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We bought a house in FL with the intention of putting a pool in at some point. We probably over paid (last Aug 08) considering the property values in FL have gone lower and lower. Assuming we could even get a pool loan (or if the appraisal would allow) would it be totally stupid to put in a pool right now? We have ever intention of staying in the house for a long time, but no one ever knows what could happen. I guess we would only move if something drastic happened. We can afford the payments of a pool but I don't know if we can "afford" to upgrade a house in the falling market. Does anyone have any opinions on this?
If you are going to stay in the house, and it is something you are going to enjoy. Of course you should. Be prepared not to get the money back if you need to sell it. Don't deprive yourself of something you will really enjoy. That seems stupid.
If you can afford it, then do it. Just my opinion.
You will never get your money back on a pool. Put one in if you like but don't count on ever getting the money back for it. I wouldn't borrow money though. JMHO having put in a pool and selling my house in a seller's market back in 1998. I paid cash for the pool. Sure we enjoyed the pool for 4 years and would probably do it again but even in a sellers market where we sold our house in two weeks time we still didn't get anything back for the pool. That house was in El paso, texas where you almost have to have a pool in that price range to sell your house.
You have every intention of staying in the home and that was your plan all along..to put in a pool. Pricing for pools are very good right now...negotiate heavily...and enjoy!
I think house pools will become a thing of the past soon, with all of the water shortages we are having and will be having. Guess that means only the extremely wealthy will be able to afford the water and electric bills to have one. I think Atlanta recently banned filling your pool due to the water problems there. Sign of the times (and the future).
And I just noticed that you are in Florida. Florida has a SEVERE water problem; the aquifer is in dire straits. Water bills are going to skyrocket there, and restrictions will be heavy. I would look into that before putting one in in Fla.
They should go out of fashion there, if Floridians want to have a stable water supply. I actually LOVE pools and would love to have one myself, but the facts are the facts. My parents in Miami Beach have one, and I love it. They are kinda sick of it now. And are increasingly sick of the expenses associated with it. Then again, they fill it with free well water. They don't have to pay for the water! I can't imagine how much they would complain if they had to pay for the water to fill it!
The FLA govt. is now trying to convince people not to plant grass (st augustine or otherwise), because it consumes too much water. They want people to have native shrubs etc. b/c of the drought, water crisis there. I can't imagine that pools would not be the next target........
Last edited by saltzman143; 04-03-2009 at 05:56 PM..
I agree. If you want a pool put one in. Use it and enjoy it.
There are buyers who will avoid houses with pools and those who will seek them out. The market can't fall forever, eventually it will come back up.
We bought a house approximately a year ago.....we were looking at new homes and homes in nice developments.....some had pools. We looked at some with in-ground pools but decided that was more maintanence than we were interested in. Also we were buying in the northeast and the season is short, and we are retirement age....sooooo a pool was a no go for us. Now a fancy deck or patio would be a very definate positive.
I agree.....for some a pool may be an attraction and for some it is a negative....You should do what suits you and your family....and hopefully stay put and enjoy it.
As a Fl. home owner with a 20x40 inground, well it was nice the first few yrs and now no one uses it. It cost over 400 bucks to fill, and money every month for it to sit. The place is now for sale, no one wants the pool, potential buyer decided against this place because of it. I will not get any return on it. If you are putting it in to entertain the kids, like I did, they grow up and head to the beach. If you are an avid swimmer then go for it. Taking a loan out, personally I wouldn't just because of the unknown right now.
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