Give buyers a dream pool and they’re all in — though that does not necessarily mean in the water.
Buyers are increasingly favoring a resort-style island, a dining area or sitting area, that’s built into or on top of their pools, according the Wall Street Journal.
“It’s more about engaging with the pool itself,” than swimming, landscape architect Kurt Kraisinger told the Journal about the increasing interest in having sunken rooms that puts people on eye-level with the pool water. Construction for the amenities don’t come cheap–costs begin at $25,000 and, in 2016, U.S. homeowners shelled out $2.7 billion on pool construction–but returns run high too.
In the Los Angeles market, homes asking more than $20 million can demand a $5 to $10 million premium depending on the quality of the pool and the view will often seal the deal, brokers say.
“Even if you use that pool once a year, [an elaborate pool] gives you a feeling that you’re going to enjoy your life,” LA agent Rayni Williams told the Journal. [WSJ] — Erin Hudson