By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated October 26, 2026
Salt Lake City Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Programs
See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →Compare Utah Housing's two down payment assistance seconds and its new-construction loan against Salt Lake City's $539,500 median, and see what local nonprofits still fund.
Verified Oct. 2026
- Median home value
- $539,500
- Census ACS 2020-2024
- 3% down
- $16,185
- Before closing costs
- Closing costs
- $11k–$16k
- Planning estimate
- Assistance paths
- 3 programs
- Plus 6 mortgage options
Start with the program that matches the property
Start with the program that matches the property, since a new build changes the math. Utah Housing seconds stop at $27,500 on any Salt Lake City home, while the state's $20,000 first-time loan applies only to new construction priced at $450,000 or less.
State
Utah Housing Traditional Down Payment Assistance
6% of the loan, max $27,500
The larger Utah Housing second, 6% of the loan to a $27,500 ceiling, repaid monthly over 30 years by first-time and repeat buyers alike.
State
Utah Housing Deferred Down Payment Assistance
3.5% of the loan, max $27,500
No monthly payment: 3.5% of the loan, to $27,500, with deferred interest due when the home sells or is refinanced.
State
Utah First-Time Homebuyer Assistance
Up to $20,000
A 0% loan of up to $20,000 for first-time buyers of a newly built Salt Lake City home priced at $450,000 or less.
Plan the cash
What buying in Salt Lake City costs
| Median home value | $539,500 |
|---|---|
| 3% down payment | $16,185 |
| Estimated closing costs | $10,800–$16,200 |
| Estimated cash before assistance | $26,985–$32,385 |
Estimate only, not a quote. Figured at 2% to 3% of $539,500, the city's Census median value, covering title and lender fees, escrow, prepaid insurance and Salt Lake County property tax.
Keep cash help separate
Down payment assistance in Salt Lake City
| Program | Maximum | Best fit | Repayment / limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program | Maximum:Up to $20,000 | Best fit:Conditional: New homes only, price ≤ $450,000 | Repayment / limit:0%; repay lesser of loan or 50% equity; Funds available until spent |
| Utah Housing Deferred Down Payment Assistance | Maximum:3.5% of the loan, max $27,500 | Best fit:Buyers who need a lower monthly payment | Repayment / limit:No payment; due at sale or refinance |
| Utah Housing Traditional Down Payment Assistance | Maximum:6% of the loan, max $27,500 | Best fit:Buyers who can carry a second monthly payment | Repayment / limit:30-year payment, 1% above first rate |
Mortgage options that may pair with assistance
Make a decision
Find your best starting point
Need the most cash
Take the traditional second
Utah Housing's traditional second lends 6% of the loan, to $27,500, but adds a 30-year payment at 1% above the first loan's rate.
Tight monthly budget
Choose the deferred second
The deferred second lends 3.5% with no payment, but 3.5% simple interest builds until the house sells, refinances or reaches maturity.
First home, newly built
Add the 20,000 dollar loan
The state's first-time program pays up to $20,000 on a new home priced at $450,000 or less, and it can sit behind a Utah Housing second.
Property and geography checks
| Program | Where | Property / lender gate |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Housing seconds | Where:Statewide with a Utah Housing first loan | Gate:620 score for FHA/VA, 680 for Freddie Mac HFA Advantage; income ≤ $165,200 on those loans |
| First-time homebuyer loan | Where:New construction anywhere in Utah | Gate:Never lived in, price ≤ $450,000, 12 months of Utah residency, owner-occupied within 60 days |
| FirstHome first loan | Where:Salt Lake County limits apply | Gate:Price ≤ $666,600; income $126,100 (1-2 people) or $145,000 (3+); 660 score |
| FHA and VA loans | Where:Owner-occupied Salt Lake City homes | Gate:Condo projects need approval; Utah Housing FHA allows a two-unit home with one unit rented |
The fastest way to avoid a bad match
Check the address, property type and price cap before comparing assistance amounts.
A larger advertised benefit doesn’t help if the home or lender is outside that program’s rules.
We’ll fill in its city and state on the free eligibility check. A mailing address that says Salt Lake City isn’t always inside city limits, so confirm with the program before you make an offer.
See the math
Three realistic purchase examples
Illustrations only. Approval, availability and program combinations depend on current rules.
