More and more countries are being added to the list of countries that Americans should avoid traveling to. Combine that factor with the current economy and you have a recipe for a “stay-cation” rather than an expensive trip to an exotic location. However, what is a stay-cation without a swimming pool. More and more people are opting to stay close to home, and as a result are looking to make their homes more comfortable and appealing. So, even with the worries about money and the stock market crash there are many ways to obtain pool financing.
Before selecting a method of financing, you need to have an idea of how much money you’ll need, and to do this you will need to select a builder. This may be a harder process than actually securing financing, but a good builder will often be able to help you navigate through getting financing. Many wll know whether it’s currently better (read cheaper) to take out a second mortgage or apply for a line of credit as long as both options are available to you. Some builders will also offer their own financing. While this may be convenient, and you may like and trust your builder, please do your own research and pick the option that makes the most sense for you financially.
When buying or building a new house many people will tie the cost of the pool in with the cost of the mortgage. While this has the easy benefit, there are several pitfalls as well. For one, you will be paying off your pool for as long as you pay off your house, which could be 30 years. This could be very expensive with the added interest. You also may be required to use your house builder’s list of pool contracters. So this may not be the best pool financing option.
A more common scenario involves the family who decides they want to add a pool to their existing home. In this case there are usually two options: a second mortgage or a line of credit based on the current equity in the home. The line of credit typically has a lower interest rate, but the interest is compounded more frequently (monthly rather than annually). The second mortgage may have a higher interest rate but the interest is compounded only annually. Therefore it is important to research your options. Which option is right for you will depend on your income, equity in your home, what type of interest rate you qualify for, and how quickly you plan on paying off the loan.
There are some other considerations when looking into potential lenders for your pool financing. For one, it is wise to choose a lender that is familiar with pool financing. This should enable them to give you a decision in a matter of days instead of weeks, moving the process along considerably. Also, some people attempt to pay the pool builder directly with a credit card. Most reputable pool companies will not accept this as a form of payment for many reasons. For one, it often signifies their inability to get other financing.
Mortgages, second mortgages, lines of credit, financing through a builder; all of these can sound confusing and daunting. However, there are many resources available, and if you do your research there is pool financing available to build your pool and have a vacation at your home on a daily basis.
Melvin Moore is a finance and swimming pool journalist who writes about above ground pool financing














