Utah First-Time Home Buyer Programs 2026

For how Utah stacks up against other states and the federal loan options, see our national guide to first-time home buyer grants and programs.

Utah Down Payment Assistance Programs Compared (2026)

6 state-level programs show up across UHC's homebuyer and grants pages on November 3, 2026, and every one of them runs through a UHC participating lender. UHC doesn't lend to the public directly. Its homebuyer page puts it plainly: "Utah Housing doesn't make our own loans, our Approved Participating Lenders do."

Sources: UHC DPA fact sheet, Form 310 (rev. August 24, 2026) (opens in a new tab); UHC homebuyer page (opens in a new tab) (remaining-assistance tally, November 3, 2026); UHC grants page (opens in a new tab); First-time Homebuyer Assistance Program FAQ (updated July 16, 2026) (opens in a new tab); UHC Veteran Grant guidelines, Form 225 (opens in a new tab).

The first mortgages underneath. The DPA second only works with one of UHC's first mortgages:

• FirstHome (government or, since October 19, 2026, conventional) has the lowest rates, county income and price limits, and a first-time buyer rule. Minimum score 660 for government loans and 680 for conventional, per UHC's matrices page.
• FHA/VA Mortgage takes a 620 score, allows repeat buyers and two-unit homes, and has no purchase price limit beyond FHA's loan limits.
• Freddie Mac HFA Advantage needs a 680 score on UHC's program page and offers lower mortgage insurance.
• Suspended: UHC's program page lists HomeAgain, NoMI and Score as "temporarily suspended." A January 10, 2023 UHC announcement says the FHA/VA Mortgage replaced HomeAgain and Score.

One discrepancy to flag. UHC's homebuyer matrix (Form 306, revised February 14, 2023) still says HFA Advantage needs a 700 score, while the current program page says 680. If your score sits between them, have the loan officer confirm.

Utah Income and Purchase Price Limits by County

$165,200 in qualifying income is the statewide cap for UHC's FHA/VA Mortgage and Freddie Mac HFA Advantage, with no purchase price limit beyond the federal loan limits, according to UHC's limits page. FirstHome is tighter: it sets household income and price caps by county. Here are the 10 most populous counties.

Sources and effective dates: income and price limits from UHC's Income and Purchase Price Limits page (opens in a new tab), checked November 3, 2026. The income figures match the income table "effective as of October 19, 2026" in UHC's FirstHome recapture notice, Form 048 (opens in a new tab); UHC's September 16, 2026 memo (opens in a new tab) said the website tables would be updated on October 19, 2026, with limits changing for Utah and Juab counties.

How these limits work in practice:

• "Household" means different things. FirstHome counts everyone in the household who will sign the deed of trust. FHA/VA and HFA Advantage use qualifying income on the loan application.
• Targeted areas run higher. Form 048 lists higher targeted-area FirstHome income limits in parts of several counties, for example $151,300 and $176,500 in targeted Salt Lake County tracts. Ask the lender whether your address is in one.
• Limits moved up this year. UHC's May 29, 2025 announcement had Salt Lake County at $122,700 and $141,100 with a $653,000 price cap; the current figures are a few thousand dollars higher.
• The $20,000 new-build loan has its own cap. Its price limit is $450,000 statewide, far under every county's FirstHome cap, and its income limit is whichever UHC first mortgage you use.

For the federal income tables HUD publishes by county, see our HUD income limits guide.

Utah's $20,000 New-Construction Loan: How It Works and What's Left

292 loans of First-time Homebuyer Assistance Program money were still available on UHC's homebuyer page on November 3, 2026. The Legislature created the program with Senate Bill 240 in 2023 (opens in a new tab), and UHC administers it. According to UHC's program FAQ, updated July 16, 2026, "$80 million appropriated by the Utah Legislature since program inception is anticipated to assist approximately 3,900 homebuyers."

What qualifies, per UHC's program page (opens in a new tab) and the Form 601 disclosure (opens in a new tab):

• A newly built home that no one has lived in: house, condo, townhome, half of a twin home, or a manufactured or modular home on a permanent foundation. Existing homes don't qualify.
• A price of $450,000 or less.
• A first-time buyer under the federal three-year rule, with exceptions for single parents and displaced homemakers.
• 12 months of Utah residence before closing.
• A UHC first mortgage through a participating lender. Any of UHC's first mortgage programs can be used.

