Plain answers to real questions.
No fluff, just the stuff that actually comes up in Utah transactions, written the way I'd explain it to you in person.
Buying
What are buyer closing costs in Utah?
What to budget at closing, and realistic ways to bring it down.
Read the full answerShould I buy now, or wait for rates to fall?
A practical way to weigh payment comfort, competition, and how long you plan to stay.
Read the full answerHow long does the buying process take?
The real timeline from pre-approval to keys in hand.
Read the full answerWhen is my first mortgage payment due?
Why it skips a month, and how to time your move to avoid a double payment.
Read the full answerWhat is earnest money?
How much is typical, what it protects, and how it's used at closing.
Read the full answerWhat incentives exist for first-time buyers?
Utah Housing Corporation programs, down payment assistance, and low-down-payment loans.
Read the full answerShould I do an FHA or conventional loan?
How the mortgage insurance rules actually differ between the two.
Read the full answerHow does a lease-to-own option work?
What you're paying for, and the real risks on both sides.
Read the full answerWhat should I look for when evaluating homes?
Big-ticket items to watch for, and where an inspector's job takes over.
Read the full answerWhy buy instead of rent?
The real Federal Reserve data on the wealth gap between owning and renting.
Read the full answerWhy your first home doesn't need to look like your parents'
On starting the homeownership journey, one honest step at a time.
Read the full answerSelling
How much does it cost to sell a house in Utah?
Commission, title, settlement, taxes and concessions, with a simple net example.
Read the full answerWhy is Zillow wrong about my home's value?
Utah is a non-disclosure state. Here's what that means for online estimates.
Read the full answerWhat should I do before listing my home?
How to prioritize repairs, presentation, and pricing without spending money in the wrong places.
Read the full answerWhy do I keep getting cash offer mailers?
What investors and wholesalers are actually offering, and why listing usually nets more.
Read the full answerWhat is a subject-to mortgage?
Creative financing explained, and the real risks worth understanding first.
Read the full answerShould I sell before I buy my next home?
How equity, timing, and risk tolerance shape the right order for your move.
Read the full answerOwning & moving
What is Title Lock, and is it worth it?
What title fraud monitoring actually does, and Utah's free alternative.
Read the full answerChecklist for moving into a home
What actually needs to happen before and after move-in day.
Read the full answerChecklist for moving out of a home
What your contract requires, and how to leave the home the right way.
Read the full answerMore guides on the way. If you've got a question that's not here yet, just ask, I'm happy to write it up or answer it directly.
Neighborhoods
What it's actually like to live in the cities I work in most, along the Wasatch Front.
Davis County at a glance
Davis County sits in a narrow strip between the Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch Mountains, with I-15 and FrontRunner running its full length. A lot of my business comes from here, and I know these neighborhoods personally.
Tap a gold city to open its buying guide. Map is approximate, not to scale.
Buying in Bountiful
Established, tree-lined, and about as convenient to Salt Lake as Davis County gets.
Read the guideBuying in Centerville
Quiet, small, and sandwiched conveniently between Bountiful and Farmington.
Read the guideBuying in North Salt Lake
The closest Davis County gets to downtown Salt Lake.
Read the guideBuying in Farmington
Newer construction, Station Park, and a more upscale price point.
Read the guideBuying in Layton
The largest city in Davis County, with the most housing variety.
Read the guideBuying in Syracuse
One of the fastest-growing cities in Davis County.
Read the guideBuying in Ogden
More affordable, with a distinct downtown and unmatched mountain access.
Read the guideBuying in Kaysville
Established neighborhoods, bigger lots, and a historic Main Street.
Read the guideBuying in Woods Cross
Small and central, with its own FrontRunner station.
Read the guideBuying in West Bountiful
Quiet streets, larger lots, and very few homes for sale.
Read the guideBuying in Salt Lake City
Very different neighborhoods, from the Avenues to Rose Park.
Read the guideBuying in Cottonwood Heights
East bench living at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Read the guideBuying in Midvale
Central, close to TRAX, and often more approachable on price.
Read the guideBuying in Murray
Central, established, with its own school district and Murray Park.
Read the guideBuying in Sandy
A wide range of homes with quick Little Cottonwood access.
Read the guideHave a question that's not answered here?
Send it over, I'll give you a straight answer, no pressure attached.
Ask Jason