If you are someone interested in buying a houseboat then you probably have already had some experience in buying a car, home or both. For the majority of us we will most likely be in need of a loan to purchase something of this magnitude. What you could find difficult is that many bank lending institutions may not be too eager to lend funds for something like this. This of course does not mean that you will not find a lender it just means you may not find it as easy as you would borrowing money for a home or car.

If you only want to use your house boat for holidays instead of using it as a permanent residence another option for you could be to invest with other investors with all of you putting in a smaller amount of money and then share the use of the boat. Many people do it this way because lenders are happier to lend smaller amounts for things like this.

Whether you wish to live on your boat or use it for holidays you will still have to moor it somewhere. So, you will need to do your homework beforehand to figure out a good secure place plus work out how much it will cost to do so. These places and costs can vary dramatically. It is no good spending your last dollar on buying a houseboat just to find that you cannot afford to moor it somewhere.

Another important thing to do before buying one is to take a good look at other house boats to get an idea of what to expect. Make a list of what things you would prefer to have in one and stick to your list. Check out what these house boats are worth new and second hand so you have a fair idea of what a good price should be when you start looking to buy. You don't want to get ripped off.

Another bit of advice is to always take along someone who has good knowledge about these boats so they can pick up on the things that maybe you will not notice. You don't want to buy one and then realize that perhaps it was not all it was cracked up to be. And most importantly make sure it is sea worthy!

Once you have bought your house boat and have somewhere secure to moor it and can also afford the fees then it is time to sit back and enjoy either living or holidaying on water. What a wonderful existence?