The Gold Coast of Australia is soon to be afloat with apartments, thanks to a houseboat building company that has identified a gap in the property market.
The company, called Havana Houseboats, has just launched floating apartments, which are set to bring a whole new perspective to one of the country's most beautiful areas.
A gap arose in the real estate market for this interesting range of apartments as living on the water in houseboats is very appealing, particularly during the summer months but houseboats can also be very expensive to maintain. Often initial prices of houseboats can seem more reasonable than standard house prices, however, there are unforeseen costs for mooring and maintenance that people don't often expect.
Managing director of Havana Houseboats, Matt Duncan identified this problem and said that he sought to make on-the-water living affordable for a larger group of people.
Speaking on the splash of new apartments Mr Duncan said: "A lot of people who buy houseboats don't use them for recreational use, so the idea for these apartments is to allow people to live on the water."
He continued on to say that on average, people could save half the amount of money it would cost to get a houseboat; a significant amount.
These apartments are also advertised as real estate, which makes them stand out from standard houseboats as they fall under a completely different category.
There are two designs to choose from in the floating apartments, which are either a one or two-bedroom option and prices start from $195,000 (£95,000) for the one-bedroom version.
The architecture itself features floor-to-ceiling glass walls, which allow buyers to appreciate unspoiled views of the Gold Coast.
These apartments are suitable for any kind of buyer and are expected to be very popular, but Mr Duncan feels that it is retirees who will be a large part of the buyer market, due to the peaceful area and unobstructed views of the area.
