Traditional DPA
Up to 6% of your first-mortgage amount, max $27,500. Interest is 1% above your first-mortgage rate, with a monthly payment over 30 years. The larger option.
Utah Down Payment Assistance Programs
Down payment assistance in Utah: Utah Housing (UHC), up to $27,500, for first-time and repeat buyers.
Utah's help runs through Utah Housing Corporation. Take a UHC first mortgage and you can add a DPA Second toward your down payment and closing costs, up to 6% of your loan on the Traditional option or up to 3.5% on the Deferred option, each capped at $27,500. Unlike a lot of state programs, UHC helps both first-time and repeat buyers. One thing to know up front: this assistance is a loan you repay, not a grant. We'll show you exactly how it works.
$27.5KMax DPA Second
620Min score (repeat buyers)
660Min score (first-time)
Licensed in Utah · Cornerstone First Mortgage NMLS #173855 · Equal Housing Lender
What down payment assistance is available in Utah?
Utah down payment assistance is delivered through Utah Housing Corporation (UHC). You qualify for a UHC first mortgage, FirstHome, an FHA/VA loan, or the Freddie Mac HFA Advantage conventional loan, then add the DPA Second to cover your down payment and closing costs. The DPA is up to 6% of your loan (Traditional) or up to 3.5% (Deferred), each capped at $27,500. Because UHC serves repeat buyers too, more Utah buyers qualify than under first-time-only programs.
How the UHC DPA works
The assistance is a second mortgage that sits behind your main loan and covers your down payment and closing costs. It's a loan you repay, in one of two ways.
Deferred DPA
Up to 3.5% of your first-mortgage amount, max $27,500. No monthly payment; it charges 3.5% deferred interest, repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off.
First-time & repeat
First-time buyers use FirstHome (660 score); repeat buyers use the FHA/VA program (620 score). Either way you can add the DPA Second.
The honest tradeoff. The UHC DPA is repayable, so it's a way to buy now without draining savings, not free money. Traditional carries a monthly payment; Deferred adds none but accrues interest you repay later. We model both and tell you which is cheaper for how long you'll stay. See the full breakdown →
Who qualifies
Who qualifies for Utah Housing?
UHC sets a credit floor that depends on whether you've owned before, 660 for first-time buyers, 620 for repeat buyers, plus income and purchase-price limits that vary by county, and a homebuyer education course. That two-track credit rule is a real Utah advantage: you don't have to be a first-time buyer.
Utah income and price limits by county
Limits vary by county and family size. In Salt Lake County the FirstHome income limit is $126,100 (1–2 people) or $145,000 (3+), with a $666,600 price cap. Utah County allows $143,000 / $166,800 and a $769,100 cap; Davis and Weber allow $141,400 / $164,600 and $778,500. See the full county table →
Utah metros we serve
We originate UHC loans statewide. The biggest markets are Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County, Provo and Utah County, Ogden and the Davis–Weber corridor, and St. George in Washington County. County limits and the local market change the math, which is what we sort out on the call.
Why work with us
A participating Utah Housing lender, not a referral site.
Cornerstone First Mortgage originates your UHC first mortgage directly. We're a Utah Housing participating lender, not a directory that points you elsewhere. When you have a question about how the Traditional and Deferred DPA compare at closing, we're the people answering it.
- Utah Housing participating lender.
- In-house underwriting on the first mortgage.
- Straight answers on the repayable DPA and the grants.
- Equal Housing Lender.
I'd owned a home years ago and figured the state programs weren't for me. Mike showed me UHC takes repeat buyers at a 620 score, and the deferred assistance covered most of my closing costs with no second payment. We closed in Ogden faster than I expected.
J.R. — Weber County, UT · Repeat buyer
Local guides
Utah down payment assistance by county
Income and purchase-price limits change from county to county. Start with yours.
Salt Lake County
$666,600 price cap · $126,100/$145,000 income · West Valley, Sandy, Draper.
Utah County
$769,100 cap · Provo, Orem, Lehi, Saratoga Springs.
Davis & Weber
$778,500 cap · Layton, Ogden, Hill AFB, Kaysville.
Washington (St. George)
$635,300 cap · St. George, Hurricane, Ivins.
Cache (Logan)
$566,300 cap · Utah's most affordable tier.
All county limits
Full 2026 income and price table.
Compare your options
Traditional vs. Deferred
Small monthly payment, or no payment until you sell.
First-time vs. repeat buyer
660 vs. 620 credit, and which program you use.
DPA + FHA loan
Cover FHA's 3.5% down with assistance.
DPA + VA loan
Zero-down VA plus the UHC Veteran Grant.
Utah DPA blog
Guides and updates as programs change.
All UHC programs
FirstHome, DPA Second, and the grants.
FAQ
Utah Housing questions, answered straight
How do I get down payment assistance in Utah?
Utah down payment assistance comes through Utah Housing Corporation (UHC). You take a UHC first mortgage and add the DPA Second, up to 6% of your loan on the Traditional option or up to 3.5% on the Deferred option, each capped at $27,500. You apply through a participating lender, need a 660 credit score as a first-time buyer or 620 as a repeat buyer, stay under your county income and price limits, and complete homebuyer education.
Is Utah Housing down payment assistance a grant or a loan?
It is a loan, a repayable 30-year second mortgage, not a grant. The Traditional option charges 1% above your first-mortgage rate with a monthly payment; the Deferred option charges 3.5% deferred interest with no monthly payment, repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off. UHC also offers separate grants for veterans and law enforcement.
How much down payment assistance can I get in Utah?
Up to 6% of your first-mortgage amount on the Traditional DPA, or up to 3.5% on the Deferred DPA, each capped at $27,500. It pairs with a Utah Housing first mortgage and covers your down payment and closing costs.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to use Utah Housing?
No. UHC serves both first-time and repeat buyers. First-time buyers need a 660 minimum credit score; repeat buyers need 620. That makes Utah Housing more flexible than first-time-only programs.
What credit score do I need for Utah Housing?
660 for first-time homebuyers and 620 for repeat buyers. The first mortgage is a 30-year fixed FHA, VA, or conventional loan, and homebuyer education is required.
What are the income limits for Utah Housing?
They vary by county and family size. In Salt Lake County the FirstHome income limit is $126,100 for 1-2 people and $145,000 for 3 or more, with a $666,600 maximum purchase price. Higher-cost counties like Utah and Davis allow more. Verify your county's current figures with us or on the UHC limits page.
Does Utah Housing have grants for veterans or first responders?
Yes. UHC offers a separate Veteran Grant and a grant for law enforcement and correctional officers, real money that isn't repaid. Utah's SB240 program also assists first-time buyers of newly constructed homes, subject to funding.
Not ready to talk yet?
Ready to see which Utah Housing option fits?
20 minutes on the phone. We'll check your county's limits, compare the Traditional and Deferred DPA, and tell you the real path.