Adding a Pool to Your Luxury Home

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Buying an in-ground pool for your custom home should be a well-informed investment to provide your family with summer fun and leisure for years to come. Don’t buy just any pool, as an inexperienced buyer can easily waste thousands of dollars on an inferior product. A quality pool is a hallmark of the luxury home, buy the best in-ground pool possible by following these tips.

A pool has become kind of a status symbol for the luxury homeowner because of their rarity and expense in past decades. Because of this, pools have become a hot commodity and a strong selling point in the real estate market. However, buyers are spending far too much on purchasing a home with a pool, especially when their own custom home can feature an in-ground pool installation that will be far cheaper than the price a pool adds to a luxury home on the real estate market.

The first step to an in-ground pool installation is planning. Firstly, take into account any children or pets that may reside in your house. An in-ground pool may pose as a safety hazard to a younger child; however, a pool could be the ultimate family gift for an older child who can assist with the maintenance. This consideration is highly dependent on the household in question; but is a deal maker or breaker.

Next comes hiring the contractor to install the pool. The installation is difficult cost to gauge. Quality goes a long way in terms of price for an in-ground pool, but generally you’re going to be starting at least $20,000 for a premade design with the price increasing for customization and expansion.

Never sign a contract with the first contractor that you speak to. Shop around and read reviews, even ask to see some of their completed projects. A pool is a huge investment, shopping around is going to make you a more informed buyer and ensure that you are getting the custom product that you are paying so much for. Good rules to follow are declining to sign a down payment until the contract is written and signed, and choosing a contractor who is a member of a trade organization such as the National Spa and Pool Institute.

Choosing the pool liner is the final big step before construction can begin. Gunite is a mixture of sand and cement that is a strong support structure for a pool. Surprisingly easy to patch up, and highly durable, gunite may be the best choice for a built-to-last pool liner. For a less expensive option, a vinyl liner is cheaper but will need to be replaced after 10 or so years of use. Also, when painting the inside of a pool remember that dark colors will act as a natural heating source but fade quickly, while lighter colors will last but provide no additional warmth.

A luxury home can potentially increase its value with a pool, but this does not mean you should buy any hole with water in it. Make a well thought out, cost conscious decision and buy the best pool for your custom home possible.

The Best Time to Buy a New Home In Texas is Now!

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A vibrant economy, record-low mortgage rates and a solid housing market are making now a better time than ever to invest in a new home in Texas. Known for its affordable cost of living and appealing housing selection, Texas remains one of the nation’s bright spots in the national economy.

Texas is still outperforming the nation in terms of job availability, affordable housing and diversity of industry. Consumers have a number of advantages when considering purchasing a new home in Texas– inviting interest rates, outstanding builders, and a choice of prime locations, appealing prices and a market that is still considered among the most stable in the country.

Recently, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have fallen below 5 percent, making home ownership even more attainable and appealing for those who have been considering this investment. Many consumers who have been in the market for a while realize that the interest rates have remained favorable for quite some time, however, when comparing current interest rates which have fallen far below rates that have been available for a while, the difference in monthly payment is significant.

Take a new home valued at $175,000 for example. A buyer who secures an interest rate of 6.5 percent will have a monthly mortgage payment of about $1,106 per month, principle and interest. That same mortgage financed at 4.5 percent would drop to $887 per month. For more information on the details of this example and to find out the latest interest rates and mortgage programs for new homes, check out the financing tab.

Now more than ever, consumers want to be assured that the home they purchase and the community in which they choose to live are backed by experienced, solid builders and developers – those who have been in the market for a while and plan to remain here long into the future.

Coventry Homes is one of those builders. Building across Texas, Coventry Homes is one of the market’s most respected and successful home builders – earning local, state and national recognition for its solid construction, innovative product design and customer service.

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Adding a Pool to Your Luxury Home

The Best Time to Buy a New Home In Texas is Now!