How to buy a home in Utah

If you’re hoping to buy a house in Utah, the good news is that the number of available houses for sale has been climbing for the past several years. In November 2025, there were more than 17,000 homes for sale. Median sales prices have increased and are about 6.5% more than they were in November 2024.

To buy a house in Utah, you’ll need certain things, of course. Chief among them is a down payment and the ability to qualify for a mortgage. A great way to see how much house you can afford is to get preapproved. This will make your search more efficient and successful by allowing you to concentrate only on homes you can afford and that are right for your lifestyle.

Here, we’ll walk you through the steps to buying your dream home in Utah.

Affording a home in Utah

The first step in buying a home in Utah is understanding what it takes financially. Utah is a very desirable place to live, and that’s reflected in the amount of money it takes to buy a home there. As of November 2025, the median sales price of a home in Utah was more than $572,000.

That’s higher than many other states, but lower than many too. For the same time period, the median sales price of a home in Hawaii was over $739,000 while the median sales price in North Carolina was almost $389,000.

To qualify for a mortgage, your lender will want you to document your salary or other income. But your salary is not the only factor that affects whether you can buy a home or not. Your credit score and creditworthiness, as well as the amount of your down payment and other factors, matter too. For instance, your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) will be a primary focus for lenders. This is how much debt obligation you have each month compared to your income, expressed as a percentage.

A great tool to show you how much house you can afford, based on your unique situation, is this affordability calculator from Rocket Mortgage®. It only takes a few minutes and can provide valuable information for your home search.

Median home price

In November 2025, the median sales price of a home in Utah was more than $572,000. That’s around 6.5% higher than a year ago, according to Redfin. Keep in mind, this is not the average sale price of a home, but the median sale price.

Why do we use median? It’s a good question. It’s because the median price is considered more reliable and informative. The median price is the amount that falls exactly in the middle of all home prices. It’s less vulnerable to extremely high or low prices, which can affect the average and skew the real picture.

Finding a mortgage broker in Utah

Once you have an idea of what your home-buying budget might be, it’s a good idea to get preapproved for a mortgage. This does a few things. It tells you how much house you can comfortably afford and shows you approximately what your monthly payments will be.

It can also make you more competitive as a buyer. A preapproval letter shows sellers you are not only serious about buying their home, but you are also financially able to as well. In a desirable market such as Utah, this can be a big advantage over other buyers.

When it comes to financing, it’s important to find a trusted and qualified mortgage broker. They will match you with a loan that best fits your needs, help navigate the mortgage application and underwriting process, and keep an open line of communication so you understand every step in the process. You can see current mortgage rates in Utah here.

You can use this search tool from Rocket Mortgage® to help find a qualified mortgage broker.

Finding a real estate agent in Utah

Understanding the local market is important when it comes to buying a home in Utah, and there’s no greater asset than an experienced real estate agent. They have relationships with other local agents, know the details of the homes for sale, and have experience with the steps of buying and selling in the area.

A qualified and experienced real estate agent can:

• Use the MLS to identify properties for you
• Help you tour homes
• Draw up and submit offer paperwork based on comps
• Help you negotiate the price and possible concessions from the seller
• Walk you through the closing process

To find a real estate agent, you can check trusted sites like Redfin.com.

Home buying assistance programs in Utah

There are many home buying assistance programs in Utah that can help with down payments and closing costs, especially for first-time buyers and low-income households. Each program has its own criteria for qualifying, and is designed to increase the number of people who can buy a home.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of some of the programs offered in Utah.

Utah First-time Homebuyers Assistance

Established in 2023 by Utah Senate Bill 240, this program helps first-time buyers afford a primary residence in the state by giving financial assistance that can be used toward a down payment, mortgage costs, or closing expenses. To qualify, buyers typically need to meet income limits, complete a homebuyer education process, and buy a qualifying property.

Utah Veterans Grant

The Utah Veterans Grant is designed to help eligible veterans buy homes by giving them up to $2,500 for closing costs or down payments. The money does not have to be repaid. Applicants must be veterans who separated within the past five years and are first-time home buyers.

NeighborWorks Salt Lake Down Payment Assistance

This program offers down payment assistance of up to $30,000 in a 0% interest loan that’s forgivable in five years. To qualify, you’ll need to show a household income of between 80% and 120% or lower of the Area Median Income (AMI), depending on the area in which you are buying a home.

City Down Payment Assistance Programs

In addition to statewide or regional programs, many cities have their own assistance programs. These vary, but here are a few examples:

• West Valley City offers down payment assistance, and other homeowner assistance through its Community Grants Division.
• South Jordan’s Redevelopment Agency Housing Programs offer down payment assistance.
• Provo offers forgivable no-interest loans of up to $60,000 through their down payment assistance loan programs.

These are just a few of the programs that may be available to qualifying buyers. Be sure to check the area you’re interested in for more.

Home-buying process in Utah

Here are the steps to buying a home in Utah.

Get preapproved for a mortgage. To get preapproved, you’ll provide a lender with financial documents such as tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, and information about debts. They’ll analyze these and your credit history to determine the size and type of loan you qualify for.

Find a real estate agent. It’s best to find a real estate agent with local expertise who understands the current Utah housing market, including pricing, neighborhoods, and competition. Your agent will walk you through listings, schedule home tours, and give you insights into property values.

Search for your home. With your agent’s help, you’ll scour the MLS listings and tour homes that have the characteristics that meet your needs. Consider factors like commute times, school districts, amenities, and resale value.

Make an offer. Once you find the right home, your agent will write up an offer based on comparable sales. This document includes not only the amount you’re offering but also a closing timeline and any concessions or contingencies you’re requesting.

Get an inspection. After your offer is accepted, you’ll schedule a home inspection. This is a crucial step that will uncover issues like outdated electrical systems, roofing problems, or needed repairs, if they exist. Knowing these details early prevents costly surprises later.

Negotiate seller concessions. Depending on the results of your home inspection, you may request seller concessions, such as credits for repairs or closing costs. Concessions aren’t mandatory but they can be helpful if the inspection reveals any concerns.

Agree on a final price. Once both you and the seller reach an agreement on concessions, if any, you’ll finalize the purchase price and terms.

Close on your home. This is a busy time. You’ll sign official loan documents, pay your down payment and closing costs, and complete other paperwork. Then, finally, you’ll receive the keys to your new home.

Bottom line: Utah home prices are on the rise

Utah remains one of the nation’s more desirable places to live. With housing prices rising a growing inventory of homes for sale, and plenty of assistance programs, buying a home in Utah is very achievable. It takes planning, however, with a good understanding of the market and allies like an experienced real estate agent and mortgage broker.

If you’re ready to move forward with buying a home in Utah, you can reach out to Rocket Mortgage® to qualify for a home loan.