✦ Up to $60,000, Depending on Location
Utah Down Payment Assistance: Your Complete 2026 Guide
The down payment stops more Utah buyers than anything else. Most don't realize how much help exists. Between UHC's percentage-based assistance, county and city grants, and the $20K SB240 new construction program, individual programs run from $7,500 to $60,000 depending on where you buy. Public servants (teachers, law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs) and veterans may also qualify for HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door (50% off HUD-owned homes) and other federal programs. See the dedicated section below.
Utah DPA Programs at a Glance
Seven programs. Here's what each one is for, who it fits, and what each one costs you long-term.
| Program | Amount | Type | Forgiveness | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UHC DPA | 6% of loan | Second Mortgage | Verify current UHC product matrix | Statewide |
| SB240 | $20,000 | 0% Deferred Loan | Repaid at sale/refi (lesser of assistance or 50% equity) | Statewide; new construction only |
| Salt Lake County | $20,000 | Deferred Second Mortgage | Repaid at sale/refi | Salt Lake Co. |
| Utah County | Up to $40,000 | 0% Deferred 2nd Mortgage | Up to 50% after the 5-10 yr affordability period | Utah Co. (except Fairfield, Highland, Woodland Hills) |
| Eagle Mountain | Up to $25,000 | 0% Deferred 2nd Position Loan | Full, over 3-15 yrs by employment tier | Eagle Mountain city limits; 120% AMI |
| Davis County | Up to $50,000 | 1% Interest, No Monthly Payments | None. Repaid at sale or refi | Davis Co. |
| Weber County | $7,500 | Deferred Loan | Partial | Weber Co. |
Detailed Program Information
Utah Housing Corporation DPA
Up to 6% of loan amountSecond Mortgage
After 7 years (with higher rate option)
The UHC DPA is the most widely used program in Utah. It can be structured as a deferred second mortgage (0% interest, due when you sell/refinance) or as a forgivable loan with a slightly higher first mortgage rate. The forgiveness option releases you from repayment after staying in the home 7 years.
Requirements
- ◆Must use with UHC first mortgage
- ◆Income limits apply by county
- ◆Purchase price limits apply
- ◆Primary residence only
- ◆Homebuyer education required
Pros
Cons
SB240 New Construction Assistance
Up to $20,0000% Deferred Loan
No. Repaid at sale or refi (lesser of assistance or 50% of equity)
Utah's SB240 program provides up to $20,000 for buyers purchasing newly constructed homes. Structured as a 0% interest deferred loan with shared-equity recapture: no monthly payments while you live in the home; at sale or refinance you repay the lesser of (a) the original assistance amount or (b) 50% of accrued equity. Often colloquially called a 'grant' but technically a deferred loan.
Requirements
- ◆New construction only
- ◆Income limits apply
- ◆Primary residence requirement
- ◆Must be first-time buyer or not owned in 3 years
- ◆Builder must be registered with program
Pros
Cons
Salt Lake County "Own in Salt Lake County" DPA
Up to $20,000Deferred Second Mortgage
No. Repaid at sale, refi, or transfer of title
Salt Lake County's 'Own in Salt Lake County' program is a deferred second mortgage of up to $20,000. No monthly payments while you live in the home. The full balance is repaid at sale, refinance (other than a rate-only refi), or transfer of title. Can be combined with UHC programs.
Requirements
- ◆Must purchase in Salt Lake County
- ◆Income at or below 80% AMI
- ◆First-time buyer (no ownership in 3 years)
- ◆Homebuyer education required
- ◆Must occupy as primary residence
- ◆Buyer must contribute 50% of down payment (min $1,000 from personal funds)
- ◆Maximum purchase price ~$522,500 (verify current cap with administrator)
Pros
Cons
Utah County Loan to Own
Up to $40,000Deferred 2nd Mortgage
Up to 50% after affordability period (10 yrs at max)
Loan to Own is Utah County's down payment assistance program, funded through the Utah Valley HOME Consortium and administered by Provo City Development Services. Up to $40,000 as a 0% interest second mortgage with no monthly payments; up to 50% is forgiven if you keep the home as your primary residence through the affordability period (10 years at the $40,000 max). The remaining balance is due at sale, refinance, or transfer.
Requirements
- ◆Purchase in Utah County (except Fairfield, Highland, Woodland Hills)
- ◆80% AMI income limits (varies by family size)
- ◆First-time buyer status, $1,000 minimum contribution
- ◆Under contract before applying
- ◆Homebuyer education required
Pros
Cons
Davis County Homeownership Assistance
Up to $50,0001% Interest Loan, No Monthly Payments
No. Repaid in full at sale or refinance (1% interest accrues)
Davis County's Homeownership Assistance Program is a 1% interest loan of up to $50,000 with no monthly payments while you live in the home. The full balance plus 1% accrued interest is repaid at sale or refinance. Open to any qualifying buyer at 80% AMI; not limited to first-time buyers. Funding cycles annually and is awarded first-come, first-qualified; the 2026 cycle reopened July 1, 2026 through the Neighborly portal.
Requirements
- ◆Purchase in Davis County
- ◆Income at or below 80% AMI
- ◆Primary residence requirement (not limited to first-time buyers)
- ◆Complete homebuyer education
- ◆Verify current funding cycle with Davis County CED
Pros
Cons
Weber County DPA
Up to $7,500Deferred Loan
Partial forgiveness options
Weber County provides down payment assistance through federal HOME funds. The program offers a deferred loan with potential partial forgiveness based on length of residency. Helps buyers in the Ogden area achieve homeownership.
