Dang is this hard!!!

[Poconos]

I was under the impression that a pool usually detracted from the sellability of a house, but maybe the selling price is increased too, don't know. I would assume that would depend on the area. You definitely have the advantage of finding this site before starting construction. You have a wonderful chance to do it right, install what you want and need, and avoid all the 'extras' that do nothiing but cost $$$ and grief. I think Michigan is pretty close weather wise to my area of Northeast PA. Maybe you're a little colder. I'm amazed at how many pools there are in my area which isn't exactly Beverly Hills. I inherited mine with the house in 97 and it isn't anything to show off but it's functional and has become my 'science project' to keep me busy in my retirement years. The initial cost is high but recurring costs should be minimal. Go for the pool.
Al

[aquarium]

If you are at all unhappy with your present location, you might do better selling the house you live in now and buying a house that already has a pool installed. With that, you basically get the pool for free. We bought a house with a pool, our first, and I definitely would not want to go through buying a new one. Luckily, the basics of this pool are solid, so it was just a matter of finding this site to make it almost carefree.

Our pool is a basic 16'x31' recatangle inground plaster 3' shallow to 6' deep end, one skimmer, two returns and a Polaris 180 with a sand filter. Brick coping and pebble finish concrete deck. As simple as you can get for an inground pool, but it's good to swim in.

[sailork]

If you look at the home value estimation site www.zillow.com and compare my house to an identical flooplan (and even color..) house just around the corner my house is only worth $13,000 more than my neighbor's. I just bought the place in March and I can tell you that that estimate sounds right on the money. My house sits on 5,000 sq/ft more land and that accounts for virtually all of the difference in value. The pool probably doesn't affect the resale value at all. (Unless you're showing the house in June-August and it's 90+ degrees and 90% relative humidity ) All the realtors I talked to said that swimming pools didn't make much difference in selling price around here. They did think it helped sell the house faster however.

Talk to any realtors you know and feel them out for your area.

A boat is a hole in the water you throw money into.

A pool is a hole in the ground you throw money into.