A First-Time Buyer's Roadmap to Buying in Utah
A first Utah purchase is a sequence, not a leap. Each stage has one job, and doing them in order removes most of the stress.
Kristen Sherlock · Last updated January 22, 2026 · 8 min read
Stage one: financing before searching
Talk to a lender before touring homes. Pre-approval sets the real budget, reveals credit issues while there is still time to fix them, and makes an offer credible.
Stage two: the offer and earnest money
Earnest money is a good-faith deposit held in escrow and credited to the purchase at closing. It is protected by the contract's deadlines, not by intent.
Stage three: inspection, appraisal, closing
Inspection is for information and negotiation; appraisal protects the lender's collateral position. Budget for closing costs separately from the down payment — they are not the same money.
Kristen Sherlock
Kristen Sherlock is a Global Luxury Property Specialist with Coldwell Banker Realty, serving Farmington, Davis County and the greater Salt Lake area.