Affordable Homeownership for Working Families

"As a REALTOR of over 10 years i have seen how pricing has affected many of my clients. I also own a property management company and have seen tenant after tenant who desperately want to put their roots down and be home owners but their income and the cost of housing has priced them out. I have several buyers right now that qualify for 400k. Naturally one would think that is a great range for a starter home. But sadly no. Though a few homes have come on the market in this price range the..."

"I have been wanting to get a new home for many years. It gets challenging when you have to have 20% down to make a payment seem some what affordable. When you look at the price of getting a house the last few years with the interest rates and the amount of down payment required how can anyone really "afford it""

"As a mortgage loan officer in Utah, I work closely with hardworking people every day who are doing everything right. I review their numbers, their budgets, their goals. They have stable jobs, they pay their bills, and they save what they can. And yet many of them still cannot qualify for a home in the market they grew up in. What I see now is very different than ten years ago. Buyers are often approved at numbers that leave no breathing room, or worse, they fall just short of what entry-level..."

"I want to buy a house but it’s so expensive so I feel like I will have to get married before i can do that. I have tried to save every penny and I am in my career but it is not enough. They only way to do it is to live in it and rent it out"

"My name is Angie Fleming. I am 37 years old and currently living in my parents’ home. I am a professional barber, I work full time, and my mother is a realtor—yet I still cannot afford a place of my own. This reality has taken a heavy toll on me. Dating feels nearly impossible when I have to bring someone back to my parents’ house. I worry about my future and whether having a family is still within reach as time keeps moving forward. These are questions that weigh on me every single day. De..."

"We often speak about the strength of our housing market and the opportunities it provides. I believe in that vision—but I also feel compelled to share a few real experiences that have caused me deep concern and, frankly, heartbreak as we navigate this new housing reality. Today’s young buyers no longer have the luxury of peace of mind. In order to qualify for a home at all, many are forced to push their finances to the absolute limit. If they qualify for $400,000, they are often asking their..."

"I currently rent a room in a shared house as a single young adult. I’m working toward buying my first home, but based on today’s prices and what I can realistically save, it will likely take me another 3–5 years to put together a down payment for a basic starter home. What makes this feel discouraging is watching home prices rise year after year. Even when I’m making steady progress, it feels like the finish line keeps moving and homeownership becomes less attainable. I’m not looking for a ..."

"My wife and I got married in August of 2024. We’ve been married a little over a year now, and one of the hardest parts of starting our life together has honestly been finding a place to live. Before we even got married, we spent months searching for housing in Provo. At the time, we were both full-time students trying to balance school, work, and preparing for marriage while also hunting for a place we could actually afford. We were trying to stay close to campus and our jobs and still stay ..."

"We have been in and out of the Utah housing market over the last 20 years. We have left for job opportunities and come back for family and lifestyle. Each time we have come back we have been amazed at how much more difficult it has been to find housing. Now as my children are looking for places to live in the 20s and 30s it is nearly impossible for them. One has been a school teacher and gave up on owning g a home. Another works for a tech company and struggles to see how he will ever get ..."

"My children invested in education, but their incomes don't give them any hope of homeownership. My son, a schoolteacher, would love to live in the same community as the families he serves. Another son, in fintech, would like his wife to be able to stay home with their children. Our daughter would love to be able to afford a second bedroom so she can get the crib out of the living room. We would love to have them live in the same state so we can help with childcare. We hope our children will r..."