Terms. Up to $20,000 for the down payment, closing costs or a permanent rate buydown. It's a 0% loan with no monthly payment. It can be stacked with UHC's DPA second (the program loan then records in third position), but not with the veteran or law enforcement grants. If you don't take the DPA second, UHC's FAQ says a rate reduction may apply on the first mortgage.

Repayment. When you sell or refinance, you repay the smaller of the assistance you got or 50% of your home equity. For a sale, equity is the sale price minus the mortgage balance, less up to 1% of the price for seller-paid closing costs. A refinance into another qualifying UHC loan can carry the program loan forward without payment.

Reservation timeline. A lender can reserve funds for 90 days before you've picked a home or signed a builder contract. With a signed contract, the reservation can be extended 120 days, and up to two more times for homes under construction.

Grantsights analysis of UHC's program FAQ and the remaining-assistance tally: $80 million spread over about 3,900 buyers works out to roughly $20,500 a buyer, essentially the $20,000 maximum each, and 292 remaining loans at $20,000 would be about $5.8 million left. At the current pace, that's a small pool for a statewide program, so builders' sales offices and lenders often know first when it runs low.

Local Programs in Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden and Utah County

$60,000 is the most Provo City lends through its Home Purchase Plus program, according to the city's down payment assistance page (opens in a new tab), which read "FUNDING IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR ALL PROGRAMS!" on November 3, 2026. Utah's local programs are mostly federally funded loans with low income limits, and their status changes month to month.

Notes:

• Provo's resale penalty. Provo charges a $5,000 penalty if you sell or move out within two years, and $250 for each extra subordination beyond one free one every three years. You also need a property under contract before you apply, and total liquid assets can't exceed $15,000 after closing.
• Salt Lake City funding is going to projects. The city's Community Reinvestment Agency approved nearly $6.4 million for homeownership on May 13, 2026, including down payment assistance tied to a community land trust project, but that money flows through developers and nonprofits rather than a public application.
• CDCU is the nonprofit that runs several Salt Lake Valley city programs. Its page lists a 25 to 30 day process and first-come, first-qualified awards; ask for current amounts by city.

Most of these city loans come from HUD's HOME program; our HOME Investment Partnerships guide explains how that money reaches local governments.

FHA, VA and USDA Loans in Utah

620 is the lowest credit score UHC accepts, and that floor applies to its FHA/VA Mortgage. According to HUD's FHA loans page (opens in a new tab), FHA's minimum down payment is 3.5%, and UHC's DPA second can cover that and some closing costs.

• FHA through UHC. UHC's FHA/VA Mortgage follows FHA loan limits, has a $165,200 qualifying income cap, and allows owner-occupied duplexes or a home with an accessory unit, with one unit rented. That rental option isn't allowed on FirstHome.
• VA. According to VA's purchase loan page (opens in a new tab), no down payment is needed if the price doesn't exceed the appraised value. Utah veterans who separated in the last five years can add the $2,500 state grant, which any Utah-licensed lender can use, not only UHC lenders, per UHC's Form 225.
• USDA. Eligible rural parts of Utah can qualify for USDA Section 502 loans with no down payment. USDA's website blocked automated reading on November 3, 2026, so details aren't repeated here; our USDA housing guide covers the program.

HUD's Utah state page (opens in a new tab) lists local HUD-approved housing counseling agencies.

What Utah Housing Corporation Doesn't Tell You on Its Program Pages

$450 plus up to $45 in recording fees is the most a lender and title company can charge combined on UHC's DPA second, according to UHC's Form 310 fact sheet. Grantsights checked UHC's homebuyer pages against its matrices, fact sheets, recapture notices and lender memos, and these points are easy to miss:

1. The "Traditional" DPA has a monthly payment. UHC's homebuyer FAQ describes the DPA second as 1% above the first mortgage rate. That's a second monthly bill on a 30-year loan. Only the newer Deferred DPA skips payments, and its cap is lower: 3.5% of the loan versus 6%.
2. Deferred interest adds up. At 3.5% simple interest, a $14,000 Deferred DPA owes $4,900 in interest after 10 years, so $18,900 total when you sell.
3. The $20,000 new-build loan can cost less than $20,000 to repay. Because you owe the smaller of the assistance or half your equity, a buyer who sells with little equity repays less. Buyers in a rising market repay all of it.
4. FirstHome carries federal recapture tax, but UHC may cover it. FirstHome is funded by tax-exempt bonds. Form 048 says the maximum recapture is 6.25% of the original loan if you sell within nine years with a gain and income above the table limits. UHC's recapture guide (opens in a new tab) says it will reimburse the tax only if the UHC loan is still outstanding at sale, never after a refinance, and only if you apply by July 15 of the year after the sale. According to the IRS, the tax is figured and reported on Form 8828 (opens in a new tab). FHA/VA and HFA Advantage loans don't carry recapture, per UHC's Form 305.
5. A past UHC second can block a new one. Form 310 says a borrower who had a loss on a foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy involving a UHC second loan may be ineligible for another.

