Q: On September 1, 2000 we moved into our new home in a great school district in Marietta, GA. This subdivision, as opposed to our last one, does not have a pool. My 10 and 6 year olds almost live in the pool in the summer months, but we could not find a home in a Swim community in the required area that we wanted that we could afford. With all that said I would like your opinion on 2 main issues:

  1. Will an in-ground pool in our back yard bring down the resale value of our home?
  2. Is it wise to borrow against the equity in our home to pay for the pool?

A: Here are pros and cons to in-ground pools. There are detailed restrictions on the fencing you must have, and the clearance around the pool. I would check with your local building department on what they require. Then, talk with local real estate agents on how your property’s appreciation would be affected by the installation of an in-ground pool. You will also need to increase your liability insurance just in case anyone in the neighborhood jumps the fence when you’re not there and gets injured on your property.

But if you’re going to use it, then you should certainly consider installing one.