 indicating ‘other’, potentially accounting for thousands on houseboats outside of a marina.

Mr Norfolk said a mix of people were venturing into boat living, including retirees, couples and single parents.

“Most of the live aboards that we’ve encountered are throughout the Gold Coast waterways,” he said.

“There’s also a few in the Brisbane River and a handful in the Bribie passage.

“If you take Beachmere (on the Caboolture River), for example, there’s probably about 30 or 40 boats there and at least 10 of them are live aboards.”

This well built and well loved 32 Easy cat is for sale for offers around $130,000. Picture: Boatsonline.com.au

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A Maritime Safety Queensland spokesman said it was legal to live aboard a boat in most Queensland areas, apart from some regulated waterways of the Sunshine Coast, as long as vessels met standards and regulations under the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 and complied with sewage discharge and waste management requirements.

“Other factors that impact living on board include restrictions on anchoring, mooring and grounding in some areas of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast,” the spokesman said.

Mr Norkfolk said prior to the current property boom, most buyers looking for a boat they could live on had travel in mind, but now most just want a home.

“When a cheaper houseboat comes up, around the $90,000 – $120,000 range, we become bombarded with enquiries,” he said.

“They don’t care about condition, they just want cheap accommodation.

“There’s the odd one that wants to do the costal trip or sail around Australia, but it’s more so (buyers) have no other options and they’re trying to find somewhere to live.

“You could buy a $150,000 boat as opposed to an $800,000 house or even if you’re paying rent, you would probably still be better off (financially) paying for a boat and living aboard.”

This updated 2006 MC Houseboat is for sale for $275,000. Picture: Boatsonline.com.au

The experienced broker said while living aboard a floating vessel had unique challenges, in general it was similar to apartment living.

“You’ve got cooking facilities, you’ve got bedrooms or bunks and you’ve got toilets and showers on 90 per cent of them,” he said.

“I’ve got a $300,000 house boat at the moment that is fully renovated and it’s basically a floating two-bedroom unit with huge lounge area and full upper deck.

“Then you’ve got mariner facilities such as toilet and shower blocks and washing machines.”

Lorraine Drysdale of Ray White Hope Island has been selling marina berths for about eight years and also noticed a heightened demand for boat living since 2020.

“During Covid a lot of people got on their boats or rented boats so they could stay on boats,” she said.

“Then just after Covid when there was a price explosion on home and rent prices, demand increased.

“It’s only last 12 months demand has died down a little bit.”

‘The Boathouse’ is modern 13.7m houseboat for sale for $559,000. Picture: Boatsonline.com.au

Ms Drysdale said from what she was seeing, many of those seeking to live full-time on a boat were doing so for financial reasons.

“I find it’s more the over-45s looking for lifestyle at an affordable price,” she said.

“They can’t afford to buy property on the Gold Coast, but they can afford a boat.

“To rent a berth is around $1000 a month and that includes power and water, and at the end they can sell the boat and still be better off.

“They can also rent a boat and berth.”

Ms Drysdale said while many marinas didn’t allow live aboards, ones such as Hope Island Resort Marina welcomed a certain amount, with freehold berths for sale and rent.

“We sell maybe 25 a year,” she said.

“For some it’s a luxury, a place to store their boat, and for others it’s a good investment.”

Doug Ryan, who lives aboard his 45ft yacht, ‘Shazam’, in North Queensland said anyone wanting to live aboard needed to consider the costs associated with upkeep as well as mooring.

“Normally the average cost would be about 15 per cent of the purchase price a year to maintain a boat,” he said.

“A boat like mine new would cost about $800,000 but you can buy a smaller board for probably about $50,000.

“Anything under that you’d be worried about whether it’s structurally sound.”

Doug Ryan aboard his boat ‘Shazam’. Picture: Shae Beplate

Mr Ryan said houseboats that didn’t move tended to be more affordable, compared to vessels used for travel.

“Uni students used to buy old houseboats and anchor in the Brisbane River to save money,” he said.

The experienced sailor with decades on the water under his belt, said while living aboard had its upsides, it wasn’t always “sunsets and champagne”.

“We noticed during Covid, a lot of people bought boats and the prices were really high,” he said.

“Once people got on them and realised it wasn’t the easiest life – you do have to know a bit about electronics and mechanics – a lot of boats came back on the market.”

But there were definite upsides.

“It takes me about five minutes to throw the lines off and then I’m out looking at dolphins,” he said.

“And you can move if you don’t like your neighbours.”

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