Saturday, September 20, 2014

Sleepless in Seattle houseboat fetches over $2 million

Tom Hanks's houseboat in Sleepless in Seattle
Sleepless in Seattle houseboat
Floating near the west shore of Lake union is 2460 Westlake Ave North, better known as Sam Baldwin's houseboat in the 1993 romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

The home recently went on the market and offered the rare possibility to own a piece of Hollywood history. The previous owner held onto the property for over 21 years before looking to cash out.

On a recent afternoon, I decided to kayak to the home to see it up close. The houseboat is one of the largest on Lake Union with over 2,200 sq. ft of space and features unobstructed views of the water and the Seattle skyline. Directly out front, a steady stream of paddle boarders, kayakers, and boats cruise by for a glimpse of the famous home. During the busy summer tourist season, Ride the Ducks tours join the procession. The buzz of propeller engines from Kenmore Air seaplanes, which ferry passengers between Seattle, the San Juan Islands, Victoria Island, and other cities around the pacific northwest, occasionally interrupt the calming sound of the waves.

Unfortunately, I was unable to see the house inside when I visited since viewings were tightly controlled. With an open house, who wouldn't want to visit?  Having a famous house attracts not only potential buyers but also throngs of avid fans of the film.  I was able to cruise around the exterior, which appeared just like I remembered in the movie.

According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, the home recently sold for over $2 million to a tech executive in the Seattle area to use as a vacation home. A house warming party with a viewing of Sleepless in Seattle seems like a great idea.
Side view of the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat
View of Seattle skyline from the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat
View of the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat
The Sleepless in Seattle houseboat floats near the western shore of Lake Union in Seattle, WA