Why did new pool price increase so much? (permits, builders)

[greatpaul]

Originally Posted by txfriend

That’s amazing you picked the perfect location. I purchased my new construction Plano house in 1983. 3200 sqft, corner lot, one story for $250K. Added a pool the same year for $25K. The pool has been updated twice for approx $12K to $15K each time. The house has also been updated. It's located in west Plano and built as custom. Zillow is pricing the house at $550K. That's no problem, it’s not for sale.

A pool in 1983 was certainly a luxury feature, so does 3200 sqft house in 1983. Back then most houses in DFW had only one car garage and probably around 1800-2500 sqft low ceiling single story.

[txfriend]

Originally Posted by greatpaul

A pool in 1983 was certainly a luxury feature, so does 3200 sqft house in 1983. Back then most houses in DFW had only one car garage and probably around 1800-2500 sqft low ceiling single story.

Also, the interest rate was 16.5% at that time.

[Wittgenstein's Ghost]

Why are you guys talking so much about housing prices? Pool construction costs have nothing to do with housing prices.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by greatpaul

This is NOT about the surge of demand due to pandemic.

Recently talking to a friend who built a pool in 2005, a good sized 18x36 pool with SPA and other stand features, only costed him 25K. His Colleyville house was valued at 400K back then, so a new pool was 6.5% of house value.

He moved to Keller in 2019 and quotes on a new pool, similar as he did in 2005, were typically at 70-80K range. Housing price in DFW didn't go up by 3 times from 2005 to 2019. Not even doubled. What's driving up the cost so much in the same period?

I told him probably so many pool companies went out of business in the last recession and with less competition, that's how it works. But honest I don't know if that's right answer.

I think your 2005 number is off, the pool was hyper-spartan or the guy drove the best deal of all time.

We built a fairly bare bones pool, no spa, mediocre equipment in Plano 1995 - 22,500 gallons/$31,500

We moved into a bigger home in 1999 and built a much nicer pool and spa also in Plano - 29,000 gallons $48,200.

We built a still nicer but smaller pool/spa/top notch equipment/flagstone etc. in Dallas in 2011 - 16,500 gallons $71,500.

[txfriend]

Originally Posted by greatpaul

This is NOT about the surge of demand due to pandemic.

Recently talking to a friend who built a pool in 2005, a good sized 18x36 pool with SPA and other stand features, only costed him 25K. His Colleyville house was valued at 400K back then, so a new pool was 6.5% of house value.

He moved to Keller in 2019 and quotes on a new pool, similar as he did in 2005, were typically at 70-80K range. Housing price in DFW didn't go up by 3 times from 2005 to 2019. Not even doubled. What's driving up the cost so much in the same period?

I told him probably so many pool companies went out of business in the last recession and with less competition, that's how it works. But honest I don't know if that's right answer.

A pool today is not like my 40-year-old pool. The equipment cost alone has dramatically increased. Some municipalities will not allow a DE filter system any longer. Today, the filtration, pool and sweep motors, pumps, sweep, heater, diving board, and spa are the price of my pool. The first pool that I had built in 1978 at another house in Plano was $15K, also with a spa, the cost would be 30% of the original house purchase price and 12% at the sale. Construction cost has increased the same as a house. My 1983 pool is 30K gal with a spa, came with a 3 hp pump, and 1 hp sweep, 400k BTU heater and diving board, 72 sq ft stainless DE filter for $25k or 10% of house value, and the contractor was a friend and neighbor.

Pic of the original pool before two renovations. The diving board at right out of the scene, as are the entry steps at the left.

[hbdwihdh378y9]

Originally Posted by kayanne

I don't know the answer, but I just had a company give me a quote for a pool in TN, and he said $250K to $300K! (Granted, that included about $20K to excavate the diving pool we currently have, because I want to replace it with a shallower pool, but still!...)

Sorry, but I don't believe you.

[txfriend]

$25,000 in 1983 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $69k today. So prices today may not be that much out of line.

[Soccernerd]

We have the annual family membership to the Frisco Athletic Center. It’s not private, and we have to drive to it. However, it beats having a pool.

[Rakin]

Originally Posted by Soccernerd

We have the annual family membership to the Frisco Athletic Center. It’s not private, and we have to drive to it. However, it beats having a pool.

Can you swim Nekkid in the Center Pool ?? How about screaming kids peeing in the pool? Can you swim at 2am on a hot summer night?

I can in my private backyard pool and no kids unless it's family.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by Rakin

Can you swim Nekkid in the Center Pool ?? How about screaming kids peeing in the pool? Can you swim at 2am on a hot summer night?

I can in my private backyard pool and no kids unless it's family.

+1. I'll pay the premium for my own pool. Given how few people know how - or will not put in the requisite effort - to manage pool chems. well being a key factor. Our pool being a few feet out the backdoor is a another.