A straight answer
What is Utah's new FirstHome Conventional loan, and do I qualify?
The direct answer
Yes, I arrange Utah Housing's new FirstHome Conventional loan through a Utah Housing participating lender. I review your income, credit, the home and your purchase plans against the program rules, and the participating lender closes the loan. I'm Zach von der Linden (NMLS 1652805), a mortgage broker with West Capital Lending, based in San Clemente.
FirstHome Conventional is Utah Housing's conventional version of its FirstHome first mortgage for first-time buyers. Utah Housing's memo to its participating lenders gives the launch date as October 19, 2026. It is a fixed-rate purchase loan with private mortgage insurance, and it uses the same household income and purchase price limits as FirstHome. I put the financing together; the participating lender closes the loan, and Utah Housing sets the rules.
Zach von der Linden, mortgage broker and Branch Manager, West Capital Lending · NMLS 1652805
Wholesale pricing · California, Utah, Oregon and Arizona
5.0 across 66 reviews on Experience.com (read on 2026-09-24) · Text reaches Zach directly · Last updated 2026-10-19
Buying in Utah? Text me the city, purchase price range and whether you're a first-time buyer. I'll tell you what I need to check for the Utah Housing program.
No credit pull happens from a text or a call. Texts and calls go to Zach's cell.
What happens after you text me?
Texts go straight to my cell, and I answer them myself when I'm free. I'll ask for the few details that actually matter, tell you whether the structure looks worth pursuing, and explain the next step. If I don't think the loan fits, I'll tell you that too.
A text or phone conversation does not pull your credit.
What is FirstHome Conventional?
Utah Housing's FirstHome program is a first mortgage for first-time buyers whose income and purchase price are under its posted limits. Utah Housing's September 16, 2026 memo to its participating lenders introduces FirstHome Conventional as a "new conventional bond mortgage option" that "expands the trusted FirstHome Mortgage Program," launching October 19, 2026.
Its FirstHome matrix now has a Government column and a Conventional column. On the conventional side it describes an "Owner-occupied, 30-year fixed rate, purchase first-lien conventional mortgage with PMI," and the memo says it uses "the same income and purchase price limits as FirstHome."
Utah Housing's fact sheet lets brokers take part when a Utah Housing participating lender underwrites, closes and ships the loan, and the loan closes in that lender's name. That is how I work on it: I put the financing together, and the participating lender closes the loan.
Who qualifies for FirstHome Conventional?
Every occupying borrower must be a first-time homebuyer, which Utah Housing defines as no ownership interest in a principal residence in the three years before the loan is signed. Its matrix lists exceptions for single parents and veterans.
Your household income has to be under the limit Utah Housing posts for your county and household size, counting everyone who signs the note or deed of trust, and the price has to be under its purchase price limit. Utah Housing's income and purchase price limits page lists both by county, in a table for FirstHome Government and Conventional.
On the conventional side, the matrix sets a minimum credit score, requires an Accept finding from automated underwriting (no manual underwriting), and does not allow alternative credit or a non-occupant co-borrower or co-signer. When every occupying borrower is a first-time buyer, at least one has to finish homebuyer education before closing.
What kind of home qualifies?
A single-unit home you'll live in as your principal residence: a house, a PUD, a condominium or a townhome, per Utah Housing's matrix. You have to move in within 60 days of closing, and no part of the home can be rented while the Utah Housing loan is in place. Investment properties, short-term rentals and recreational properties are not eligible.
A condo also has to meet the first mortgage's project requirements. If you are not sure the building will pass, why a condo may not qualify for financing covers what gets reviewed.
Mortgage insurance and down payment assistance
Utah Housing's memo lists monthly private mortgage insurance or single- and split-premium options, no upfront mortgage insurance premium or funding fee, and reduced mortgage insurance options for eligible borrowers below an area median income threshold Utah Housing sets. What the insurance costs depends on your file, so I review it with you on the actual numbers.
Utah Housing's FirstHome matrix lists its down payment assistance second mortgage for the program, closed together with the Utah Housing first mortgage, in a traditional version with a monthly payment and a deferred version with no monthly payment.
Buying a newly built home that hasn't been lived in? Utah Housing runs a separate assistance program for new construction, with its own rules: Utah assistance for qualifying new construction.
My pre-approval uses a soft credit check. Get pre-approved, and tell me you want to explore Utah Housing so I can review the applicable program through a participating lender.
Questions people ask next
What is Utah FirstHome Conventional?
It is Utah Housing's new conventional version of its FirstHome first mortgage for first-time buyers: a 30-year fixed-rate purchase loan with private mortgage insurance, under the same income and purchase price limits as FirstHome. Utah Housing's memo to its participating lenders gives the launch date as October 19, 2026. I arrange FirstHome Conventional through a Utah Housing participating lender, which closes the loan, and Utah Housing's program guidelines set the eligibility rules.
Is FirstHome Conventional only for first-time buyers?
Yes, with exceptions. Utah Housing requires every occupying borrower to be a first-time homebuyer, meaning no ownership interest in a principal residence in the three years before the loan is signed, and its matrix lists exceptions for single parents and veterans. If you have owned a home more recently, Utah Housing has other first mortgages for previous owners, and I can check which one fits.
Does FirstHome Conventional have mortgage insurance?