For example, a couple in Utah County earning $95,000 buying a newly built $440,000 townhome with an FHA FirstHome loan clears the FirstHome two-person limit of $143,000 and the $450,000 new-construction price cap. Their 3.5% FHA down payment is $15,400, leaving a base loan of $424,600. A 3.5% Deferred DPA would add about $14,861, and the $20,000 program loan could cover the rest of the down payment and closing costs or buy down the rate. If they sell after five years for $480,000 owing $390,000, equity after a 1% seller-cost allowance is $85,200, so they'd repay the full $20,000. If prices stall and they sell for $430,000 owing $400,000, equity is $25,700 and they'd repay half, $12,850. Their $95,000 income is above Provo's two-person limit of $76,300, so Loan to Own wouldn't be an option for them. Specifically, pairing the $20,000 program with Deferred DPA looks better than taking the larger 6% Traditional DPA alone, because it avoids a second monthly payment on a 30-year loan. Rates change daily, so have the lender price both.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

$0 is what a legitimate Utah program charges you to apply. The FTC's government grant scams page (opens in a new tab) says "No government agency will ever contact you to demand that you pay to get a grant." UHC's DPA fact sheet says UHC "does not charge any fees," and Provo says it charges applicants no fees for its loan.

• Red flag: ads for a "Utah first-time homebuyer grant" that ask for a fee or bank login. The state's only cash grant is the $2,500 veteran grant, and it's wired to the title company at closing, not to you in advance.
• Common mistake: shopping resale homes for the $20,000 program. It only covers new or never-occupied homes at $450,000 or less. A three-year-old townhome doesn't qualify, however cheap.
• Common mistake: closing before the money is wired. Form 601 says loans that close before program funds reach the title company are ineligible. Title must request funds three days before closing.
• People underestimate Provo's paperwork. The city wants three years of tax returns, three months of pay stubs and bank statements, and citizenship or permanent residency proof for every household member, plus a city inspection.
• Assuming any lender can do it. UHC's DPA and the $20,000 program require a UHC participating lender. Only the veteran grant can go through any licensed Utah lender.
• Wire fraud. Before sending closing funds, call your title company at a number you already have to confirm the instructions.

Still renting in Utah while the down payment builds up? Our rental assistance programs guide lists rent help.

How to Apply for Utah Down Payment Assistance, Step by Step

12 months of Utah residence is required before closing for the $20,000 program, so newcomers should check their move-in date first. There's no form to file with UHC yourself; the lender submits everything.

1. Pick a UHC participating lender. UHC's participating lender list (opens in a new tab) shows approved lenders; tell the loan officer you want a Utah Housing loan.
2. Compare first mortgages. Ask for FirstHome, FHA/VA Mortgage and HFA Advantage quotes side by side, with and without Traditional or Deferred DPA.
3. Check your county's limits in the table above, and ask whether your address is in a targeted area.
4. For a new build, reserve early. Have the lender submit a $20,000 program reservation once you're credit-qualified. It can be approved before you choose a builder, and the 90-day clock starts then.
5. Take a homebuyer class if your loan needs one. Freddie Mac's CreditSmart course is free and takes 4 to 6 hours, per UHC's education page (opens in a new tab). HUD-approved agencies run 8-hour classes; HUD's counselor finder (opens in a new tab) lists them.
6. Veterans: get the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs certificate through its first-time homebuyer grant page (opens in a new tab) before your lender reserves the $2,500.
7. City programs: apply to Provo through its online portal only after you have a signed purchase contract and a first mortgage pre-qualification; expect 3 to 4 weeks.

For general tips on applying to public programs as an individual, see how to apply for grants as an individual.

