Living in Chicago, the winter is so long, cold, and gloomy that welcoming summer brings quite a strange feeling.

When the hot summer sun begins, there is a somewhat festive atmosphere. However, that summer... is surprisingly quite hot.

Many people mistakenly think that since Chicago is known as the windy city, "the summer must be cool~," but from late June to early August, temperatures often rise above 90 degrees.

With the high humidity from being near the lake, the perceived temperature can easily exceed 100 degrees. In short, it's just a sauna.

Especially if you live in a suburban housing development in Chicago, enduring summer days in a yard with no shade from trees is not easy.

So every summer, especially for those with children, the dream is simply, 'I wish we had a pool at our house...'

However, homes with pools are not that common in Chicago.

Looking at the specific data, less than 5% of homes in the Chicago metro area have a private pool.

More specifically, in upscale neighborhoods like Niles, Glenview, Naperville, and Oak Brook, there are quite a few homes with pools, but in downtown Chicago or typical middle-class residential areas, they are extremely rare.

First of all, Chicago is cold or chilly for more than half of the year. The actual period during which you can use a pool outdoors is only about a month and a half from mid-July to early September. However, the cost of installing a pool starts at $50,000 to $100,000, and when you include annual maintenance, cleaning, and heating costs, it adds up to thousands of dollars.

And because winters here are so harsh, outdoor pools are difficult to maintain. Pipes can freeze due to cold snaps, or the pool structure can freeze and get damaged, and you have to cover it and use a heater to survive the winter, which incurs significant management costs. Therefore, in Chicago, it is common to find luxury homes with indoor pools or community centers or condos that include a pool.

However, a home with a pool is undoubtedly an attractive asset. In the summer, kids gather, friends throw poolside parties, and you can enjoy a summer vacation vibe right in your yard without having to go to the beach. Especially in recent years, following the pandemic, the demand for homes with pools has significantly increased, thanks to the rise of the 'staycation' trend.

And one more thing, even if a home has a pool, surprisingly, many people do not use it frequently. Pool maintenance can be bothersome, and if the water temperature is a bit cool or the weather is cloudy, many skip it altogether. Unless it's an indoor pool, living in a "house with a pool" can sometimes be a matter of pride and a luxury that is only used once or twice in the summer.

In conclusion, Chicago summers are hotter and stickier than expected. Having a pool is certainly refreshing and enviable, but when considering installation and maintenance costs, as well as the usage period, it becomes something that is 'nice to have, but not a big deal if you don't.'

And living here, even without a pool, there are quite a few nice beaches on Lake Michigan. Because the lake is so large, it's called Michigan Beach, and many people enjoy summer there, except for the fact that the water is cold even in the middle of summer.

Still, I find myself increasingly drawn to homes with indoor pools as I tire of the summer heat in Chicago.

It's hot and humid outside, and public pools and Michigan Beach are crowded with people struggling to find parking.... "I want to earn money and have a house with an indoor pool."

A house where you can swim even on rainy days and enjoy warm swimming in winter.

It sounds like a dream, but having a dream is what motivates you to earn money, isn't it?

Sometimes I browse real estate sites looking at luxury houses with pools, and just for that, I strive to live well today.

I believe that one day I will be the owner of such a house.