The Utah Housing Corporation comes up in almost every first-time buyer conversation I have, and for good reason — they're the main state-level program that makes low-down-payment buying work for a lot of people in Utah. But the four program names (FirstHome, HomeAgain, Score, NoMI) don't explain much on their own, and most summaries online just list them without saying what actually matters.
Here's the practical version.
How UHC works, quickly
UHC doesn't lend you money directly. They work through approved lenders — banks, credit unions, mortgage companies — who originate UHC-backed loans. When you hear "get a UHC loan," it means your lender processes a specific loan product that follows UHC's program rules.
The big draw is the down payment assistance (DPA): UHC offers a second mortgage of up to 6% of your loan amount, which you can use toward your down payment, closing costs, or both. On a $380,000 loan, 6% is $22,800 — that's real money.
The DPA is a second mortgage at a fixed rate, not a gift. You pay it back over 30 years. The payment is low (the balance is small), and it's usually a small addition to your monthly payment — but it's not forgiven. If you want a forgivable grant, look at county programs, which you can stack on top.
The four programs and what actually separates them
FirstHome
This is the program most buyers qualify for. Requirements: first-time home buyer (haven't owned a primary residence in the last 3 years), income at or below the area median income (AMI) for your county and household size, and a 620+ credit score.
If you've never owned before — or haven't in 3 years — and your income is in the normal range for your area, this is your starting point.
HomeAgain
Identical to FirstHome in most ways, but without the first-time buyer requirement. If you owned a home before and are buying again, you're not locked out of UHC — HomeAgain is for you. Income limits apply the same way.
This is worth knowing if you went through a divorce, sold a previous home, or relocated. A lot of buyers assume UHC is only for people who've never bought before.
Score
Designed for buyers with lower credit scores — specifically 620–659. The rate is slightly higher than FirstHome to reflect the additional credit risk, but it gets buyers into a UHC loan when they'd otherwise be in FHA-only territory.
If your credit is in the 620s and you're working on improving it, Score lets you buy now rather than wait. If your score is 660+, FirstHome or HomeAgain will give you a better rate.
NoMI
A conventional-style loan with no mortgage insurance. If you have a solid credit profile and want to avoid PMI without putting 20% down, NoMI achieves that through a slightly higher rate that bakes in the coverage. Income limits are higher for this program than the others.
Honestly, NoMI works best for buyers with strong credit (680+) who want a conventional loan feel without a large down payment. It's less commonly used than the first two, but it's a real option.
The income limits — and why people get confused by them
UHC income limits vary by county and household size. In 2026, here's the general range for Salt Lake and Utah counties:
| Program | 1–2 person household | 3+ person household |
|---|---|---|
| FirstHome | ~$98,000 | ~$112,800 |
| HomeAgain | ~$98,000 | ~$112,800 |
| Score | ~$98,000 | ~$112,800 |
| NoMI | ~$133,600 | ~$153,800 |
Davis and Weber counties have slightly different limits. Tooele County runs a bit lower. These numbers update annually — always confirm with your lender before assuming you're in or out.
The income used is gross household income — everyone who will live in the home and be on the loan. A married couple earning $95,000 combined in Salt Lake County qualifies for FirstHome. Two earners at $55,000 each ($110,000 combined) likely doesn't, but depends on household size.
Stacking UHC with county programs
This is where things get interesting. UHC programs are designed to stack with county-level DPA grants. You can use:
- Davis County forgivable loan ($10,000 forgiven over 5 years) + UHC FirstHome DPA (up to 6%)
- Salt Lake County "Own in Salt Lake" grant (up to $20,000) + UHC DPA
- Utah County HOME program (up to $10,000 at 0%) + UHC DPA
Stack both and you can have $25,000–$40,000+ in combined assistance. I've closed transactions where the buyer put $500 out of pocket on a $350,000 home using exactly this approach.
The stacking has to be structured correctly — the second mortgage from UHC and the county grant need to be coordinated at the loan level, which is why working with a lender who does this regularly matters.
What the DPA second mortgage actually costs you monthly
People hear "second mortgage" and assume it's expensive. Here's what it actually looks like:
| Loan amount | DPA (6%) | DPA rate | Monthly DPA payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| $350,000 | $21,000 | ~8.0% | ~$154/mo |
| $400,000 | $24,000 | ~8.0% | ~$176/mo |
| $450,000 | $27,000 | ~8.0% | ~$198/mo |
That's roughly $150–$200 added to your monthly payment to avoid a $20,000+ cash down payment. For buyers who don't have that cash sitting around, the math usually works well — especially in Utah, where rents are still high enough that buying almost always saves money month-over-month even with the DPA payment.
You can also pay the second mortgage off early if your situation changes. There's no prepayment penalty.
The credit score thing in plain English
UHC's 620 minimum isn't just a box to check — it affects your rate. The difference between a 625 and a 680 score can be a quarter to half a percent on the first mortgage rate, which matters a lot over 30 years.
If you're in the 620–640 range and have 6–12 months before you want to buy, it's often worth running a credit improvement plan first. Things that move scores quickly: paying down revolving balances to under 30% utilization, removing inaccurate items, and not opening new accounts. I've seen buyers go from 635 to 680 in 90 days with focused effort. Worth a conversation.
How to actually apply
You don't apply to UHC directly. You find a UHC-approved lender and tell them you want a UHC loan. They handle the program paperwork on the backend. Your process looks like any mortgage application: income docs, bank statements, tax returns, credit pull.
For county DPA on top, your lender coordinates the county application simultaneously. Both are submitted together and close at the same time — you don't have to manage two separate processes.
Homebuyer education is required for UHC loans. A HUD-approved online course runs about 6–8 hours and costs $75–$125. You can do it before or during the loan process, but it needs to be complete before closing.
One thing worth knowing before you apply
UHC loans are 30-year fixed-rate mortgages — there's no adjustable-rate option. The rate is set by UHC and updated periodically. It's usually competitive with conventional rates for buyers in the same credit tier, sometimes slightly below FHA rates. Your lender can pull the current UHC rate and compare it to conventional and FHA in about 10 minutes.
If you want to compare programs side by side, reach out — we run through the numbers with buyers regularly and can give you a straight comparison for your situation.