Nothing like a week-long scorcher to make home buyers appreciate the value of a good swimming pool. But wade into the luxury real estate market and you'll find swimming pools with bigger price tags than most houses. Take, for instance, the pool featured above, which appeared in everyone's favorite Southern-fried vampire drama, "True Blood." For a glimpse at how the other half swims, our friends at Move.com compiled a list of some of the most over-the-top pools in America. Dive into the gallery below.
- <p> Nothing like a week-long scorcher to make home buyers appreciate the value of a good swimming pool. But wade into the luxury real estate market and you'll find swimming pools with bigger price tags than most houses. For a glimpse at how the other half swims, our friends at Move.com compiled a list of some of the most over-the-top pools in America. Click through to see the most outrageous pools around.</p>
- <p> Price: $7,800,000</p> <p> <br /> For $7,800,000 you can secure the right to take daily plunges in this mini-pond. Its surrounding trees and rock might lead you to forget something: this is a private residence, not a resort. </p> <p><br /> See the listing for the home <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1782-Chota-Rd_La-Habra-Heights_CA_90631_M27624-93398">here</a>. </p>
- <p> </p> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <p> Price: $7,800,000</p> <p> <br /> For refuge from the sun, take shelter here and bob with some lily pads. </p> <p><br /> See the listing <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1782-Chota-Rd_La-Habra-Heights_CA_90631_M27624-93398" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
- <p> Price: $22.5 M (or $75M for the <a href="http://www.chriscortazzo.com/index.php?func=listings" target="_blank">entire estate</a>)</p> <p><br /> Fans of HBO's southern-fried vampire drama, "True Blood," might recognize this Romanesque "natatorium" as the Vampire Queen of Louisiana's throne room. In reality, this palatial estate is located in the tony environs of Malibu, Calif. No bloodsuckers that far West -- unless you count the Hollywood types.</p> <p><br /> <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/26900-Pacific-Coast-Hwy_Malibu_CA_90265_M22696-90103" target="_blank">See the full listing here</a>.</p>
- <p> Price: $1,099,000</p> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <p><br /> Swim around the lagoon of this $1,099,000 residence under the glow of seven-foot gas torches. </p> <p><br /> See the listing <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/8-Shadywood-Ln_Melissa_TX_75454_M74480-62953" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
- <p> Price: $1,099,000</p> <p><br /> Splash as much as you like: the pool’s terraced edges usher water down into an encircling moat. </p> <p><br /> See the listing <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/8-Shadywood-Ln_Melissa_TX_75454_M74480-62953" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
- <p> What does new money smell like? If you live in this <a href="http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/06/17/so-thats-what-they-mean-by-underwater/" target="_blank">upscale Chelsea apartment</a>, it has a hint of chlorine. Most New Yorkers would be thankful for an eat-in kitchen, let alone a 30,000-gallon indoor pool in their living room. Read our past coverage of the home <a href="http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/06/17/so-thats-what-they-mean-by-underwater/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p> </p>
- <p> Price: $23M</p> <p> <br /> When your Mediterranean-style mansion overlooks some of the most breathtaking coastline in the world, why would you ever settle for the pool? Well, if you live in this mega-mansion, the answer isn't quite so cut and dry.</p> <p> <br /> <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/180-Arvida-Pw_Coral-Gables_FL_33156_M59166-77533" target="_blank">See the listing here.</a></p>
- <p> How's this for perspective? We could make some existential statement about the insignificance of human avarice, but considering that this property practically wraps around the island, we think we'll just bite our tongues.</p> <p> <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/180-Arvida-Pw_Coral-Gables_FL_33156_M59166-77533" target="_blank">See the listing here.</a></p>
- <p> Price: $11,995,000</p> <p> <br /> Resting just across the street from the Pacific, this Kihei, Hawaii residence’s pool creates the illusion that the ocean really begins just off its patio steps. It's the kind of illusion that a nearly $12 million price tag brings you. </p> <p> <br /> See the listing <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/37-Ualei-Pl_Kihei_HI_96753_M81004-04256" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
- <p> Price: $11,995,000</p> <p> <br /> So what's it going to be? Real beach or fake beach? </p> <p> <br /> See the listing <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/37-Ualei-Pl_Kihei_HI_96753_M81004-04256" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
- <p> </p> <p> Price: $4,250,000</p> <p> <br /> Savor the dip to come through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of this $4,250,000 home in Los Angeles. </p> <div style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <p> <br /> See the listing <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/8469-Hillside-Ave_Los-Angeles_CA_90069_M29764-52398" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p> </p> </div> <p> </p>
- <p> </p> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <p> Price: $4,250,000</p> <p><br /> Then step outside and cool off with a – what should we say – waterfall-pool shower?</p> <p><br /> See the listing <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/8469-Hillside-Ave_Los-Angeles_CA_90069_M29764-52398" target="_blank">here</a>. </p> <p> </p>
- <p> Price: $4,995,000</p> <p><br /> In Austin, Texas, this $4,995,000 home features an infinity edge with the first level sloping down into a second moat area located just a stones-throw from a lake. </p> <p><br /> See the listing <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/13815-Pecan-Unit-3_Austin_TX_78734_M72656-90492" target="_blank">here</a>. </p> <p> </p>
- <p> Price: $13,995,000</p> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <p><br /> Booze it up at the pool bar while you suck in the mountain panoramas of this residence located in Pacific Palisades, CA. </p> <p><br /> See the listing <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/16670-Via-La-Costa_Pacific-Palisades_CA_90272_M10802-99918" target="_blank">here</a>. </p> <p> </p>
- <p> Price: $13,995,000</p> <p><br /> If you’re ever able to keep yourself dry, try some tennis: the $13,995,000 home enjoys access to private tennis courts. </p> <p><br /> See the listing <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/16670-Via-La-Costa_Pacific-Palisades_CA_90272_M10802-99918" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