Requirements
- ◆Purchase in Weber County
- ◆Income at or below 80% AMI
- ◆First-time homebuyer
- ◆Complete HUD-approved counseling
- ◆Property inspection required
Pros
Cons
Which Program Actually Fits Your Purchase
Most buyers end up using one program, not several. Assistance programs limit what other subordinate financing can sit behind them, lenders add their own overlays, and the combined loan-to-value still has to work. So the useful question is which single program fits the home you are buying. Here is how that usually breaks down.
New Construction Anywhere in Utah
Note: The state program built for new builds. Utah Housing documents that it can sit behind its own DPA second, which is the rare combination that is actually written down. Your lender still has to confirm it works on your file.
Existing Home in Utah County
Note: Three separate programs, and which one applies is decided by the city you buy in, not by choice. Provo city limits point to Home Purchase Plus, Eagle Mountain to its city program, everywhere else to Loan to Own.
Davis County Purchase
Note: Utah's largest county-level program, and large enough on its own that a second program is rarely worth the complication. Verify current funding availability; the 2026 cycle reopened July 1, 2026 via the Neighborly portal.
Buying With Zero Down Payment in Utah
"No down payment" is not a single program in Utah, it is three different paths, and which one fits depends on who you are and where you are buying:
- VA loans: true 0% down for veterans, active duty, and eligible surviving spouses, with no mortgage insurance. If you qualify, this is almost always the strongest zero-down option in Utah.
- USDA loans: 0% down in USDA-eligible rural areas, which in Utah covers more territory than most buyers expect, including parts of Tooele County and growing communities outside the urban core.
- An FHA loan with UHC DPA: FHA requires 3.5% down, and UHC's second mortgage covers up to 6% of the loan, enough for the entire down payment plus most closing costs from that one program. It is the most common path for buyers who are not veterans and are not buying rural.
The tradeoff with every zero-down path is a slightly higher monthly payment, you are financing the down payment rather than skipping it. For most Utah first-time buyers the math still works, because waiting two more years to save a down payment has historically cost more in price appreciation than the financed DPA costs in interest.
✦ Federal & Public-Servant Programs
Programs for Teachers, Police, Firefighters, EMTs & Veterans
Beyond UHC and county-level DPA, several federal programs and Utah-specific public-servant tiers may apply to your purchase. Most buyers qualify for one of them, and the value is in finding the right one rather than adding several together.
HUD Good Neighbor Next Door
Federal program that sells HUD-owned homes in revitalization areas to full-time teachers (Pre-K–12), law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs at 50% off list price. Silent second mortgage releases automatically after 36 months of owner-occupancy. Utah inventory is sporadic.
Full GNND Utah guide →Own in Ogden (Tiered by Occupation)
The only Utah city DPA with role-based funding tiers. $10K for general first-time buyers, $15K for teachers and City of Ogden employees, $20K for police officers and firefighters. 0% interest deferred loan, repaid at sale or refinance. Ogden city limits only.
Weber County / Ogden details →VA Loan (Veteran Public Servants)
Many law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs are also veterans. If you served 90+ consecutive days during wartime, 181+ days during peacetime, or 6+ years in Reserve / National Guard, you likely have VA loan eligibility, which is often the strongest single option for Hill AFB-area buyers on its own.
VA loans in Utah →Utah Veteran Property Tax Abatement
Separate from buying assistance, Utah veterans with service-connected disability ratings get a property tax exemption that scales with disability percentage. A 100% P&T veteran in Salt Lake County can typically save $4,000–$6,000 per year on property tax. File with your county assessor after closing. It is a property tax benefit rather than purchase assistance, so it applies regardless of how you financed the home.
Homes for Heroes (Private Rebate Network)
Important context: this is a private commission-rebate network, not a government program. Members get a portion of their real estate agent's commission rebated at closing, plus discounts from affiliated lenders and inspectors. Average savings ~$3,000 per transaction. Requires using their specific affiliated agents and service providers. Eligible groups: firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, military, healthcare, teachers.
If you are a public servant, start with eligibility
Good Neighbor Next Door (full-time teachers, law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs), VA financing, and the Own in Ogden tiers each carry their own rules about what other assistance can sit alongside them, and in most cases one of them does the heavy lifting by itself. Knowing which ones you are eligible for is step one, and a free consultation sorts that out before you write an offer.
Free resource
Keep the assistance programs handy
How every kind of Utah down payment help works, how each one gets repaid, and how it narrows your home search, in one free PDF.
- The full buying process, start to finish
- What down payment help exists in Utah, and how each one gets repaid
- FHA vs VA vs USDA vs conventional, side by side
- The mistakes that cost first-time buyers the most
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Which program fits the home you want to buy?
Most buyers only know about one or two programs. We run through all of them in a free 15-minute consultation: UHC ($27,500 cap), county and city grants ($7,500 to $60,000 depending on where you buy), SB240 ($20,000 for new builds). Most people leave knowing exactly which one to apply for.
What Utah DPA buyers actually ask before applying
The real questions: eligibility rules, repayment terms, who qualifies, and what surprises buyers at closing.
Official Sources
Verify current program terms with each administrator before relying on them in a transaction. Funding cycles, dollar amounts, and eligibility rules can change annually.
- Utah Housing Corporation: official site
- UHC SB240 First-Time Homebuyer FAQ (PDF)
- Davis County: Homeownership Assistance Program
- City of Ogden: Own in Ogden
- City of Provo: Down Payment Assistance Loan Programs (Loan to Own + Home Purchase Plus)
- Eagle Mountain City: Mortgage Assistance Program
- HUD: FHA Mortgage Limits