What Happens If Funds Run Out or You're Denied

149 veteran grants and 292 new-construction loans were left on UHC's tally on November 3, 2026, and the law enforcement program already hit zero. When a Utah program closes, these are the fallback routes:

• The $20,000 program runs out. UHC's FAQ says future money may come from repayments when program homes are sold or refinanced, but there's no promise of timing. UHC's DPA second has no posted funding limit and works on resale homes too.
• Over the FirstHome income or price limit. The FHA/VA Mortgage and HFA Advantage allow up to $165,200 in qualifying income with no county price cap, and DPA still pairs with both.
• Credit below 620. UHC won't lend below that. A HUD-approved counselor can help you build a plan, and CDCU lists free financial and homeownership coaching.
• Ogden's pause. Ogden expects to reopen January 1, 2027. If you can wait, ask the city at homes@ogdencity.gov how applications will be handled.
• City waitlist full. Salt Lake City's land trust list is closed; CDCU or a UHC loan are the more realistic routes there.
• Already own a home? FirstHome and the $20,000 program won't work, but the FHA/VA Mortgage, HFA Advantage and DPA second do. Owners who need repairs can look at home repair grants for low-income homeowners.

Comparing a move across a state line? See our guides for Colorado, Arizona and Nevada.

Saving for a Utah home while other bills pile up? The Grantsights free eligibility checker sends you to official sources, like benefit screeners, rent programs and 211 Utah, for household costs. It doesn't give out grants or down payment funds.

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Sources

1. Utah Housing Corporation: Homebuyers (opens in a new tab) - remaining program assistance tally (292 FTHB, 0 law enforcement, 149 veteran grants on November 3, 2026), DPA rate and credit score FAQ
2. UHC: Homeownership Programs (opens in a new tab) - FirstHome, FHA/VA, HFA Advantage, suspended programs and credit minimums
3. UHC: Income and Purchase Price Limits (opens in a new tab) - county FirstHome limits and the $165,200 statewide cap
4. UHC: FirstHome Recapture Notice, Form 048 (rev. October 19, 2026) (opens in a new tab) - income table effective October 19, 2026, targeted-area limits, recapture formula
5. UHC: Down Payment Assistance fact sheet, Form 310 (rev. August 24, 2026) (opens in a new tab) - Traditional and Deferred DPA terms, $27,500 cap, fee limits
6. UHC: DPA and Loan Program Overview, Form 305 (rev. June 1, 2025) (opens in a new tab) and Homebuyer Matrix, Form 306 (rev. February 14, 2023) (opens in a new tab)
7. UHC: FirstHome Matrix, Form 301 (rev. October 2, 2026) (opens in a new tab) - first-time rule, credit scores, education
8. UHC: Introducing FirstHome Conventional memo (September 16, 2026) (opens in a new tab) and Changes in Income and Acquisition Cost Limits (May 29, 2025) (opens in a new tab)
9. UHC: First-time Homebuyers Assistance Program (New Construction) (opens in a new tab), program FAQ (updated July 16, 2026) (opens in a new tab) and Form 601 disclosure (opens in a new tab)
10. UHC: Grants and Other Assistance Programs (opens in a new tab) and law enforcement program status (opens in a new tab) - depleted, no new applications since April 7, 2026
11. UHC: Veteran Grant guidelines, Form 225 (rev. July 1, 2025) (opens in a new tab)
12. Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs: First Time Homebuyer Grant (opens in a new tab)
13. UHC: Understanding Recapture (opens in a new tab) - reimbursement rules
14. UHC: Homebuyer Education (opens in a new tab) and Participating Lenders (opens in a new tab)
15. Utah Legislature: SB 240 (2023) (opens in a new tab)
16. Provo City: Down Payment Assistance Loan Programs (opens in a new tab) - Home Purchase Plus and Loan to Own terms, income limits as of June 1, 2026
17. Ogden City: Own in Ogden (opens in a new tab) - amounts, limits, pause until January 1, 2027
18. Salt Lake City: Community Land Trust (opens in a new tab) and CRA homeownership funding (May 13, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
19. Community Development Corporation of Utah: Down payment assistance (opens in a new tab)
20. HUD: FHA loans (opens in a new tab), HUD Utah state page (opens in a new tab) and HUD housing counselor finder (opens in a new tab)
21. VA: Purchase loan (opens in a new tab)
22. IRS: About Form 8828, Recapture of Federal Mortgage Subsidy (opens in a new tab)
23. FTC: Government grant scams (opens in a new tab)