My wife and I are actively looking for our first home... I kinda want a house with a pool while my wife states that it's just too much maintenance.

I sort of agree, except I have nothing to base it off on. Anybody have experience in this area and know what they're talking about? How much are you spending on a mid sized pool for maintenance?

To compromise, I was thinking perhaps we should get one near a lake instead (not too close, but close enough to need to walk 5 mins from the backyard to the lake)... how about mosquitos infestations in those type of properties?

What say you experienced folks?

Why not a pool in a subdivision?? You could also join a healthclub with a pool,the YMCA,or a community pool if one is around.

You could also purchase a house NEXT TO a house with a pool and mooch of your next door neighbors. Use the pool with no maintenance:)

With a lake you have to know the restrictive uses and who has access. Being a certain distance away and close to you does not mean you have access or you will be able to use it for your intended purposes.

good luck

My wife wanted to move and find a house with a pool. I think they are to much maintence. We bought one of theose bid inflatable pools with the pump. I set it up and she agreed to maintain it. It was alot of work and with kids' schedule our schedule, we rarely got to use it and was constantly maintaining it.

We ended up taking it down and giving it to my father inlaw, he has more time to deal with it. So we get to swim without the hassle of caring for it.

As far as the lake I won't swim in anywater that is not have chlorine or that may contain a fish. Thats just me though.

I had a client that bought a home with a pool and did not maintain it well. She spent a lot of money to get it back in shape to use again. After going through that process I decided that I would never buy a home with a pool.

I feel that the cost to maintain a pool is as much or more than you would spend paying HOA dues in a subdivision with a pool and no maintanence from me. I also like the idea of the membership to some place that has a pool.

I agree with the rest of the comments...pool comes with maintenance + higher property insurance. If I have a client absolutely wants pool I recommend neighborhood with pool or get membership.

Pools can be great, but can create tougher a tougher resale of the property. In addition, there are maintenance issues as well.

Really, it comes down to personal preference. If a buyer wants a pool, I tell them to go for it. Just know the above mentioned "cons" that one may experience.

Hope this helps!

You can always pay a pool maintenance company to come out periodically if you don't want to do it yourself.

Having owned a pool for over 25 years I can tell you that todays pools are much easier to maintain and do not take nearly as long. I think one thing to consider is if you have children and you are buying a house with a pool with them in mind, they do grow up and somewhere around the later part of high school they probably will lose interest in the pool. Then you will be left alone to enjoy the pool(or not).

LOL, my experience exactly. Have it all to myself . Pool maintenance can be easy if you have the right equipement. I have a saltwater pool that generates it's own chlorine. I just have to clean the filter once a week, add acid every so often and skim when leaves blow in. Could also hire a service. But pools are common in Phoenix area, so most people expect them and understand how to deal with them.

Pool maintenance can vary from season to season depending on the amount of rain you get and how hot the temperatures are. The greatest thing to have is an utomatic pool cleaner, just hook it up and it does all the work for you.

Depends on where you live. If you live some place warm year round, I think a pool is nice. If you live somewhere in the midwest for example there are only a few good months to really take advantage of the pool. For me and pools, it is all about location.

My brother lives in the midwest and loves his pool. Heating the pool adds about 2 months to the season, and adding a hottub to the mix makes it longer yet. Some folks are willing to put up with the hassle for four to six glorius months of taking a dip anytime they want. To each his own. . .