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Old 03-19-2008, 03:45 PM
 
5 posts, read 16,826 times
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My family (myself, my wife and my two girls, 9 and 6) are planning to move to Austin/RR or Georgetown but the houses we have looked at in the 200-250k range never seem to have any swimming pools built in? There are a few but not as many as I would have thought given the awesome weather, HEAT!
Can anyone lend a hand in the why's? Thanks in advance!
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Old 03-19-2008, 04:08 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
15,269 posts, read 35,650,196 times
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In a word - rock......do a forum search on swimming pools.....
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Old 03-19-2008, 04:08 PM
 
Location: Central Texas
20,958 posts, read 45,420,086 times
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Barton Springs? Lakes?

Seriously, some areas have rock close enough below the soil that it's very expensive to build a pool. A lot of communities have their own community pool and people would rather preserve their back yard space. Lots of reasons, really.

That being said, a quick search using only your price criteria ($250,000 or less) and Georgetown/Round Rock areas turned up 26 homes with pools (didn't check for in ground or above ground pool type).
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Old 03-19-2008, 04:12 PM
 
10,130 posts, read 19,885,842 times
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Probably because builders hardly ever put in a pool.. they are almost all aftermarket installed by owners, correct? That being the case, I'd expect them to be somewhat more rare in very new communities... and perhaps the credit crunch adds to that. People are paying so much for their housing payment, they aren't as willing take on additional debt for a pool.

Not sure if that is what is happening, though... I guess the pool industry would be complaining if it were, and I don't hear much about that.
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Old 03-19-2008, 04:24 PM
 
Location: Lettuce Land
681 posts, read 2,913,771 times
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Apparently in many areas expensive blasting is required to facilitate in-ground installation, seriously driving up the cost, etc. etc. 'Nuff said?
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Old 03-19-2008, 09:02 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
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A typical nice but normal in ground pool in the rock area probably costs ~$40,000 - $50,000.
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Old 03-20-2008, 08:33 AM
 
Location: Up in a cedar tree.
1,618 posts, read 6,618,273 times
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Trust me; I know it's pretty weird, huh? IMHO, pools should be standard in every house in Austin

I used to own 4 boats and 2 Jet Ski’s in the past.
I decided in 2006 to sell off my previous boat, which was a 22' FourWinns Deck Boat and build a pool.
As much as I love the Highland Lakes and enjoyed tubing, water skiing and just anchor the boat out either at Devil's Cove or any coves, I just felt it was getting too much to operate and service. To top it off boat ramp fees were getting up in price and then all the idiots that cannot back up or trailer-up a boat @ the boat ramp just took up so much time away. Then it would cost me about $140.00 to fill up a 50-gallon gas tank @ the pumps. Boats, which average get about 3mpg-6mpg is not cheap to play with, then doing it every summer weekend is very expensive. Cleaning and storing them was also no fun! It was getting very frustrating overall!

Since we sold it, we got our pool installed and then educating myself about pool cleaning and chemicals. I have been in total shock of how high the bacteria levels are at in the lakes. Trust me, it's off the charts! By saying that; go w/ a pool. It's nice to have lakes and it's beautiful and all but now that I own a pool I will never jump in that crusty, nasty water @ our lakes!
Coming out of my pool, I know I am safe, it’s clean and my family smiles are still there!
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Old 03-20-2008, 08:45 AM
 
Location: Central Texas
20,958 posts, read 45,420,086 times
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You're reminding me of when my sister (12 years older) was a toddler and my mother found her eating dirt. She rushed her to the doctor, who examined her, and then said, "Hmmm, must be something in it she needs." So when I came along, was a toddler (living at a church camp with an 80 acre lake) and started eating dirt, she just shrugged.

Recent studies have shown that children who grow up in extremely clean environments (using all the antibacterial "stuff" availbale now, etc.) have twice the incidence of childhood illnesses and allergies as children who grow up on farms. (And, as the researchers said regarding the microscopic examination of bedding, regarding the bedding of farm children, "You don't want to know what we found on the sheets!")

So, a high bacteria count is not necessarily all bad. Seems our immune system needs something to work with to develop itself properly (think training so you'll be in shape for the marathon).
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Old 03-20-2008, 08:57 AM
 
347 posts, read 1,567,777 times
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A lot of neighborhoods have nice pools, too. I can't really justify putting one in when I can walk two blocks away and use one for free (well, not exactly free, but you know what I mean.)
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Old 03-20-2008, 08:59 AM
 
Location: Up in a cedar tree.
1,618 posts, read 6,618,273 times
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I still remember the times when we knew people w/ tied up w/ at Devils Cove and they would say" Ok, times to get back into the water and take a leak"; yuck!!

Now I know why the water was much warmer in the coves :P
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