Step 1: Get Pre-Approved Before You Tour
Utah builders require a pre-approval letter before you can sign a purchase contract, and many require one from their preferred lender to qualify for incentives. Pre-approval is not optional — it is the entry ticket. Use your preferred lender for comparison, but understand that builder incentives (rate buydowns, closing cost credits) are often tied to using their in-house financing.
Step 2: Find New-Construction Communities
Utah's Wasatch Front has new communities opening regularly across Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, and Tooele counties. The fastest way to see all active inventory in one place is Guide Homes, which tracks over 3,400 active new-construction homes across 500-plus communities from 59 local and regional builders — including communities not listed on the MLS.
Step 3: Bring Your Own Agent
Utah law does not require a buyer to be represented, but not having an agent when buying new construction is a significant disadvantage. The builder's on-site sales rep works exclusively for the builder. An independent buyer's agent reviews the contract with your interests in mind, negotiates upgrades and concessions, and costs you nothing — builders pay the buyer's agent commission. Confirm your agent is registered before your first official visit; some builders will not pay commission if the buyer tours unrepresented first.
Step 4: Understand the Builder Contract
Builder purchase agreements are not standard REPC forms. Key differences to know:
The earnest money deposit (typically 1–3 percent of the purchase price) is often non-refundable if you cancel after the inspection period, even if the market shifts or your financing changes. Upgrade selections made at the design center are almost always non-refundable as well. Read the contract language on delays carefully — most Utah builder contracts give the builder 6–18 months to complete the home and allow extensions without penalty.
Step 5: Know the Timeline
A typical Utah new construction timeline runs 8–14 months from contract to closing for a build-to-order home. The phases generally look like this:
Lot reservation or contract signing comes first, followed by design center appointments (usually within 30–60 days). Foundation and framing occur in months 2–4, mechanical rough-in and drywall in months 4–7, finish work in months 7–10, and final walkthrough and close in months 10–14. Spec homes (already under construction) can close in 30–90 days. Delays due to weather, material supply, or permit backlogs are common; build schedule language in the contract is the only protection you have.
Step 6: Explore Utah Down Payment Assistance
Utah Housing Corporation (UHC) offers down payment assistance programs that work with new construction. The Score Loan and the FirstHome Loan programs provide 30-year fixed mortgages with companion DPA second mortgages covering 3.5–6 percent of the purchase price. Income and purchase price limits apply and change annually. Some builders also offer temporary rate buydowns as incentives — stacking UHC assistance with a builder buydown is possible with the right lender.
Step 7: The Pre-Closing Walkthrough
Before closing, you walk the home with the builder's superintendent to document any incomplete or defective items on a punch list. In Utah, builders are required to warrant structural defects for 6 years and workmanship for 1 year under the New Home Warranty Act. Get everything on the punch list in writing before you sign at the closing table. A third-party home inspection before the walkthrough is strongly recommended and within your rights.
Where to Start
Guide Homes tracks new construction inventory across Utah in real time. You can search by city, filter by price, and see which communities have move-in-ready homes, planned phases, and available lots — all in one place without scheduling sales appointments first.