Not a dumb question at all. But...

Do you have standing water because of poor drainage anywhere near the house? If so, you should probably address that first, a whole other kind of discussion. Foundation issues are NOT something that you want in your first home.

However, if it is some distance away, a dry creek bed and rain garden might be the better option. A pond isn't really a corrective measure.

well its about 20+ feet from the house. its at the bottom of a hill. around the house seems OK. its just one place in the yard. I like the rain garden idea.

Yup, a pond at the bottom of a slope is sooo not a good idea. If you want some other feedback on standing water and rain gardens,
you can try posting on the "landscape design" forum with some pictures. Good luck.

I agree with adrienne. A rain garden/bog area might be a much wiser choice. They can be so delightful.