yard w/ little shade = pool a necessity? (Mobile, Fairhope: homeowners insurance, new home)

[digs5446]

I'm soon to relocate from freezing Massachusetts, and will be in the market for a 4-5 BR, 2+ bath, 2,500+ sq ft home somewhere from Spanish Fort down to Fairhope, and I really like newer homes (from 2000 on, the newer the better). I've seen a ton of great values online but they are almost all newer subdivions with little to no trees.

Now, I like the heat alot more than I like the cold, but I can imagine that being in the yard from June - September in Alabama could be pretty brutal during the day if you have no shade. If I didn't get a house with a pool, would I pretty much be confined to my A/C'd house?

Personally I love the idea of having a pool to cool off and just lounge in with a beer in hand, but I've heard about the downsides: they raise insurance, are a pain to maintain, can be a hazard to small children, and can make a house harder to sell. Honestly, I think some of those downsides have a Northern bias, since a pool isn't too necessary up here. But I would think it's pretty normal down there, yeah?

I do have to say it makes me nervouse thinking about toddlers. Would I panic if I lost sight of them if there were a pool around? No kids yet, but hopefully soon.

[7spider]

You might want to look into a home that has a community pool, this way you don't have to deal with the higher insurance or maintainance. We are having a new home 4 BR 2 Bath 1755 Sq. Ft. in Lakeland Subdivision in Loxley which is one of the nicer places we've seen. There is a community pool ( small, but nice) and a 40 acre lake you have acess to. There are still some nice lots left, and if there are some trees on the lot you want to save they'll try to do it. If not you can always plant some yourself for shade purposes. The size house your looking for there would probably be less than $250,000. Not sure what your price zone is ,but if your looking for a nice subdivision centrally located from everything drive thru and take a look for yourself, it's located off 59 in Loxley about 4 miles south of I-10, good luck.

[digs5446]

thanks for the suggestions 7spider, I will definitely give that place a drive-by. but honestly we are thinking of somewhere closer to the Bay and not as far east/inland as Loxley. We love the piers and parks around Fairhope and Point Clear and would like to be able to shoot over there often and unplanned, preferably in 10 minutes or less. We will also be making regular trips back and forth to visit family in Mobile so Loxley is a bit further east than we're hoping. But thanks nonetheless.

[7spider]

Originally Posted by digs5446

thanks for the suggestions 7spider, I will definitely give that place a drive-by. but honestly we are thinking of somewhere closer to the Bay and not as far east/inland as Loxley. We love the piers and parks around Fairhope and Point Clear and would like to be able to shoot over there often and unplanned, preferably in 10 minutes or less. We will also be making regular trips back and forth to visit family in Mobile so Loxley is a bit further east than we're hoping. But thanks nonetheless.

No problem, we love the pier and parks in the Fairhope area also. It's less than 15 minutes from Loxley. One very important thing you have to know is the cost and availability of homeowners insurance is very expensive the closer to the bay you are Spanish Fort would probably be a better choice as far as that's concerned. Take your time, ride around and check out everything and keep the home owners ins. in mind and remember an extra 5-10 minute drive can save ya thousands of dollars a year, and anything beats that cold weather up north, I'm from NY, I know.

[digs5446]

Originally Posted by 7spider

No problem, we love the pier and parks in the Fairhope area also. It's less than 15 minutes from Loxley. One very important thing you have to know is the cost and availability of homeowners insurance is very expensive the closer to the bay you are Spanish Fort would probably be a better choice as far as that's concerned. Take your time, ride around and check out everything and keep the home owners ins. in mind and remember an extra 5-10 minute drive can save ya thousands of dollars a year, and anything beats that cold weather up north, I'm from NY, I know.

Wow, I though Loxley was alot further from the Bay, that's good to know. My wife and I have been down there yearly since 2004 (she's from Mobile), and we always stop and load up on fruits and veggies at Burris Market on our way to to beach house! That place is amazing.

I'll have to look more into the insurance issue - I knew rates ahd gone way up closer to the Gulf since that's where the 'canes make landfall, but I wouldn't think the Bay side would have as much of an issue...guess I was wrong.

I had seen others in this forum mention how Sp Fort and anything North of I-10 is much cheaper insurance-wise...I guess it makes sense but I think it's pretty lame if insurers use some arbitrary line like a highway to mark a line between really high insurance and reasonable. Ho hum...

[7spider]

Originally Posted by digs5446

Wow, I though Loxley was alot further from the Bay, that's good to know. My wife and I have been down there yearly since 2004 (she's from Mobile), and we always stop and load up on fruits and veggies at Burris Market on our way to to beach house! That place is amazing.

I'll have to look more into the insurance issue - I knew rates ahd gone way up closer to the Gulf since that's where the 'canes make landfall, but I wouldn't think the Bay side would have as much of an issue...guess I was wrong.

I had seen others in this forum mention how Sp Fort and anything North of I-10 is much cheaper insurance-wise...I guess it makes sense but I think it's pretty lame if insurers use some arbitrary line like a highway to mark a line between really high insurance and reasonable. Ho hum...

Lakeland subdivision is about 2 miles past Burris Farmers MKT. on the right side of the road heading south. From the quotes we've gotten on insurance the rates are not bad in that area, but like I said before go a little further south towards the gulf or west towards the bay and it jumps big time. Good thing about Loxley is you'd be near I-10, so getting to Mobile would be a breeze, from Fairhope it would take ya a while longer. Happy house hunting, I'm sure you'll find what ya like, and be enjoying that beer in your backyard.

[southernnaturelover]

Wouldn't hurt to look in Wakefield, the houses there seem to have more trees IMO.

[7spider]

Try to avoid any property that has " Popcorn Trees" on it, I've heard horror stories about what a mess they are to deal with, nothing wrong with planting your own ( nice trees) and watch em grow and put em where you want them.

[unstoppablemobile]

I had a pool, and even with Alabama Power (God help you if your electric company is a co-op!) my electric bill for a 3/2 1200 sq ft home from March to the end of October was a MINIMUM of $550 (and just me and the wife) We filled it in, and PRESTO! The most our electric bill got, was $148 the following June. If you have the money to burn.. then by all means indulge. But the reality is that pools are a LUXURY and do take money and time to maintain. If your not up for it, dont do it... do like I do.. use others pools or the beach!

[unstoppablemobile]

Originally Posted by 7spider

Try to avoid any property that has " Popcorn Trees" on it, I've heard horror stories about what a mess they are to deal with, nothing wrong with planting your own ( nice trees) and watch em grow and put em where you want them.

Oh god yes, amen! THe roots are invasive and the popcorn pieces off the trees stain any surface fast.