Median Salt Lake City home with the traditional second
| Price | $539,500 |
|---|---|
| Down payment | $18,883 |
| Closing costs | $14,000 |
| Utah Housing traditional second | −$27,500 |
| Estimated gap | $5,383 |
Six percent of the 520,617 dollar FHA base loan would be 31,237 dollars, so the 27,500 dollar ceiling applies.
Deferred second on a $380,000 condo
| Price | $380,000 |
|---|---|
| Down payment | $13,300 |
| Closing costs | $9,500 |
| Utah Housing deferred second | −$12,835 |
| Estimated gap | $9,965 |
3.5% of a 366,700 dollar FHA base loan; the condo project must be FHA-approved.
First-time buyer of a new $440,000 townhome
| Price | $440,000 |
|---|---|
| Down payment | $15,400 |
| Closing costs | $10,500 |
| Utah First-Time Homebuyer loan | −$20,000 |
| Estimated gap | $5,900 |
An FHA Utah Housing loan on a never-occupied unit; the buyer must have lived in Utah for the prior 12 months.
How to apply in Salt Lake City
- 1
Ask local nonprofits what is funded
Community Development Corporation of Utah
CDCU's deferred down payment loans are awarded first come, first qualified, take 25 to 30 days, and require at least 1,000 dollars from the buyer. An intake specialist confirms current funds for Salt Lake City addresses.
- 2
Check NeighborWorks Salt Lake
NeighborWorks Salt Lake
NWSL runs county-wide down payment help, but in October 2026 it listed no funds for Salt Lake City addresses. It also offers financial education and a community land trust.
- 3
Choose a Utah Housing lender
Utah Housing Corporation participating lender
Only a participating lender can qualify you for a Utah Housing first loan, size the second and reserve first-time program funds, which open for 90 days per reservation.
- 4
Confirm the county limits
Utah Housing Corporation
FirstHome loans cap Salt Lake County prices at $666,600 and income at $126,100 or $145,000 by household size; FHA, VA and HFA Advantage loans set no price cap.
Local details matter
Buying considerations in Salt Lake City
A city of renters
Only 45.8% of Salt Lake City homes are owner-occupied and 42.8% of units are detached houses, so condos and townhomes make up much of the entry-level supply.
Older housing stock
Census puts the median year built at 1965, so many listings carry older wiring, plumbing and roofs that an FHA appraisal or inspection may flag.
Two-unit homes
Utah Housing's FHA option allows an owner-occupied duplex or a home with an accessory unit, with one unit rented, so rent from the second unit can help a Salt Lake City buyer qualify.
Property tax bill
Census ACS 2020-2024 puts the typical Salt Lake City owner's real estate tax at $2,729, about 0.51% of the median home value.
If local funding isn't available
Salt Lake City does not run its own down payment program. The city's Community Reinvestment Agency funds nonprofit homeownership work instead, and NeighborWorks Salt Lake listed no Salt Lake City funds in October 2026. These routes remain for buyers here.
Utah Housing
Traditional and deferred seconds of up to $27,500 pair with a Utah Housing first loan, and incomes up to $165,200 qualify on its FHA, VA and HFA Advantage loans.
New construction
Utah's First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program lends up to $20,000 at 0% on new homes priced at $450,000 or less for buyers with 12 months of Utah residency.
CDCU
The Community Development Corporation of Utah makes deferred down payment loans on a first come, first qualified basis; the city's CRA approved funding in May 2026 that supports its programs.
Land trust
NeighborWorks Salt Lake and CDCU both work with community land trust homes, which lower the price by keeping the land in trust; ask either about current Salt Lake City listings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Salt Lake City offer its own down payment assistance?+−
Which Utah Housing second costs less each month?+−
Will the 20,000 dollar first-time loan work on an older Salt Lake City house?+−
Can I rent out half of a duplex and still use Utah Housing?+−
What does the median Salt Lake City home cost to close with a Utah Housing second?+−
Buying elsewhere in Utah? Compare all Utah home buyer programs →
Sources
Last verified October 26, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau: Salt Lake City city, Utah profile (ACS 2020-2024 5-year)
- Utah Housing Corporation: Loan Program Overview, Form 305 (June 1, 2025)
- Utah Housing Corporation: Income and purchase price limits
- Utah Housing Corporation: Down payment assistance
- Utah Housing Corporation: First-Time Homebuyer Assistance FAQ (July 16, 2026)
- Salt Lake City: CRA approves 6.4 million for affordable homeownership (May 13, 2026)
- Community Development Corporation of Utah: Seek down payment assistance
- NeighborWorks Salt Lake: Down payment assistance