What You Need To Know About Buying a House in Utah
Are you looking to buy a house in Utah? If so, there are several factors you should consider, especially when and where to buy your Utah home. To help you with this process, we’ve compiled a list of the most important thing you need to know about buying a house in Utah.
The first step to buying a house in Utah is to figure out your budget
Though this may seem like common sense, the most important step to buying a house in Utah is to figure out your budget. Knowing your budget will be a huge determining factor in knowing where to look for your new house. Consider not only your budget to purchase the house itself, but also how much you can spend on monthly home expenses, any renovation needs, as well as living expenses. Utah’s housing market and cost of living varies widely from city to city, so knowing what you can afford will help make sure you don’t waste time looking for a house in areas that just aren’t a great match for your budget.
Once you know your budget, you can begin to look into locations that could fit what you’re looking for, both financially and lifestyle-wise. Do you feel more drawn to a town with a great nightlife or having outdoor recreation options easily accessible? How are the schools in the area? Knowing your answers to questions like these can help you further hone in on what you should look for when buying a home in Utah.
Know where to buy a house in Utah
Cities in Utah like Draper, Alpine, and Park City tend to be on the more expensive areas, and the cost of living is higher there as well. Park City in particular is a popular tourist spot, which drives up living costs, but also can be a great place to invest in real estate to use a rentals. If you’re looking to buy a house to convert into a short-term rental, consider Park City, Utah.
Purchasing a house in Draper or Park City, Utah may be more expensive, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Homes in these cities maintain their value really well, so they are more likely to give you a high return-on-investment (ROI) if you choose to sell your house one day. Furthermore, these thriving towns are rated very high in terms of livability, with many great jobs, schools, and recreation options to choose from.
Salt Lake City and its surrounding suburbs can be very appealing for millennials looking to buy a home in Utah. Salt Lake County offers excellent opportunities for almost everything, including nightlife, shopping, dining, education, jobs, and outdoor recreation. The housing market in Utah tends to favor sellers, rather than buyers, and that is especially the case in Salt Lake City, Utah. Not surprisingly, there is a high demand for housing in Salt Lake City. Unfortunately, the supply of houses for sale in Salt Lake City is getting more and more limited as the demand increases.
Thankfully, there are new homes being built in Salt Lake County, especially in the northern areas, to help accommodate the increased demand. Looking for areas where there are many new homes can be helpful for buyers, as these spots tend to offer houses at a fairer price point compared to other parts of Utah.
If you’re looking to buy a house in Salt Lake City, we highly recommend that you look into one of these Salt Lake City home-buying and assistance programs available to Utah residents.
Know what time of year you should buy a house in Utah
The Utah housing market varies greatly not only by location, but also depending on what time of year it is. The colder months of the year, from November through February, tend to be good times to buy a home in Utah. The hassle of moving to a new house in the frigid cold and snow of Utah winters, along with the busyness of the holiday season, deters many Utah residents from looking to buy a home during this time. Since the market is slower in the fall and winter, sellers are more likely to accept a lower offer on a home they are eager to sell, but aren’t receiving many offers on.
In the spring and summer seasons, homes tend to sell extremely fast in Utah, especially in Salt Lake County. This means that people looking to buy a home in Utah during these warmer months should be prepared for a more competitive, and therefore, more expensive market. If you’d like to buy a home in the spring or summer, it is helpful to have a clear idea of what you’re looking for before beginning your search for a house, since the Utah housing market moves so fast in these seasons. However, one plus to buying a house in Utah in the warmer months is that you’ll most likely have great weather on your moving day.
Know what to look for in the Utah home you are considering buying
Another consideration involving Utah weather is about the actual houses you’re looking at buying. Houses with steep driveways can be a pain during the snow and ice that Utah winters can bring.
Additionally, allergies in Utah can be intense during the spring, so find out what kind of trees and plants surround the house if you tend to experience a lot of allergies from pollen.
If you’re looking to buy a house in the fall, make sure your new home’s heating system runs well so you’re prepared for the cold winter months. Even if you purchase your home during the colder months of the year, it also helps to check whether your air conditioning works. This way you have ample time to fix it if needed, and you aren’t blindsided by a non-functioning cooling system when warmer weather hits. Air duct cleaning is a great way to ensure your HVAC system works efficiently and increase the air quality in your new home. For homebuyers and homeowners in Utah, Crystal Clean Vents actually provides free in-home air duct inspections.
Choose a top Utah realtor to help you buy your house
If any part of this process feels overwhelming to you, it never hurts to work with a real estate agent who knows the market better than anyone. Thankfully, Utah has many great realtors to choose from.
Overall, when buying a home in Utah, the most important things to know are:
What your budget is for your home
Where in Utah you’d like to begin looking to buy
When the best time of year is for you to purchase
These tips are a great starting point for anyone wondering what they need to know to about buying a house in Utah!