Help!!! How important is a community pool? (Houston, Howe: how much, new house)

[Kathryn2378]

We're considering building a David Weekley home in Pine Forest Green but one drawback is the lack of community amenities, including a pool. Is this huge potential negative for resale? We have an oversized lot so there would be room for a pool should we, or a future owner, want to add one.

We also looked at the adjacent Lakes of Pine Forest, which has a pool and faux lakes, and where Pioneer and Beazer are building. We aren't as confident about using them as our builder. Also, they include far less in their standard features.

We teach in Cypress yet attend church and have family in the city so this area is a good location for us. We're also considering resales in Deerfield or Copperfield. Our budget is only 170,000 so our options are limited.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

[Supermac34]

I wouldn't let the inclusion of a pool or not greatly impact your decision. How often do you use a community pool? Do you have kids at the age where they would use it, and how much longer are they at that age?

While it may be a plus for the community to have such amenities, the MOST important thing is the home itself and the location.

However, if the homes are basially the same and the location difference is basically the same, maybe the other neighborhood with the lakes and pool is better.

How are the other factors? Lot size, landscaping, home styles, etc between the two places.

Look at it this way. Champion Forest is a well respected neighborhood with nice houses, but they do not have a neighborhood pool or amenties. Memorial Northwest, while a decent neighborhood, has those amenities, but the homes are not as nice and the prices reflect that.

[ZeroTX]

Wow, you're both teachers and you're able to afford building a new house? My wife is a teacher and our combined salaries had us looking in the low 100's for a house, not the 200+ they are wanting for new construction these days.

[blancspons]

It's such a personal preference... I know no pool for us was a deal breaker... it just depends. Location is probably the most important thing still.

[ZeroTX]

Oh, I will add that my wife and I in our home search did not rule out communities without pools, but they were less desirable as we hope to have kids and have them learn to swim at the community pool.

On the other hand, I told my wife that the community pool always just seems jam-packed and that I'd rather have the kids learn to swim from a professional with their own pool (which is how I learned as a kid, we had no community pool). Also, some CITIES have their own pools, so your community pool isn't the only place to go. I guess the city pool thing never took off in Houston. Too big. It's common in small cities, but I guess it's growing less common.

[tstone]

Two teachers making 45k each should be able to afford a 170k house as long as other debts are low, and stay low. The problem is when babies come around, one income wouldn't be able to go away for too long.

[ZeroTX]

Yep, babies, surgery, personal illness, family emergencies, there's any number of reasons that one of the spouses could be out of work for some period of time.

[Kathryn2378]

Thanks for the replies.

As far as our ability to purchase a new home, we have no debt and been saving for a long time.

[Supermac34]

I like how people are setting the OPs budget for a house. Nobody has any idea their true income, how much they have saved, if they have family money, etc.

Let them buy what they feel they can afford.

Have you considered an older home in an established neighborhood that may have its own pool?

[Kathryn2378]

Thanks to the last poster! No family money here but we follow Dave Ramsey's plan and have saved for this for awhile. And yes, I guess a more established neighborhood might be better... We sure do like the tax rate in Deerfield and have heard really nice things about that community. Thoughts?