Can I have a pool with that?
POOLS are often viewed as a backyard money pit, but they top the list of home buyer must-haves.
AUSTRALIA'S house hunters have a hankering for swimsuit-friendly homes, new research show.
The latest data from realestate.com.au has put "pool" at the top of the list for refined search terms being applied by buyers.
The national number one is no surprise to Catherine Cashmore, a buyers advocate with National Property Buyers, who said that while it might seem alien to buyers in Australia's cooler cities - home hunters in Brisbane often won't consider a home without a pool.
"In Queensland that is one of the top things, you just wouldn't consider buying without one," Ms Cashmore said.
"But pools in Melbourne and colder cities, never."
Sadhaka Smiles, a CEO with real estate agency Harcourts, said agents typically saw the same response - with interest in pools rising in warmer climates.
Jellis Craig Doncaster director Andrew Keleher said pools are getting a bit more love in Melbourne as summer weather has seemed to extend in recent years.
"Most new homes in the eastern, bay side and inner suburbs seem to be built with amazing pools and there are still many homes from the 70s and 80s that have a pool," Mr Keleher said.
"Generally we find that gen X are buyers looking for pools as they have young families and will get many years enjoyment out of one."
And while pools may not always be at the top of mind in places like Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart and Canberra - realestate.com.au has also noted a trend that elevates the word 'beach' into the top-ten most searched terms nationwide from November to April.
TOP TEN MOST SEARCHED TERMS ON REALESTATE.COM.AU
1. pool
2. waterfront
3. living + areas
4. granny flat
5. bedrooms
6. views
7. investment
8. duplex
9. swimming pool
10. shed
Among the reasons behind other popular searches, experts have a few further thoughts.
Ms Cashmore believe the term 'living areas' reflects that Australian families are staying together longer and need multiple living spaces instead of one large living space.
"Now they do recognise that they need more than one living area and space for growing teenagers going into adulthood," she said.
And the same can be said of granny flats, according to Ms Smiles.
"We have more and more kids staying at home longer than they used to, and on top of that there are elderly parents being looked after by people - or they might be searching for a granny flat for a place to put their kids in as well!" she said.
Ms Cashmore also noted that the term would be popular among investors, who could potentially derive two income streams from one property with a second building on the site.
Both were surprised to see waterfront in the mix, which is usually synonymous with wealth and status - an area of the market that has not been engaged with the market lately.
Ms Smiles, however, believes the popularity of the term could be a signal buyers have become more savvy and are doing more comparable research.
"It could be caused by owners doing their own research," Ms Smiles said.
"Or there might be a lot more people doing comparable searches seeing what things cost in different areas."
Both noted that with investors a heavy influence in the market at the moment the terms 'investment' and 'duplex' were unsurprising, and were common queries from buyers approaching them or at open for inspections.
But the jury is out when it comes to the popularity of 'sheds'.
"I don't understand why that's there," Ms Smiles said.
"I can only think there are more blokes out there wanting to get in touch with their male side."
Despite the list of popular terms, Ms Smiles and Ms Cashmore agree that the main thing in buyers' minds is always lifestyle and amenity - with public transport, schools, cafes and shops marking their top tips for what buyers are looking for.