Home Buyer Down Payment Grants for Single Mothers in Utah

Where to start

Start before you shop for a home. A counselor or lender can check whether your income, debt, credit, savings, and monthly costs fit the program rules.

For rental, shelter, and affordable housing paths, use ASMOM’s Utah housing guide.

Quick program table

Know whether the help is a grant or loan

The word “grant” is often used loosely. Read the closing papers before deciding that assistance is free.

• Grant: Usually does not need repayment when all rules are met.
• Forgivable loan: Some or all of the balance may be forgiven after you live in the home for a set time.
• Deferred loan: No monthly payment may be due now, but the balance can become due after a sale, refinance, move, or loan maturity.
• Second mortgage: A separate loan placed behind the first mortgage. It may have a monthly payment or a future payoff balance.

Ask for the note, deed restriction, forgiveness schedule, and repayment events before closing. A larger assistance amount is not always the lowest-cost choice.

Statewide Utah home buyer help

First-time homebuyer assistance for new construction

Utah Housing’s first-time homebuyer program offers up to $20,000 for eligible new construction that has never been lived in. The posted purchase-price cap is $450,000. The buyer generally must have lived in Utah for at least a year and meet the program’s first-time-buyer test. Ask the lender to check the full rules for your household.

This is a 0% deferred loan secured by the home, not a cash gift. Its repayment rule can differ from other second mortgages. On an eligible sale or refinance, the amount owed is based on the lesser of the assistance received or 50% of home equity, as defined by the program. Ask for the note and the written payoff examples before signing.

You must qualify for a Utah Housing first mortgage through a participating lender. That lender requests the program reservation. The home must meet the new-construction, price and occupancy rules. A home that looks new may not qualify if someone has already lived in it.

Reality check: Funding is limited. An online program description does not confirm that money is still available or reserved for your closing. Ask your lender to verify availability, reservation and any restrictions on combining aid.

You can also check the Utah Housing program page for lender directions. Ask the lender to confirm any status notice before you count on the funds.

Utah Housing down payment assistance

Utah Housing offers two down payment assistance loans with a qualifying Utah Housing first mortgage. These are separate from its new-home first-time buyer program. A participating lender submits the loan and uses the current loan limits for your county and mortgage type.

Traditional DPA: A 30-year fixed-rate second mortgage with a monthly payment. Published terms allow up to 6% of the first loan amount, capped at $27,500. Deferred DPA: A 30-year second mortgage with no monthly payment, but 3.5% simple interest adds to the balance. Published terms allow up to 3.5% of the first loan amount, capped at $27,500. The outstanding principal and interest are due at maturity, sale or refinance.

These are program maximums, not what every buyer receives. Utah Housing says it does not require a set minimum personal contribution for its own DPA loans, though mortgage underwriting and local programs may set other conditions. Homebuyer education is recommended for Utah Housing DPA but not always required; ask about the exact loan.

Reality check: A deferred second loan may lower your payment today but grow the amount owed later. Ask for two written estimates, including the first mortgage, second loan, mortgage insurance, closing cash and a future payoff example.

For other loan choices, the Utah Housing program overview explains available mortgage paths. Ask for a current rate and complete loan estimate.

Veteran homebuyer grant

Utah’s veteran homebuyer grant may provide $2,500 to qualifying first-time homebuyers who are current service members or veterans who separated within the program’s recent-service rule. It is a grant, not the same as a VA mortgage. Eligible households must still meet the grant’s Utah home-purchase requirements.

As of the earlier published Utah Housing notice, the 2025–26 funding round was exhausted and an August 3, 2026 application reopening was expected. That August date has passed. A current award window or remaining funds could not be confirmed from the Utah Housing grant page during this review. Have a participating lender or the administering agency verify the 2026–27 status and application steps before planning to use $2,500 at closing.

Reality check: Do not assume eligibility guarantees a grant certificate. Ask whether the grant can be combined with your specific Utah Housing loan or other assistance.

