I just replied to someone in DFW about vinyl pools (see a bit further down). I think gunite is the way to go. I was in the research state a couple of months ago (waiting on dig date right now) and I was considering vinyl too, but given that practically all pool builders use gunite in Texas it was an easy decision.

I'd say stay away from national franchisees like Blue Haven Pools and get at least 3 quotes from other pool builders. The cheapest is not neccessarily the best way to go. A basic "play pool" price is in the lower $20s a basic diving pool is in the upper $20s in DFW. Basic play pool means 80ft perimiter 400 sq ft area 3-5-4 design, white plaster, brick bullnose coping, 450 sq ft of aggregate decking, DE filter, pump, manual timer box, 1 500W light, easy access with a backhoe and dump trucks to the property, no landscaping, no sprinkler system re-route, no utility re-route. This is a basic play pool. Basic diving pool is a bit longer and goes to 8-9ft depth, otherwise the same amenities.

Expected build time is about 2 months from contract date but I can see that as we're getting into the summer the time will get longer with more people in line.

As for options on the pool:
- shape. With gunite you can pretty much have any shape you want. Since in TX the soil is highly expansive and tends to move a lot, builders will advise against long and narrow and will recommend probably something that has at least 16 ft width.
- water features. You can have a sheer or cascading waterfall made from moss stones, you can have sheer descents, bubblers, deck jets, or whatever else you can imagine. Probably the most popular upgrade. It can run anywhere from $1000 to sky's the limit.
- pool finish. You can go with different finishes instead of regular plaster. The most popular nowadays is natural looking pebble surface which is not too different from aggregate P-gravel concrete except the pebbles are smaller. www.pebbletec.com is the "Band-Aid" or "Cleenex" of pebble surfaces. It will add probably $3000-5000 to a pool in cost.
- Coping. With nature look being popular flagstone coping is abundant in TX. It doesn't add too much to the price.
- Spa/Hot Tub. It can add $7000 to a pool in no time, let alone heating cost. If you have natural gas, heating might be viable, but with Propane you're looking at a lot of extra expense (tank installation and the propane is 3x the price of natural gas). And if you have a hot tub you have to have heating.
- Fencing. If you already have a 6ft privacy fence around your property you should be in OK shape. If you have no fence around your lot you will have to have some installed at least around the pool. Expect to pay $25/ft for some decent powder coated steel fence.
- Decking. The base package 450 sq ft of decking might not be enough. I am installing 680 sq ft around my pool. Decking also has different varieties from the basic aggregate concrete to stamped rocks to true flagstone. Cost goes from about $6/sq ft to $13/sq ft depending on what you choose.
- Salt water generator. It adds about $1300 to a pool from a builder but you can get one for around $800 on-line. I would not have a pool without it, but that's just me.
- Automation. Some people like to have a remote control to everything in their house which includes the pool. They want to control the pump/lights/heater/waterfall with the push of a button. Builders genrally charge $2000 for such a treat. The Jandy PDA system as an add-on to a salt water system from a builder will set you back $700 (so you get salt water and automation for $2000 essentially).
- lighting. You can get fiber optic lights, luminar jets (they look like colored glass rods of water dropping into the pool) and everything you can imagine. This is $$$.

Good luck!