Utah mortgage market at a glance
| Item | Utah |
|---|---|
| 2026 conforming loan limit | $832,750 baseline; higher in Summit and Wasatch counties |
| 2026 FHA loan limit | $541,287 to well above, by county |
| Foreclosure process | Non-judicial (trust deed) |
| State housing agency | Utah Housing Corporation |
Utah spent the last decade becoming one of the least affordable states relative to local incomes. The loan limits acknowledge it in exactly two counties. Everywhere else, buyers and the baseline are in an increasingly tense relationship.
Loan limits in Utah
Most Utah counties use the 2026 conforming baseline of $832,750. Summit and Wasatch counties, the Park City and Heber Valley markets, are designated high-cost and carry limits well above it, a nod to resort-town prices. Along the Wasatch Front, Salt Lake, Utah, and Davis counties stay on the baseline even as their median prices crowd it. Past your county’s limit, you need a jumbo loan.
FHA limits range from the $541,287 floor in rural counties to much higher numbers in the metro and resort counties. An FHA loan is still workable for Wasatch Front condos and townhomes, which is where most first-time buyers land now anyway.
First-time buyer programs in Utah
Utah Housing Corporation, the state’s independent housing finance agency, runs a tiered lineup. FirstHome for first-time buyers with credit scores of 660 or better. HomeAgain for repeat buyers and others. Score for buyers rebuilding credit at 620 plus. NoMI for stronger-credit buyers who want to skip mortgage insurance. Its down payment help second mortgage can cover the down payment and closing costs when paired with a Utah Housing first loan, and a state-funded first-time buyer program has targeted new construction. All of it goes through participating lenders. Details at utahhousingcorp.org.
What closing on a home costs in Utah
Utah is one of the cheaper states to actually close in. No real estate transfer tax, and title companies handle closings without attorney requirements. Your closing costs concentrate in lender fees, title insurance, and prepaids, with no government surcharge on the sale.
Foreclosure is non-judicial. A defaulted trust deed proceeds to trustee sale without a courtroom, on one of the faster timelines in the Mountain West. The paperwork you sign at closing hands the lender that power. Standard here, just worth understanding.
How to get the best rate in Utah
- Quote three or more lenders, including a Utah credit union, then compare against our best mortgage lenders guide.
- Have lenders price Utah Housing programs against retail. The DPA second changes the math.
- Stress-test the payment in our mortgage calculator at today’s prices, not 2020 nostalgia prices.
- Read the down payment guide. In this market, help versus savings is a genuine strategic call.
- If you are shopping near the Summit or Wasatch county lines, your county determines your limit. Check the map before the house.
For rates, loan types, and lender rankings, see our mortgages hub.