St. Charles County's residents appear to be diving into the pool market, with a significant increase in homeowners installing their own private aquatic retreats, just as the mercury begins to climb. Figures released by the county show a jump to 7,504 in-ground pools, up from 5,156 a decade earlier, signaling a trend that nearly one in 20 homes is opting to beat the heat with a personal splash zone.
Assessor Travis Welge, who has been keeping tabs on the growing number of in-ground pools in the area, noted a shift in homeowners' preferences, "We see more kidney-shaped pools these days," and highlighted a trend toward more shallow areas designed for lounging, he said in a statement obtained by St. Charles County's official announcement, "And the newest thing is to have a very shallow portion for a sundeck. A place where you can plop a chair in the water."
Interestingly, the recent pools being installed are often not as deep as pools past which typically featured a 10-foot diving end, many modern pools max out at 5 feet. Housing data indicates that the median value of homes equipped with in-ground pools in the county is around $483,000, hinting at the feature's association with higher-end real estate.
Welge further explained the financial aspects of adding an in-ground pool to a property stating that including patio and landscaping the average cost is about $40,000, but for assessment purposes, this investment depreciates rapidly, he told St. Charles County's news release, “There is value in having a pool, but it does not add to the resale value compared to the amount it costs to install.” Above-ground pools are considerable in number as well but aren't included in the assessor's tracking.
