What Is Program Stacking?
Program stacking means combining two or more down payment assistance programs on the same purchase. Most buyers think they can only use one DPA program at a time. In Utah, that''s wrong — and the gap between a buyer who knows this and one who doesn''t can be $10,000 to $24,000.
Utah''s Stackable Programs
| Program | Type | Max Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UHC Down Payment Assistance | Second mortgage (deferred or forgivable) | Up to 6% of first mortgage | Pairs with all UHC first mortgages |
| SB240 New Construction Grant | True grant — no repayment | Up to $20,000 | New construction only |
| Salt Lake County Grant | Deferred second mortgage | Up to $20,000 | Salt Lake County properties |
| Davis County Grant | Forgivable after 5 years | Up to $10,000 | Davis County properties |
| Utah County HOME Program | Deferred second mortgage | Up to $10,000 | Utah County properties |
| Weber County DPA | Deferred second mortgage | Up to $7,500 | Weber County properties |
The Best Stacking Scenarios
Scenario 1 — New Construction in Utah County ($44K combo)
- SB240 Grant: $20,000 (never repaid)
- UHC 6% DPA on a $400K loan: $24,000
- Total: $44,000
Scenario 2 — Resale in Davis County ($34K combo)
- Davis County $10K forgivable grant
- UHC 6% DPA on a $400K loan: $24,000
- Total: $34,000
Scenario 3 — Salt Lake County Resale (up to $44K)
- Salt Lake County Own in SLC grant: up to $20,000
- UHC 6% DPA on a $400K loan: up to $24,000
- Total: potentially $44,000 (verify lender compatibility)
Rules That Govern Stacking
- All secondary financing must be subordinate to the primary lender — county grants must agree to sit behind UHC''s DPA in lien position
- Total assistance cannot push your total financing above the purchase price
- VA loans have specific secondary financing rules — confirm compatibility before counting on a DPA stack with VA
- Some county programs have same-lender requirements — ask your lender to confirm
- A HUD-approved homebuyer education course is required for all programs
What Doesn''t Stack
- Two UHC DPA products — you can only have one UHC first mortgage plus one UHC DPA
- Two county grants from different counties — you can only buy in one county
- SB240 on a resale home — SB240 is new construction only
How to Actually Do It
- Get pre-approved through a lender approved for both UHC programs AND your county DPA program — not all lenders offer all programs
- Tell your lender upfront you want to explore stacking — they''ll check all compatible combinations for your county, credit score, and income
- Do not sign a purchase contract before confirming stack compatibility — some combinations have property-type or builder restrictions
The Bottom Line
A buyer who only knows about UHC DPA might get $24,000 in assistance. A buyer who stacks all available programs in the right county might get $34,000–$44,000. The difference is simply knowing the programs exist and using the right lender. Ask about stacking on your first call.