FAQs

Utah law requires sellers to fill out a Property Disclosure form covering the home's condition, known defects, water damage, HOA details, and more. I'll walk you through it line by line so you know exactly what you're buying before you commit.

Sometimes. Homes do trade before they reach the MLS, usually agent to agent. When something surfaces that fits your search, you hear about it the same day. Tell me what you're after and I'll watch for it.

A contingency is a condition in your contract that has to be met before the sale closes. The two most common protect you if the inspection turns up problems or your financing falls through. A third protects you if the lender's appraisal comes in below your offer price. They're your safety net.

Escrow is a neutral third party, typically a title company in Utah, that holds your money and documents until every condition of the sale is met. Your earnest money deposit goes in at the start and gets applied to your down payment or closing costs at the end.

Prequalification is a rough estimate based on what you tell the lender. It's a starting point, not a commitment. Pre-approval means the lender has verified your income, assets, and credit. In Salt Lake County's market, sellers usually expect pre-approval. I can connect you with a trusted local lender if you need one.

When you find the right home, we'll look at comparable sales to land on a smart offer price. I'll draft the purchase contract and explain every term in plain English. Then I negotiate on your behalf. You won't be flying blind at any point in the process.

Yes. I'll explain every step in plain language, and I'll help you weigh your financing options. No jargon, no rushing. You'll know where you stand at each stage.

Very common and very manageable. We can time your sale and purchase to line up, or look at bridge loan options if you need to move before your home sells. I'll help you map out a plan that keeps things moving without the stress of carrying two mortgages.

Typically 30 to 45 days from an accepted offer. Cash purchases can close in one to two weeks. The exact timeline depends on your lender and your inspection results, and on how quickly both sides satisfy the contract. I stay on top of every moving piece so nothing slips through the cracks.

Focus on the big stuff: roof, foundation, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. A good inspector will flag everything, but not every item is worth fighting over. I'll help you sort what's worth negotiating from what's a dealbreaker.

Buyers in Utah typically pay 2 to 3 percent of the purchase price in closing costs. That covers lender fees, title insurance, escrow, and prepaid taxes. I'll give you a clear estimate upfront so there are no surprises at the closing table.

Lower than most states. You're looking at roughly 0.5 to 0.7 percent of your home's assessed value per year. If it's your primary residence, the homeowner exemption reduces your taxable value by 45 percent, which makes a real difference. I can help you estimate what to expect for any specific home.

Spring, roughly March through June, is the most competitive season in the Salt Lake Valley. Inventory climbs and buyer activity peaks. Summer stays active, then things cool in fall. Winter brings fewer listings and less competition, which can work in a buyer's favor. If you're selling, spring is usually the launch window. If you're buying, winter can be yours.

A structural supply problem, mostly. The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute put Utah's housing deficit near 44,000 units in 2025, built up over years when growth outran homebuilding. Utah's strong job market and lower cost of living compared to coastal cities support demand over the long run, though sales do slow when rates climb, as they did in 2022 and 2023. In well located neighborhoods, that pressure rarely fully releases.

Silicon Slopes is the tech corridor running along I-15 from Lehi through Draper and South Jordan, and it has been a major driver of price appreciation in the south valley. Tech hiring keeps demand strong in the neighborhoods around the corridor. Draper in particular has seen some of the strongest long-term appreciation in the county, tied directly to that growth. If you're buying near the corridor, expect competition: prices there have tended to run ahead of the county average.

Canyons School District covers Sandy, Draper, Cottonwood Heights, and much of the east bench and south valley and is consistently ranked among Utah's top districts. Corner Canyon High School in Draper has ranked as the state's top traditional high school in recent U.S. News lists. Jordan School District covers Herriman, South Jordan, West Jordan, and Riverton with strong schools as well, particularly at the high school level. If schools are the priority, district boundaries are worth mapping before you start your search. I can help with that.

Yes, canyon access carries a premium in Salt Lake County. Homes in Cottonwood Heights and upper Sandy that sit 10 to 15 minutes from the canyon mouths consistently command higher prices than comparable homes further from the mountains. The canyons are a year-round draw, and in my read that premium is durable.

Herriman and South Jordan led the county's growth for much of the past decade, and the southwest valley is still adding homes. New construction and strong schools drive it, and prices still sit below the east bench. Daybreak in South Jordan is a master planned community that is still expanding. West Valley is also seeing significant reinvestment, with improving infrastructure and a total price point that is hard to beat among the county's big cities.