There's no single set of "first-time home buyer requirements" in Utah. The rules depend on the loan you use and whether you add down payment assistance. But they come down to the same handful of things: credit score, income, down payment, debt-to-income ratio, and whether you count as a first-time buyer. Here's each one, with the actual numbers for 2026.
Credit score requirements
| Loan or program | Minimum credit score |
|---|---|
| FHA | 580 for 3.5% down (500 to 579 needs 10% down) |
| Conventional | Usually 620 |
| VA | No VA minimum; most lenders look for 580 to 620 |
| USDA | No USDA minimum; most lenders look for 640 |
| Utah Housing FHA/VA Mortgage | 620 |
| Utah Housing FirstHome | 660 |
| Utah Housing Freddie Mac HFA Advantage | 680 (700 for a 2 to 4 unit property) |
| Provo, Utah County and Eagle Mountain assistance | 650 |
Lenders can set higher minimums than the loan program does, so two lenders may give you different answers. A higher score also gets you a better rate, so if you're within a few points of the next tier, it can pay to improve your credit before you apply.
Income requirements
There are two separate income questions: is your income high enough to afford the payment, and is it low enough to qualify for a program?
High enough comes down to your debt-to-income ratio (below). Low enough only matters for programs with income limits:
- FHA, VA and conventional loans: no income limit.
- Utah Housing FirstHome: county limits, from $118,000 to about $167,000 depending on county and household size. Salt Lake County is $126,100 for one or two people and $145,000 for three or more.
- Utah Housing FHA/VA Mortgage and HFA Advantage: $165,200 in every county.
- USDA: county limits that count everyone in the household.
- City and county assistance: usually 80% of the area median. In 2026 that's about $66,000 to $67,000 for one person and $75,000 to $76,000 for two in Utah, Davis and Weber counties. Eagle Mountain's program goes to 120% of the median ($143,040 for a family of four).
The Utah income limits page has every county.
Debt-to-income ratio
Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is your total monthly debt payments, including the new house payment, divided by your gross monthly income. Rough guidelines:
- Conventional: commonly up to about 45%, sometimes 50% with a strong file
- FHA: can go past 50% with good credit and some savings in reserve
- Some assistance programs set their own caps. South Jordan's, for example, tops out at 43% to 45% depending on your credit.
Just because a lender approves 45% doesn't mean you should spend it. Keeping total debt nearer 36% of your income leaves room for everything else. How Much House Can You Afford in Utah? walks through the math.
Down payment requirements
- VA and USDA: $0
- Conventional: 3% for first-time buyers (5% otherwise for most loans)
- FHA: 3.5% with a 580+ score
- 20% down avoids mortgage insurance on a conventional loan, but it isn't required
Down payment assistance can cover most or all of these minimums. Utah Housing offers up to 6% of your loan (capped at $27,500), and local programs offer up to $60,000. Most local programs still ask you to put in $500 to $1,000 of your own money. See buying with no money down.
Who counts as a first-time buyer?
For most programs, you're a first-time buyer if you haven't owned a home in the last three years. That means you can qualify even if you owned a home before. HUD's definition also includes some single parents and displaced homemakers who owned a home only with a former spouse.
Not every program requires it. FHA, VA, USDA and Utah Housing's FHA/VA Mortgage and HFA Advantage are open to repeat buyers. FirstHome, SB240 and most city and county assistance programs require first-time buyer status. Davis County's program is an exception: it's open to repeat buyers, though its funds are out until July 1, 2027.
Other requirements to plan for
- Steady income. Lenders usually want about two years of work history. Job changes in the same field are usually fine, and gaps can be explained.
- Primary residence. Every program here requires you to live in the home. They aren't for investment properties.
- Homebuyer education. Utah Housing and most city and county programs require a homebuyer education course before closing. Here's how to pick one.
- Utah residency, for SB240. The new-construction program requires 12 months of Utah residency before closing.
- A minimum contribution. Many assistance programs require $500 to $1,000 of your own funds.
- Property limits. FirstHome, SB240 and several city and county programs cap the purchase price, and FHA requires a condo to be in an approved project.
Quick checklist
- Pull your credit reports and know your score.
- Add up your monthly debts and estimate your debt-to-income ratio.
- Check your household income against the limits for your county.
- Confirm whether you count as a first-time buyer (no ownership in three years).
- Decide on a loan type and look at which assistance programs fit.
- Get pre-approved with a lender who works with those programs. Here's how pre-approval works in Utah.
Not sure where you stand?
The requirements overlap in ways that are easy to misread, especially income limits and first-time buyer rules. As a REALTOR I don't originate loans, but I help buyers sort out which programs they qualify for before they apply. Book a free consultation and we'll go through your numbers together.