Yes. It is a conventional loan with private mortgage insurance. Utah Housing's memo says you can choose monthly mortgage insurance or single- and split-premium options, that there is no upfront mortgage insurance premium or funding fee, and that reduced mortgage insurance options are available for eligible borrowers below an area median income threshold Utah Housing sets. What it costs depends on your file.
Can I use Utah Housing down payment assistance with it?
Yes, if you qualify for it. Utah Housing's FirstHome matrix lists its down payment assistance second mortgage for the program, closed together with the Utah Housing first mortgage, in a traditional version with a monthly payment and a deferred version with no monthly payment. Utah Housing's separate assistance for newly built homes has its own rules.
What clients say
Zach was so easy to work with. He made a stressful situation into a very positive experience for us and did push us one way or another. He listened to what we hoped we could accomplish and made it happen.
Word for word from Experience.com. Read all reviews.
Sources and checked dates
Sources: Utah Housing Corporation, Memorandum: FirstHome Conventional (September 16, 2026) (checked 2026-10-19) · Utah Housing Corporation, Matrix: FirstHome Government and Conventional (UHC Form 301, Rev. 10/02/2026) (checked 2026-10-19) · Utah Housing Corporation, Fact Sheet: FirstHome Mortgage (UHC Form 311, Rev. 10/02/2026) (checked 2026-10-19) · Utah Housing Corporation, Income and Purchase Price Limits (checked 2026-10-19) · Utah Housing Corporation, Homeownership programs (checked 2026-10-18) · Confirmed by Zach, October 2026 (checked 2026-10-19).
Show each claim on this page, what it depends on, and the date it was checked (6)
| What we say, and what it depends on | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Housing Corporation memorandum to its Participating Lenders, "Introducing the New FirstHome Conventional Program" (September 16, 2026): "A powerful new path to affordable homeownership launches October 19, 2026!" Utah Housing's "new conventional bond mortgage option expands the trusted FirstHome Mortgage Program." It lists flexible mortgage insurance ("Choose monthly PMI or single- and split-premium options"), reduced mortgage insurance options for eligible borrowers below an area median income threshold, and "No upfront mortgage insurance premium or funding fee," and says "The new program will use the same income and purchase price limits as FirstHome." | Utah Housing Corporation, Memorandum: FirstHome Conventional (September 16, 2026) | 2026-10-19 |
| Utah Housing Corporation, Matrix: FirstHome Program Overlay, Government and Conventional (UHC Form 301, Rev. 10/02/2026). FirstHome Conventional: "Owner-occupied, 30-year fixed rate, purchase first-lien conventional mortgage with PMI." All occupant borrowers must be first-time homebuyers ("borrowers who have not had an ownership interest in a Principal Residence three years before the date of execution of the loan"), with "Exceptions for single parents and Veteran borrowers." The conventional column sets a minimum FICO score, does not permit alternative credit or non-occupant co-borrowers or co-signers, requires an automated underwriting risk class "Accept" (manual underwriting not permitted), and requires homebuyer education before closing when all occupying borrowers are first-time homebuyers. Household income limits and purchase price limits are those listed on the Utah Housing website. Eligible properties: single-unit owner-occupied residences, PUDs, condominiums and townhomes; the borrower must occupy within 60 days of closing, and no portion of the residence can be rented. The matrix lists Utah Housing's down payment assistance second mortgage, traditional (fully amortizing) and deferred (no monthly payment), closed concurrently with a Utah Housing first mortgage. Verification of all 9 digits of the Social Security number is required. | Utah Housing Corporation, Matrix: FirstHome Government and Conventional (UHC Form 301, Rev. 10/02/2026) | 2026-10-19 |
| Utah Housing Corporation, Fact Sheet: FirstHome Mortgage, Government and Conventional (UHC Form 311, Rev. 10/02/2026): the FirstHome Loan "offers first mortgage loans to qualified first-time homebuyers," and a single parent who has previously owned a home may be considered a first-time homebuyer. "Approved Participating Mortgage Lenders, Brokers, and Third-Party Originators (TPOs) are permitted. A UHC Approved Participating Lender must underwrite, close, and ship the loan." "The loan must close in the name of the UHC Approved Participating Lender." All FirstHome Mortgages have a maximum acquisition cost (purchase price) and maximum household income limits; owner-occupied primary residence only. | Utah Housing Corporation, Fact Sheet: FirstHome Mortgage (UHC Form 311, Rev. 10/02/2026) | 2026-10-19 |
| Utah Housing Corporation, Income and Purchase Price Limits: maximum annual household income (by family size) and maximum acquisition cost by county, in a table for "FirstHome Government & Conventional." | Utah Housing Corporation, Income and Purchase Price Limits | 2026-10-19 |
| Utah Housing Corporation, Homeownership programs: "Down Payment Assistance, “Subordinate Loan” can be combined with any of our loan programs to help homebuyers with funds needed to purchase a home." Its first mortgages include FirstHome, aimed at first-time homebuyers within posted income and purchase price limits, and programs for previous owners. | Utah Housing Corporation, Homeownership programs | 2026-10-18 |
| I arrange Utah Housing financing, including FirstHome Conventional, through a Utah Housing participating lender. I am the broker; the participating lender closes the loan. | Confirmed by Zach, October 2026 | 2026-10-19 |
Written for and accountable to: Zach von der Linden, Mortgage broker and Branch Manager, West Capital Lending.
Last updated 2026-10-19.
Verify him: NMLS Consumer Access, ID 1652805 · 66 reviews on Experience.com.
Sources for product claims are listed on this page, with the date each was checked.