A swimming pool can add meaningful value to a Tyler home, but the amount depends heavily on the property, neighborhood and type of pool. In East Texas, our long warm-weather season makes pools attractive to many buyers, particularly in higher-end neighborhoods where in-ground pools are more common.
A new in-ground pool in Texas can easily cost $50,000 to more than $100,000 to build, but homeowners generally should not expect to recover the full construction cost at resale. Depending on the property and comparable sales, an appraiser may give an in-ground pool an adjustment in the range of roughly $20,000 to $45,000, which means the resale return may be closer to 40% to 60% of the original cost rather than dollar-for-dollar.
Neighborhood matters, too. A pool is more likely to contribute stronger resale value in Tyler neighborhoods and price ranges where buyers commonly expect upgraded outdoor living—such as parts of Hollytree, The Woods and other higher-end communities. In a neighborhood where very few comparable homes have pools, the added value may be more limited.
The type and condition of the pool are also important. Permanent in-ground pools—such as gunite, concrete or fiberglass pools—can contribute to appraised real estate value. Above-ground pools generally are not treated the same way and typically do not add meaningful appraised value. An older pool that needs resurfacing, equipment replacement or major repairs can also reduce the premium a buyer is willing to pay.
For a specific Tyler home, the most reliable way to estimate the pool’s contribution is to compare recent sales of similar nearby homes with and without in-ground pools rather than applying one percentage to every property.
Coldwell Banker Apex, Realtors
