A backyard pool with clear blue water, stone steps leading into the pool, a small waterfall feature, and surrounding landscaping. A hot tub is visible to the right. A fence encloses the area.

Is Buying an Inground Swimming Pool a Good Investment?

Factors to Consider Before Buying Your Pool

One of the questions on the minds of prospective pool buyers is “Is this a good investment?” The answer to that is complicated and depends on a number of factors. First off, the most important thing to consider is that adding a pool will give your family a lot more options for entertaining and recreation without leaving home. Not all decisions are strictly financial. That being said, what really goes into what type of return you will get?

Appraisers will regularly throw out some percentage of the pool price that you can expect to get back when you sell. The problem with that is that they are working off of an average. In reality, it really depends who the buyer is, whether or not they want a pool, where you live and how much you spend on the pool relative to your home value.

If you put a $100,000 pool in the yard of a $300,000 home and you live in Wisconsin, you probably won’t get a great return, percentage-wise. However, if you put a $50,000 pool in the yard of a $500,000 home in Florida you’ll probably do pretty well for yourself. When it comes right down to it, a potential buyer looking at your home with a pool and the same home without a pool knows that if they want a pool they have to pay for it one way or another. To that buyer you might see close to 100% return. If they don’t want a pool then they’ll buy the house without it anyways.

Other factors to look at as you price out the pool are things like heaters, solar, salt vs chlorine, gunite (concrete) vs vinyl or fiberglass. These are all personal preference and depend on your budget and also your climate. A good heating system will extend your swimming season by a couple of months on each end and to a lot of people that’s very important.

Nowadays there are more options than we could even mention. That’s why it’s very important to work with a builder that’s reputable and up to date on all of the latest technology.

When it’s all said and done, buy the pool because you want the pool and as long as you don’t overdo it, you’ll definitely get years of enjoyment and also a decent return when you go to sell. Be smart, do your research and choose wisely.

Disclaimer:

This blog is based on information available at the time of publishing and for the purpose of sharing information with the public related to swimming pools and projects that can be financed through Viking Capital. Although we strive to be complete and accurate, it is not information that is verified or maintained. It should not be relied upon for making financial decisions. An investment such as a swimming pool is significant. Viking Capital recommends consulting with a financial professional regarding your financing decisions and with pool professionals regarding pool options. To learn what financing options are available for you today, please apply with Viking Capital and you’ll receive your free loan consultation. Click Here to Apply.

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Kevin McCall

Kevin brings 20 years of hands-on leadership to the blog, where he shares what he’s learned about managing money and navigating credit. He’s always looking for ways to improve how Viking Capital works with homeowners, ensuring the loan process is as smooth as possible. For Kevin, it’s all about looking forward and making sure we’re always doing our best work for the people we serve.

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Outdoor patio with a wooden pergola, wicker chairs, a stone bench with a fire feature, and a dining table. A grill is in the background, and a pool is partially visible.
A backyard with a swimming pool, patio furniture under a red canopy, and a two-story house in the background, during dusk.
A rectangular swimming pool beside a stone wall, with a wooden pergola and lounge chairs on one side and a grassy area with palm trees on the other.
Outdoor patio with a barbecue grill, wooden cabinets, and a countertop. A pool and palm trees are visible in the background under a clear sky.

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