How much do I need for a down payment on a Utah home?
It depends on the loan type. In Utah: Conventional: 3-20% down (as low as 3% for first-time buyers on Fannie Mae’s HomeReady). FHA: 3.5% down with a credit score of 580+. VA: 0% down for eligible veterans and active duty. USDA: 0% down in eligible rural areas — parts of Tooele, Iron, Sanpete, and rural […]
What credit score do I need to buy a home in Utah?
Minimums by loan type: Conventional: 620+ (best rates at 740+) FHA: 580+ for 3.5% down, 500-579 with 10% down VA: 620+ (VA has no minimum, but most lenders require it) Jumbo (over $806,500 in Salt Lake/Utah/Davis counties for 2026): 700+ You can pull free credit scores at annualcreditreport.com. We can connect you with a lender […]
How does the home-buying process work in Utah?
Typical Utah home purchase timeline: Pre-approval (1-3 days) — soft pull with a lender Home search (varies) — with a licensed agent Offer & REPC contract — Utah uses the state’s Real Estate Purchase Contract Earnest money deposit (typically 1-2% of purchase price, held in escrow) Due diligence period (usually 7-14 days) — inspections, appraisal […]
What are Utah property taxes?
Utah has some of the lowest property taxes in the U.S. — the effective rate averages about 0.55% statewide (well below the U.S. average of ~1%). Rates vary by county and municipality. Salt Lake County: ~0.62% Utah County: ~0.53% Davis County: ~0.60% Washington County: ~0.51% Owner-occupied primary residences receive a 45% exemption on the taxable […]
What is a REPC?
The Real Estate Purchase Contract (REPC) is Utah’s standardized purchase agreement, published by the Utah Association of REALTORS® and the Utah Division of Real Estate. It includes: Purchase price & financing Earnest money & deadlines Due-diligence, financing, and appraisal deadlines Seller disclosures Inclusions/exclusions (which appliances stay, etc.) Default remedies The REPC is legally binding once […]
What are closing costs in Utah?
Buyers typically pay 2-3% of the purchase price in closing costs in Utah. On a $500,000 home that’s roughly $10,000-$15,000. Includes: Lender fees (origination, underwriting) Title insurance & escrow fees Appraisal ($500-$700) Home inspection ($350-$550) Recording fees & transfer taxes (Utah has no real-estate transfer tax at the state level) Prepaid property taxes & insurance […]
How is the Utah real-estate market right now?
Utah remains one of the strongest housing markets in the West, driven by: Population growth (fastest-growing state 2010-2020, still top 5) Tech expansion along the Silicon Slopes corridor (Lehi, Draper, SLC) Constrained supply from geography (mountains) and slow permitting Market conditions vary sharply by county and price point. Ask our AI Chat for the current […]
What is the Utah MLS and how do I search it?
Utah has two MLSes: WFRMLS (Wasatch Front Regional MLS) — covers Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, Weber, Tooele, Summit, Wasatch, Morgan counties. Largest MLS in the state. WCBOR / UtahRealEstate.com — St. George / Washington County area. Our MLS search pulls live data directly from WFRMLS via the RESO Bridge Interactive feed — filter by price, […]
Can I do short-term / nightly rentals in Utah?
Yes, but rules vary sharply by city. Utah state law (HB 253, 2017) prevents cities from banning short-term rentals outright, but cities can: Require a business license & STR permit (Park City, Moab, St. George) Cap occupancy or number of rentals per property Require primary-residence-only STRs (some Salt Lake neighborhoods) Impose transient-room taxes (usually 8-12% […]
What is earnest money and how much should I put down?
Earnest money is the good-faith deposit you put down when your offer is accepted. In Utah: Typical range: 1-2% of purchase price Held by the title/escrow company (not the seller) Applied to your down payment / closing costs at closing Refundable if you cancel within the REPC’s stated deadlines (due-diligence, financing, appraisal) Forfeited if you […]