Check the Utah Housing veterans page with the lender for up-to-date certificates and funding. Do not rely on an expired opening date.

Local Utah programs to check

Local programs can offer more help than statewide programs, but they have smaller service areas and limited funds. The home must usually be inside the program boundary.

Provo and Utah County

The Provo program page currently says funds are available. Home Purchase Plus lends up to $60,000 for qualifying homes inside Provo. Loan to Own lends up to $40,000 in eligible Utah County areas outside Provo, Fairfield, Highland and Woodland Hills. A program address check matters; living in Utah County does not make every home eligible.

Both are 0% deferred second loans, not cash gifts. Some buyers may have 50% of the loan forgiven only after the full 5-, 10- or 15-year affordability term, depending on the amount. Forgiveness does not happen each year. The 2026 Provo policies also list a $5,000 penalty if a buyer sells or leaves during the first two years, in addition to other possible repayment.

Applicants generally need a fixed-rate first mortgage, an accepted homebuyer class, a home under contract, a 650 minimum mid-credit score, and at least $1,000 of their own funds. The published June 1, 2026 income chart uses household size. Provo’s policies include first-time buyer exceptions for some single parents and displaced homemakers who only owned with a former spouse. Ask staff whether that exception fits your facts; do not assume a past joint home rules you out. Provo also checks funds left after closing, property safety, eligible home type and inspections. The published guidance sets a $15,000 cap on liquid assets left after closing, subject to program rules.

Apply through the city’s program rules and instructions. Provo says applications can take several weeks, and you must have an eligible purchase contract before applying. An eligibility letter or preapproval does not reserve funds.

Davis County

The Davis County program lists loans up to $50,000. Funds can help with principal reduction, a permanent interest-rate buydown (up to the stated program limit), or part of the required down payment and closing costs. It is a deferred loan rather than a grant, with the balance plus 1% interest due on a sale or an ineligible refinance.

You do not have to be a first-time buyer under the county’s published rules. Income and debt restrictions still apply. The county’s 2026 chart shows a maximum income of $66,050 for one person, $75,450 for two and $84,900 for three. The exact household and property rules should be confirmed with the county.

The county says the application uses Neighborly and requires a signed purchase contract and a lender preapproval. Assistance is first come, first qualified. Its 2026 income chart is posted, but no trustworthy real-time count of remaining funds was available during this review. Ask the county before depending on the loan.

Ogden

The Own in Ogden program lists eligible closings on or after July 1, 2026. Most eligible homebuyers may qualify for $10,000. Certain state-certified K–12 teachers and administrators serving Ogden students and Ogden City employees may qualify for $15,000; Ogden sworn police officers and firefighters may qualify for $20,000.

This is a 0% deferred loan that becomes due in full when the home is sold, refinanced, or no longer the main home. Borrowers must live in Ogden, contribute at least $500, complete acceptable homebuyer education and meet income, home-price and other rules. The city’s 2026 income chart includes a limit of $84,900 for a three-person household.

Reality check: The city lists funds as limited and first come, first served. It may need signed or notarized forms from the buyer, seller and lender. Ask whether your closing date leaves enough time.

Midvale

Midvale City and NeighborWorks Salt Lake provide down payment help for eligible first-time buyers of homes in Midvale. Published Midvale program terms describe up to $25,000, or up to $30,000 for qualifying residents or certain public employees. The city also describes its housing programs and homebuyer workshops.

Under the city’s program terms, assistance is a five-year forgivable loan. The loan balance may be reduced by 20% for each eligible year of occupancy. If you sell, stop living there, or do not meet the rules, repayment may apply. The program may allow funds for down payment, closing costs, mortgage insurance or a rate buydown. Ask for the current note and deed restriction before closing.

Current funding: NeighborWorks lists limited Midvale funds; it lists no funds for its Murray City or Salt Lake City programs. Midvale applicants must meet income, assets, owner-occupancy, education, property and contract rules. Funding and terms can change, so confirm the maximum assistance and an actual reservation before making an offer.

