Should you shop only for homes with a pool or should you consider homes that have a yard suitable for adding one later? Pools are a very popular feature for Canadians as when they come down to their Phoenix Area Home to enjoy their vacation/retirement property they typically desire the resort atmosphere of a heated pool surrounded by lush desert landscaping that they can’t possibly get at home up North.
Having a pool is constantly a consideration that Canadian buyers must contemplate because if you only consider homes that already have a pool then you effectively eliminate the majority of available homes!! In the Greater Phoenix Real Estate Area the percentage of homes with a pool represent about 30% of all homes. At any given time there will only be about 10-15 % of available listings that have a pool. Out of those there is a chance that you will find your dream home but there is a good chance that you won’t find the right layout, location and choice of pool location/finishing materials/equipment among any of the choices.
You could do what we did last year when we moved to our current home and also what many Canadians have opted to do……find the right location, floorplan and yard size…aren’t these the most important considerations for purchasing Real Estate anyways? Then get quotes from 3 pool builders for installing a pool in 2 months or so in the best location of your yard and with the right equipment. If you are lucky enough to find the right home that already has a pool then chances are it won’t be heated (as most Phoenicians only use their pool in the summer months and don’t heat them)….chances are it won’t have a variable speed pump (which will pay for itself within one year’s utility expense savings)….chances are it won’t be in the best spot (many locals put the pool right outside the patio doors and if you install fencing to protect children/grandchildren then it will feel like you’re sitting in jail when you’re out on your patio!!)……chance are it might not have the finishing materials that you prefer (like longer lasting pebble-tech vs plaster pool or it won’t have a waterfall feature, etc.
The home that you are going to select is still inexpensive by comparison at today’s prices so… will the additional expense of $25000-35000 to install a pool wreak havoc on the budget? Perhaps not…..certainly something for you to consider when we are doing the preliminary search criteria selections and we do have contact info for you to get a customized and yet affordable quote from local reputable pool builders.
