With the Cal Oaks Sports Park pool closing last summer, many Murrieta residents lost their favorite local swimming hole. Sure, you could purchase a membership to a gym or club with swimming facilities, but what if you're looking for something a little more private?

There's no shortage of homes for sale in Murrieta, CA with a pool right there in the backyard. If home ownership is already on your bucket list, why not invest in a home with a luxury amenity?

Before you run out and place an offer on the first Murrieta home with a pool you find, read our smart home shopping tips.

Learn Some Pool Basics

Before you start house hunting, it's important to learn some of the pool basics you'll encounter in listings and open houses. First, there are three main types of pools that homeowners will find in Murrieta:

• Above-ground pools (most affordable)

• In-ground pools

• Indoor pools (typically most expensive, depending on size)

If you're looking for the classic pool experience, you're probably looking for an in-ground outdoor pool. If so, you'll also need to consider things like age and materials used.

For example, in-ground pools tend to have vinyl liners, tiling, or waterproof plaster. Tile tends to take the cake when it comes to longevity, ease of maintenance, and aesthetics. However, it may come with a higher price tag for buyers.

Assess Your Lifestyle Needs

When you envision having your own private backyard oasis, what does that image look like? Are you hosting the whole family, kids included? Are you taking a few laps in the morning and enjoying the occasional solitary dip?

Knowing what you want out of your pool will help you and your agent to narrow down your options based on size and existing poolside amenities.

For example, some buyers are looking for a dog-friendly backyard pool and only consider saltwater pools. Others care more about having the full indoor-outdoor living experience, including an outdoor kitchen and poolside entertainment system.

Request a Pool Inspection

If you've never owned a home with a pool before, you may not realize how crucial ongoing maintenance is. If you purchase a home with a pre-existing pool in bad condition, you may end up paying more for repairs than you would to build a pool from scratch.

The typical home inspector is not a pool expert. At most, they may turn things on like the pool lights and filters to make sure they're working. They won't be able to assess the pool's structure or overall condition.

It's worth it to pay the extra money to hire a professional pool inspector. They can walk you through any repairs a pool may need and provide a rough estimate of the type and cost of maintenance the pool will need.

Get Home Insurance Estimates

If you're a first-time homebuyer, don't forget the "hidden" costs of homeownership. Pools will affect more than just the cost of your mortgage payments. When you have a pool on your property, you can also expect to pay more for home insurance.

How much more? Some insurance experts put the average at about $50 more per year. Not bad when you consider how much a membership to a gym or club would cost!

That said, you may want to increase more than your property damage coverage, alone. Because pools increase your liability as a homeowner, you may want to up your liability coverage, too.

Factor in Property Taxes

Property taxes are another "hidden" cost that first-time homebuyers tend to overlook. Property taxes vary from locality to locality and you may want to broaden your search to include a few cities in the area to cost-compare.

Property taxes are also relative to the value of your property. In other words, the higher your property is valued, the more you'll pay in property taxes.

When you work with an experienced agent, you won't be blindsided by things like property taxes. Instead, your agent will find the perfect property that won't exceed your budget when all costs are factored in.

Discuss Maintenance Costs

Talk to the seller and your pool inspector about the cost of regular maintenance. Specifics will vary based on the type, age, and condition of the pool, as well as the equipment (e.g., automated filters) the seller has installed.

Pool maintenance tends to take up more time than buyers expect. At a minimum, you need to clean, chemically balance, and weatherproof your pool multiple times a year. If you haven't owned a pool before, you may want to request a few estimates from local pool professionals.

What if you're house hunting in the off-season and the pool is closed up for the winter? Sellers and inspectors should still be able to give you a basic rundown of annual maintenance needs. Plus, you'll get to see what kind of work is needed to winterize the pool if you're shopping in the off-season.

Ask About Tools and Accessories

We often tell our buyers to expect to pay between 10 and 50% of their budget on new home furnishings. When you're buying a property with a pool, you'll also need to think about your necessary tools, like a pool vacuum and pH testing kit.

Depending on the size of your poolside area, you may also need some accessories. This includes things like deck chairs, a fire pit, and other outdoor furniture.

Will your seller leave any of these tools and accessories behind? If so, what condition are they in? Inheriting the previous homeowner's poolside accouterments is a major plus.

Looking for Homes for Sale in Murrieta, CA with a Pool?

There is no shortage of homes for sale in Murrieta, CA with a pool. The key is making sure that you find the property that fits your lifestyle needs and your budget without forgetting any of those hidden costs and responsibilities.

Mogul Real Estate is one of the biggest real estate teams serving buyers and sellers in Murrieta and surrounding areas. Thanks to our extensive client list, we can help buyers find properties before they even hit the market. Start the search for your dream home with Mogul today.