do not purchase an above ground pool…in addition to being an eyesore, they are more difficult to maintain than an in ground.
Ten years ago I installed an inground pool myself in my back yard, surrounded by a wooden deck. The hours spent relaxing in the pool and on the deck have been many, and I do not spend more than a few minutes a week maintaining crystal clear water.
The biggest drawback is not the trouble, but the expense. Running the pump for the filter uses a lot of electricity, and in a northern climate you will want a heater so you can use the pool more tha a couple of months a year. Of course, a solar heater cuts those costs considerably.
Now that I know how nice it can be, I would not consider a house without a pool.