Hand Picked Top Lenders We Know, Trust and Recommend
Each of these individuals have their own unique qualities and loan programs
Meet Our Mortgage Lenders
Samantha Quirante
Mortgage Loan Officer – Mountain America Credit Union
Sandy: 10600 South
Midvale: Union Park Avenue
West Jordan: 9000 South
Office: 801-325-6172
Cell: 801-793-0511
NMLS 487126
squirante@macu.com
https://www.macu.com/squirante
Dan Allen
RōBUS Mortgage
5295 S Commerce Dr, Ste 205
Salt Lake City, UT 84107
Office: 801-590-4499
Cell: 801-898-2983
NMLS 801113
dallen@robusmortgage.com
Marc Johnson –
Robert Whitaker –
Unified Lending
Guide: Key Steps to Buying a Home in Utah
1. Assess Your Financial Readiness
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Review Your Credit Score: Most Utah lenders require a score of 620 or higher.
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Calculate Your Budget: Include down payment (often 3-20% of purchase price), closing costs, and monthly expenses.
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Estimate Pre-Approval Amount: Use mortgage estimator tools to see what you can afford.
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Check for Assistance: Investigate Utah down payment assistance programs (programs list).
2. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
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Contact Local Lenders: Shop rates and ask about first-time buyer incentives.
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Pre-Approval Letter: Strengthens offers and shows sellers you’re serious.
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Gather Documents: Proof of income, tax returns, bank statements, ID.
3. Hire a Knowledgeable Utah Real Estate Agent
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Find a Local Expert: Choose an agent familiar with your target neighborhoods.
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Discuss Your Needs: Share your priorities for location, schools, commute, and property type.
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Understand Representation: Utah agents work as buyer’s agents, listing agents, or dual agents—know who’s representing your interests.
4. Start House Hunting
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Online Listing Sites: Use Utah MLS, Zillow, Redfin, and local agent websites.
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Open Houses & Tours: Visit homes in person to assess neighborhood and property condition.
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Evaluate Priorities: Balance needs vs. wants; consider future resale value.
5. Make an Offer & Negotiate
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Market Analysis: Your agent will help determine a fair offer based on recent sales.
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Draft the Offer: Includes offer price, earnest money, and contingencies (financing, inspection, appraisal).
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Negotiate Terms: Be prepared for counteroffers; multiple offer situations are common, especially in urban areas.
6. Complete Due Diligence
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Home Inspection: Hire a licensed inspector to check the property for issues (including radon, termites, and earthquake risks common in Utah).
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Appraisal: Required by most lenders to verify the home’s value.
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Title Search & Insurance: Confirms no outstanding liens or ownership issues.
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HOA/CC&R Review: For condos or communities with associations.
7. Secure Your Mortgage
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Choose Loan Type: Conventional, FHA, VA, and Utah Housing loans each have different requirements and benefits.
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Rate Lock: Lock in your mortgage interest rate—timing can matter in a moving market.
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Finalize Application: Submit last required documents; lender will underwrite your loan.
8. Review & Sign Closing Documents
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Final Walkthrough: Verify that repairs are made and the property is as agreed.
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Closing Disclosure: Review loan terms, fees, and cash-to-close.
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Sign Documents: You’ll meet at the title or escrow office to finalize the purchase and get the keys.
9. Move In & Celebrate!
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Transfer Utilities & Services: Set up water, power, internet, and garbage collection in your name.
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Change Address: Update addresses with banks, postal service, and subscriptions.
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Enjoy Your New Home: Welcome to homeownership in Utah!
News and Blog Posts
Steps to Take Between Mortgage Closing and Moving Day
After closing on your mortgage, follow this checklist to prepare for moving into your new home. Change your address with the Post Office and update utilities. Review your inspection report for necessary repairs and create a maintenance schedule. Deep clean your new...
Guide for First-Time Homebuyers
Buying your first house can be both exciting and overwhelming. Resources are available to empower you with the knowledge needed for homeownership. You can save up to $1,250, and if you find lower costs elsewhere, there are incentives. Local experts are available to...
Housing Market Predictions 2025
In 2025, the housing market shows slow stabilization with mortgage rates declining from near 7%, boosting buyer interest. Home sales remain sluggish but may rise 6% by year-end, while prices continue modest growth due to limited supply. Inventory has increased,...
What Mortgage Rate Will Get Buyers Moving?
A 6% mortgage rate could make homes affordable for 5.5 million more households, potentially unlocking major buying activity across key U.S. metro areas. NAR forecasts rates falling to 6% by 2026, possibly increasing home sales 14%. Current high rates and inventory...
Homeowner Equity Grows Even as Home Prices Dip
After 3 quarters of slipping, equity-rich homes finally ticked up in Q2 2025. ~50% of U.S. homes with mortgages are now equity-rich. Equity-rich = owing less than 50% of your home’s value. In just one quarter, equity-rich homes jumped from 46.2% to 47.4% nationwide....
Is a 31% Boom in Home Prices Possible by 2029?
US home prices ↑ 19.8% cumulatively from 2025 to 2029, averaging ↑ 3.7% annual growth. Annual growth accelerates to ↑ 10.8% by 2027, then reaches ↑ 19.8% cumulative increase in 2029. Optimistic forecasts predict up to ↑ 31% total growth by 2029, pessimistic as low as...
Happy Labor Day
Happy Labor Day! Labor Day is a day dedicated to honoring the contributions and achievements of workers and the labor movement. It marks summer's informal end in the U.S., as schools often start after the holiday. It offers a chance to ponder the historical...
8 Tips For First-Time Homebuyers
First-time homebuyers should follow eight essential steps: assess debt and ensure a manageable debt-to-income ratio, check and correct credit score errors, review budget for additional costs, determine down payment, get preapproved for a mortgage, identify desired...
2.25% Fed Rate: Coming by 2027?
Fed projects a 2% in rate cuts by end of 2027. Forecast: Fed funds rate to decline to 2.25%–2.50% by late 2027. Despite tariff-driven inflation bumps, slowing growth will push Fed to cut further. 10-year Treasury yield forecast to fall to 3.25% by 2028, down from 4.2%...
2025 Housing Forecast: Housing Prices up 3%
The experts forecast a 3% national housing price increase in 2025 due to limited supply. High mortgage rates discourage homeowners from selling, keeping supply low and supporting price stability.
Some of our past clients comments, raves and recommendations.
“Marty Gale far exceeded our expectations as a Buyers Agent in the recent purchase of our home. His knowledge of the Utah real estate market is exceptional and with his experience in residential home construction he was able to provide beneficial advice in selecting well-built homes. The network of professionals that Marty works with are top shelf, his recommendations for home inspection and mortgage broker were perfect. Customer service from this team of professionals is some of the best we have worked with; this is our fifth home purchase. You will not be disappointed in choosing to work with Marty!”


