Why you should buy his houseboat in Port Washington

Sellers. Ricki and Howard Wasserman

Address. 24 Matinecock Ave., Port Washington

Asking price. $134,900

The competition. A smaller, one-bedroom, one-bath houseboat in the area is on the market for $99,000.

Recent sale in the area. A houseboat in the same marina sold for $125,000 in July.

Maintenance. Monthly fee of $925 includes dock and water fees.

Time on the market. Since November

Listing agent. Uri Barkai, Charles Rutenberg Realty, Plainview, 516-575-7500

Why it’s for sale. Ricki, 62, an executive recruiter for a nonprofit, and Howard, 66, a retired community center executive, are planning to move to California to be near their children.

The Wassermans have owned their houseboat since 2009 and use it as a year-round weekend home. The fiberglass and wood vessel, actually a house barge since it has no motor, offers 1,400 square feet of living space. It was built in 1985 and has two bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Howard talks about living onboard:

“The house barge has every creature comfort. It’s roomy, manageable and there’s no snow to shovel . . . and we’ve enjoyed a relaxed lifestyle with family and friends in a picture-postcard setting. . . . The only thing better than living near the water is living on the water.”

Ricki joins the conversation:

This is a very different way of life. It’s waterfront living without the high price of waterfront living. If you can imagine a postcard from New England or the North Shore of Long Island, this is like being in that postcard. . . . We have a view of Manhasset Bay [and the] marinas around us. We have beautiful sunsets and open sky and proximity to a very beautiful park and pool. . . .

"You enter on one level [where there’s a] laundry room, utility closet and a full bathroom. Down a few steps [there is] a small bedroom or study and a full bathroom. The master bedroom has a full-mirrored closet and windows overlooking the water. On the midlevel is the large living room and eat-in kitchen; there’s a deck off the kitchen [with a] propane gas barbecue and a beautiful view of the bay. . . . "The kitchen is fully equipped. . . .

"From the living room or from the deck, you can go up to the top and there is a full deck for entertaining.” There are about 30 houseboats in the immediate area between our marina and the marina next door . . . and the dock is well maintained."