The primary aim of this research is to investigate the difference between a floating home as real property and a houseboat as a vessel. The secondary goal is to answer the question whether or not it is at all possible that a floating home is defined as real property in countries with different legal systems, with primary attention given to the countries with civil law systems. The floating home concept in civil law system countries consists of an underwater parcel of land and a boat which has been built according to the building legislation of the country in which it is located. Thus, floating homes are neither “boats” nor “land fixtures”. On occasion, houseboats or barges are described to be floating homes even though they are generally licensed vessels or boats. The research concludes that the concept of floating homes is still ‘under construction’ i.e. in the developmental stage and is to be determined jointly within the fields of territorial city planning, real property law, civil engineering and architecture.