Did you get any other quotes? That seems crazy high to me!

This contractor has done a couple pools I really like. He is the first one I got a quote from but it seems to me like he put out a really high price to see if Ill pay it.

Any opinions on what would be a reasonable price for the above setup? The amount of grading is minimal as the group is relatively level where the pool is going.

I think your quote is very much in keeping with the one I received recently -- and I live in Iowa. You're actually about $40k over mine, but that's easily explained by the difference in scope (raised wall w/water and fire features; fire pit; pavers and fence) which accounts for over $37k of that difference . Curiously enough my Leisure estimate was about 4k less than my Viking estimate.

As an aside, I work as a lending officer at a bank and I've recently been making calls to identify service providers in nearby counties to find out what their rates are so I can prepare accurate loan estimates. Instead of giving me a dollar amount, or a range and the criteria they use, you'd be shocked at the number of people who tell me their rate "depends on what I think the people can afford based on the price of the house, the cars they drive, the way they're dressed" -- and this is in Iowa where I've always thought of folks as honest and ethical!

At the end of the day, I'm just not interested in spending $90k for a 5-month swim season. I live on a lake and have a beautiful view so am not interested in making the pool the focal point of my yard, either. I would like to have a pool because I truly enjoy the water (grew up in California) and would like to exercise in one (laps and water aerobics) as well as have it available for guests when we entertain. Not long ago I came to the conclusion on this thread that I was being a pool snob and began looking at vinyl lined in-ground pools as an alternative to fiberglass (which was an alternative to the gunite I've always known). The first bid I got for that vinyl was only $15k less than fiberglass, however and I'm not sure that's enough differential to change my snobbish beliefs!

Bottom line, the similarity of our quotes makes me think yours is not out of line, unless we're both being taken advantage of because of subjective judgments being made about our ability to pay more than other customers.