pool or not to pool (Dallas, Atlanta: buying a house, neighborhood, buying)

[tulanetuscan]

resale in dfw is better with pool or without pool?

[momof2dfw]

Depends on the price point and location. Too many variables to say one way or the other.

[tulanetuscan]

friso, plano or allen in 400's

[TurtleCreek80]

Pools are interesting. People have strong feelings about them- wanting them vs not wanting them. Rarely is a buyer "undecided" about having a pool.

If you want one, buy a home with one. When you sell, there will be enough other pool fanatics to sell to......as long as you buy in a good location to begin with. Location & schools are a far more important selling factor than a pool.

[mami2emily]

Seems like there are LOTS of homes in Dallas with pools...at least when I compare it to homes in Atlanta where I currently live.

Today we closed on a home in Dallas with a pool. My kids are older and have always wanted one so it was a criteria for us. My non-swimmer husband, who has never even been to the community pool in our current neighborhood, felt the need to take a quick dip in our new pool after the closing. . Time will tell if it affects our resale down the road, but it was definitely what we were looking for.

At the moment I am merely an outsider looking at the Dallas market. But I can't imagine it being too much of a drawback in the DFW given the Texas summers and mild winters.

[Big G]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Pools are interesting. People have strong feelings about them- wanting them vs not wanting them. Rarely is a buyer "undecided" about having a pool.

Very true. My wife has bad memories of endlessly performing pool maintenance growing up, so she had ZERO interest in any house with a pool when we relocated to DFW.

When we upgraded to a larger house a few years back, one of the factors driving us to a new build was the limited availability of existing houses without pools at our chosen price point. So we were clearly in the minority. That didn't change the fact that we simply were NOT going to buy a house with a pool. You see refreshing dips in the evening, I see broken pumps and monthly cleaning bills.

Will the lack of a pool bite me at resale time? Maybe, but my anticipated horizon for moving is so far out that any pool I might have installed would be breaking down by then.

[Plano Guru]

this is dfw so weather dictates pool as a plus. 80% luxury and sub-luxury buyers demand a pool. maintainance is not that expensive or difficult and buying a house with a pool is way ecnomical than getting one but people do it all the time. story is different for lower end homes.

[ufcrules1]

Originally Posted by Big G

Very true. My wife has bad memories of endlessly performing pool maintenance growing up, so she had ZERO interest in any house with a pool when we relocated to DFW.

When we upgraded to a larger house a few years back, one of the factors driving us to a new build was the limited availability of existing houses without pools at our chosen price point. So we were clearly in the minority. That didn't change the fact that we simply were NOT going to buy a house with a pool. You see refreshing dips in the evening, I see broken pumps and monthly cleaning bills.

Will the lack of a pool bite me at resale time? Maybe, but my anticipated horizon for moving is so far out that any pool I might have installed would be breaking down by then.

I'm in the same boat with you. Most of our friends that have pools RARELY use them, they get bored with them. They tell us to come and use them anytime we want.. and we do.. but we would never want one. $150- $200 per month having it cleaned? No thanks. Broken pumps and higher water bills, no thanks. Pools are over rated in my opinion.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by ufcrules1

I'm in the same boat with you. Most of our friends that have pools RARELY use them, they get bored with them. They tell us to come and use them anytime we want.. and we do.. but we would never want one. $150- $200 per month having it cleaned? No thanks. Broken pumps and higher water bills, no thanks. Pools are over rated in my opinion.

Count me in the anti-pool crowd, too. DH and I have no children, and when we bought, we specifically told our Realtor NO POOLS! Instead, our backyard has a wonderful covered patio/deck for relaxing and grilling. Incedentally, our next-door neighbors have a pool, and they might use it 4 times a year...

[PlanoGirl]

I think it can be a good selling point to have a "pool-sized yard", regardless of whether a pool is already in it or not. That way, the option is there to add one later for those who really want one.