Ask NeighborWorks for the current application and refer to Midvale city program details if that city page is available. The office can supply current forms if the page does not load.

Layton

Layton City’s At Home in Layton program says $10,000 grants are available during its 2026–27 period. Funds can cover up to half the required down payment, eligible closing costs or a principal reduction for a qualifying Layton home purchase.

The city’s stated funding period is July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 or until funds run out, subject to its HUD grant agreement. This grant is secured by a note and trust deed. If the buyer sells before the end of five years, some or all the assistance may have to be repaid.

Reality check: The house must meet Layton’s home and household rules. Ask the city which documents are needed and whether money can be held for your closing; an application does not guarantee a grant. Submit a complete application; missing forms can delay review.

Salt Lake-area nonprofit help

The Community Development Corporation of Utah (CDCU) helps some first-time buyers find deferred down payment loans. Its funding sources, service areas, interest and repayment terms vary. CDCU says applicants generally need to live in the home and contribute at least $1,000 toward the purchase.

CDCU states that the process can take about 25–30 days. It asks buyers to contact an intake specialist to check the city and current funds. A completed application does not promise approval or funding. For Midvale, also check NeighborWorks Salt Lake directly; these are separate help providers.

Mortgage options to compare

Down payment assistance only helps when the first mortgage is safe for your budget. Ask the lender to compare total costs, not just the down payment.

• FHA loans: The CFPB FHA guide explains that FHA loans can allow a smaller down payment but include mortgage insurance.
• USDA loans: USDA Direct in Utah serves eligible low- and very-low-income buyers in qualifying rural areas.
• VA loans: The VA purchase loan may offer no-down-payment financing to eligible service members, veterans, and some surviving spouses.
• Section 184: The Section 184 program serves eligible American Indian and Alaska Native borrowers.

If you have military service, ask a lender whether the VA purchase-loan path fits and whether a state grant can be used with your mortgage.

Different loan types have different credit, income, property and location rules. USDA Direct is intended for qualifying low- and very-low-income households in eligible rural areas, while a separate USDA guaranteed loan program may serve other buyers. VA-backed financing depends on military eligibility and lender approval. Section 184 has separate tribal and borrower rules. Ask if your down payment assistance can be combined with the chosen mortgage.

How to apply without losing time

1. Choose the likely area. Local help is tied to the home’s exact city or county, not where you live now.
2. Complete counseling or education. Ask which course certificate the program accepts and when it expires.
3. Get a mortgage preapproval. Tell the lender you plan to use down payment assistance before the preapproval is written.
4. Confirm current funds. Ask the program whether funds are open, reserved, waitlisted, or first come.
5. Review the purchase contract. Leave enough time for program review, appraisal, inspection, and closing papers.
6. Read every second-loan paper. Check payment, interest, forgiveness, sale, refinance, rental, and move-out rules.

Use the checklist below to keep the papers together. Ask the lender which items need updated dates just before closing.

Ask who reserves program funds, how long a reservation lasts, and what happens if your closing is delayed. Provo requires an executed purchase contract before its DPA application. Do not waive key inspection or financing protections just to pursue assistance; ask your agent, lender or legal adviser about terms that make the offer safe.

If you owned a home with a former spouse, say so when you ask about first-time buyer rules. Some programs have single-parent or displaced-homemaker exceptions. Other programs may not.

Documents to gather

Have a note of your intended home’s full address, contract date, lender contact, and closing date. Keep copies of upload confirmations, approval letters and certificates. If a program asks about divorce, custody or a past home, ask which specific records it needs and share sensitive papers only through an official secure process.

Phone scripts

Related Utah help

Home buying may be easier after other parts of the budget are stable. ASMOM’s Utah help guide covers food, cash, health, housing, and local support.

If buying now is not practical, training may help raise future income. The Utah education grants guide covers scholarships and school aid; those funds are not homebuyer grants.