Buying a home without a pool... (Phoenix, Buckeye: sales, real estate, cheap house)

[skorch101]

I'm curious if anyone knows the cost to put a brand new pool in if we were to purchase a home that didn't have one already? We are seeing some steals on ziprealty right now - 2500 sq ft homes for $80,000???? I guess 2 questions here, not being in PHX right now, are the prices we are seeing real? Some seem too good to be true. Second question would be if we buy that home without a pool, what would the cost be to put a new one in?

Thanks!

[observer53]

Be cautious of homes you see listed on the internet that look too good to be true. Sometimes they are. They may be in a bad area, they may be trashed. I've seen pictures of houses on the internet that when I went to actually look at the house, proved to be out and out deception.

As far as pool installation prices, I'm sure someone else will chime in here, or you can do a search on pools here and find some info.

[skorch101]

Understood on being cautious of what I see online. Let me ask you this then, what is realistic? Looking for a 3-4 br home, 2500-3000 sq ft, decent yard, nice neighborhood, built in the last 5 years. Is $100k realistic? I see a ton online, but like you said, these may not be in great areas. Just curious.

[kdog]

Pools generally run $20K to $70K or more depending on size and features.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by skorch101

Understood on being cautious of what I see online. Let me ask you this then, what is realistic? Looking for a 3-4 br home, 2500-3000 sq ft, decent yard, nice neighborhood, built in the last 5 years. Is $100k realistic? I see a ton online, but like you said, these may not be in great areas. Just curious.

I'd be a bit dubious of any relatively new 3000 sq ft home in a nice neighborhood for 100,000. You might find one, but odds are it will be further out than you want to be, or some other issue. If you have someone here to take a look at homes you find online that interest you, that would help.

[rjrcm]

Originally Posted by skorch101

Understood on being cautious of what I see online. Let me ask you this then, what is realistic? Looking for a 3-4 br home, 2500-3000 sq ft, decent yard, nice neighborhood, built in the last 5 years. Is $100k realistic? I see a ton online, but like you said, these may not be in great areas. Just curious.

Looking at homes $80K-$100K, there are about 80 or so active listings. Most are in outlying areas such as Maricopa, Queen Creek, Buckeye, etc. You need to decide what works for you. Visit the areas, look at commute times if that is a concern, etc.

[LBTRS]

If you really want a pool I would get one already in if you can. A pool will cost $20k (basic small hole in the ground) to $70k for a nicer diving pool. My pool cost $35k and added around $7k to the value of my house.

[gruler]

As LBTRS stated above, pools installation varies greatly. There are so many variables.
There are so many houses on the market right now that if you really want a pool in your new house you will most likely be able to find one that works. Pools will not add much to the purchase price so that should not be a concern. Better to buy one with a pool from a cost point of view. Make sure to check out the areas you are looking to move to. Low priced homes typically are in less desirable areas as far as quality of home, distance to work and other factors. [mod cut] Many times missing copper pipes that were ripped right out of the walls. The average price per square foot in all of Phoenix Metro is just over $100/sqft for regular sales and $67/sqft for distressed property sales. However, in more central zip codes those numbers jump to $150+/sqft and $100+/sqft respectively. So, you have to do your homework so you don't get all excited and end up not finding that screaming deal in the neighborhood you want. I hope this helps. [mod cut-- no realtor advertising or solicitation of business in the forums. Please review the Terms of Service re: realtors]

[azdr0710]

don't forget the first three rules of real estate: location, location, location.....those outlying areas with the cheap houses are, some are saying, tomorrow's slums....there's very little chance for even normal appreciation in those spots, many say....I'd avoid those cookie-cutter subdivisions built since 2000 in the outlying, less-than-great locations....buy a house to live in, not as an investment

rule number 4: you get what you pay for...do not pay $100K for a 2500-3000 sq. ft. place....there's gotta be something wrong

and if you simply must have a pool, definitely buy a house with one already, as others here said....be ready to maintain it yourself or pay >$1500 a year (maybe much more) for somebody to take care of it...some call pools a hole to throw money into

[rjrcm]

Originally Posted by azdr0710

...or pay >$1500 a year (maybe much more) for somebody to take care of it...some call pools a hole to throw money into

That seems a bit steep. I know a service that is about $80/mo for weekly cleaning and chemical adjustment.