Updated 2/4/18; Originally published 5/31/16
It’s Central Texas. It’s hot! There must be pools galore!
Or not.
Approximately 5%, or 1 in 20 homes in the Fort Hood area have pools.
Why so few? Firstly, it may not actually be quite that few. My guess is that pool owners tend to live in their homes longer. For example, I would guess retirees are more likely to be pool owners. Their homes don’t hit the market as often as non-pool homes.
Another reason is the prevalence of new builder homes. The average Killeen home is only 15 years old. Only high-end custom home builders will include a pool when building – 99% of new homes don’t have a pool. It’s on the new owner to make it happen, and, well, that brings us to reason 3.
Pools can be expensive! Not only can it be $10,000s to build, but pools require regular, painful monthly upkeep. Have you ever met a pool owner in your life who didn’t complain about the maintenance costs and difficulty in keeping it in pristine swimming condition?
Keep in mind that adding a pool to your home can not only be expensive, but probably won’t add as much value to your home as it costs. Most Realtor’s I’ve talked to and including myself add about $10,000 to a home’s value if it has a pool. It can cost two or three times that to build one, let alone the monthly costs of maintaining one.
All that said, the pool experience in Central Texas cannot be beat.
A home with a pool can be yours! In 2017, the cheapest pool home sold for $48,000 (though what condition the pool was in is anyone’s guess).
Already own a home and looking to build or maintain your pool? I’ve used Ocean Quest Pools in the past and have been very happy with their service. Ramirez Pools is also highly thought of in the area.
Other Central Texas Water Sports
Looking for other swimming options and don’t have a pool yourself? Fort Hood has pools galore, including the indoor pool at Abrams gym for military personnel and their families. The new Armed Services YMCA Wellness Center next to Harker Heights’ Purser Family Park has a great pool. Residents of Yowell Ranch can enjoy the HOA’s community pool and splash pad. Long Branch Park in north Killeen has a great splash pad, and don’t forget the Lion’s Club Aquatic Park. BLORA and Stillhouse Lake offer lots of water entertainment, and for the total family water park event, there is a Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, approximately a two-hour drive from Fort Hood. Lastly, for surfers, the waves are an hour away at Austin’s N-Surf Park.
Pool Homes For Sale