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Swimming pools

Swimming pool in the backyard of a Charleston home for saleMany out of town buyers always ask why most homes in the Charleston real estate market don't have a swimming pool in the backyard. After all, Charleston weather is mild during winter, spring and fall are long and beautiful seasons and summer is hot so what would be nicer than cooling off in your own swimming pool.

I've worked with clients who didn't want a swimming pool and considered it to be a negative feature of the home. Some might not want to maintain the pool, others may not have wanted their young children at risk and still others may just want to use the swimming pool so often found in the neighborhood amenity center. One of my clients bought a home with a pool recently and are going to use it this summer and determine whether or not they want to keep it or bulldoze it after the season.

But after thinking about why more homes in Charleston don't have a swimming pool, the answer suddenly became obvious. It's the beaches. The many different beaches you can enjoy in the Charleston area are no more than 30 minutes from wherever you choose to live in the area and they are wonderful.

So head to the beach, put your toes in the sand and enjoy! 

Published Saturday, April 19, 2008 6:35 AM by Howard Arnoff

Comments

# re: Swimming pools

Ya know Howard i wondered the same thing when I visited there in the Summer last year...My kids are like fish and i would need a pool...but this little amenity search opened my eyes to the fact that MANY homes in the Charleston area, especially new ones, come with covenants and restrictions along with Home owners Associations....the exact thing I am crawling out of my skin from here in a Coop community in LI New York...I HATE IT..but thats another story.

Covenants and restrictions...something "out Of Towners" need to become aware of as it is not a very common situation here.

Saturday, April 19, 2008 10:02 PM by MikeG

# re: Swimming pools

Mike, actually, the c and r don't prevent you from adding a pool in most cases; take my neighborhood, we have a jr. olympic pool and a kiddie pool with a waterfall. I enjoy going over there and catching some sun and swimming a lap or two. But we love the beach.

As to covenants and restrictions, the purpose is to protect property values and they really aren't that restrictive. The important thing is to understand that what you can and cannot do. For example, maintaining the property such as cutting your grass regularly, parking issues of boats and rv's, what kind of fence can you have, white picket or wood privacy.

Sunday, April 20, 2008 3:35 AM by Howard Arnoff

# re: Swimming pools

Thank you Howard for the clarification...but do they allow pools in a home owners own back yard?

I suspect they do not & that one must use the "community pool".

Do I have this correct?

Sunday, April 20, 2008 10:56 AM by MikeG

# re: Swimming pools

Mike, in almost every case you can have a pool in your backyard in almost every neighborhood. There might be some issues regarding fences and chain link is generally never approved in structured (c and r) neighborhoods. And you can use the community pool too and pay for it whether you use it or not.

Sunday, April 20, 2008 1:28 PM by Howard Arnoff
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