Median Total Costs
$8,364
+25.2% vs national ($6,680)
↓ $180 vs prior year
Median Rate
6.380%
−1.7% vs national (6.490%)
Median Origination
$3,883
Purchase Originations
34,376
Denial Rate
5.9%
vs national avg (9.0%)
Utah is a non-judicial foreclosure state that uses deeds of trust as the primary security instrument. Lenders may foreclose through a trustee sale process without court involvement, which typically makes the timeline shorter than judicial states. Utah is not an attorney-closing state; licensed title companies and escrow officers routinely handle closings without an attorney present. Transfer taxes in Utah are minimal: the state charges a deed recordation fee rather than a traditional transfer tax, and there is no state-level real property transfer tax. Title insurance rates in Utah operate under a file-and-use system, meaning title insurers file rates with the Utah Insurance Department before use but rates are not promulgated. Utah follows federal guidelines on prepayment penalties for most qualified mortgages, with no additional state-specific prepayment penalty restrictions beyond federal Regulation Z. The Utah Department of Financial Institutions and the Utah Division of Real Estate jointly oversee mortgage lender licensing and consumer complaints related to mortgage origination.
Conventional loans dominate Utah's purchase market, accounting for 67.1% of 2024 originations (22,684 loans), consistent with the state's relatively high median loan amount of $435,000 and a borrower profile that often exceeds FHA loan limits. FHA loans represent a significant 25.0% share (8,450 loans), reflecting demand from first-time and lower-down-payment buyers in a high-cost market. VA loans account for 7.5% (2,551 loans), supported by military installations including Hill Air Force Base. USDA loans are rare at 0.4% (127 loans), reflecting Utah's largely urban and suburban population distribution.
First Colony Mortgage Corporation
A Utah-headquartered lender with a substantial in-state footprint, First Colony ranked second by purchase origination volume in Utah in 2024 with 2,184 loans. Its median total closing costs of $10,042 ran above the state median, making cost comparison worthwhile.
Intercap Lending Inc.
Also Utah-based, Intercap Lending originated 2,070 purchase loans in 2024 and posted a median total closing cost of $7,312 — among the lower figures of the top-five lenders by volume in the state. Its regional focus makes it a relevant comparison point for Utah buyers.
Guild Mortgage Company LLC
Guild Mortgage maintains a notable retail presence across Utah with 2,118 originations in 2024. Its median total closing costs of $10,826 were the highest among Utah's top-five lenders by volume, underscoring the importance of loan estimate comparisons.
| Loan type | Volume | Median Rate | Median Total Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| conventional | 23,536 | 6.499% | $6,417 |
| fha | 7,939 | 6.125% | $15,283 |
| va | 2,749 | 6.124% | $7,497 |
| usda | 152 | 5.990% | $9,290 |
Ranked by median total loan costs among lenders with 50+ purchase originations in Utah.
| Rank | Lender | Median Total Costs ↑ | Median Rate ↕ | Median Origination ↕ | Volume ↕ | vs. Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,458 | 5.625% | $0 | 1,030 | −$5,906 | |
| 2 | $2,977 | 6.000% | $0 | 86 | −$5,387 | |
| 3 | $3,770 | 6.625% | $1,595 | 88 | −$4,594 | |
| 4 | $3,796 | 6.250% | $926 | 166 | −$4,568 | |
| 5 | $3,833 | 4.990% | $1,148 | 507 | −$4,531 | |
| 6 | $4,215 | 6.624% | $1,806 | 143 | −$4,149 | |
| 7 | $4,419 | 4.875% | $1,500 | 143 | −$3,945 | |
| 8 | $4,492 | 6.375% | $1,709 | 437 | −$3,872 | |
| 9 | $4,620 | 6.125% | $1,933 | 82 | −$3,744 | |
| 10 | $4,926 | 6.125% | $0 | 355 | −$3,438 | |
| 11 | $4,928 | 6.624% | $1,615 | 201 | −$3,436 | |
| 12 | $5,017 | 6.000% | $1,527 | 60 | −$3,347 | |
| 13 | $5,154 | 6.490% | $1,535 | 226 | −$3,210 | |
| 14 | $5,210 | 6.375% | $2,134 | 118 | −$3,154 | |
| 15 | $5,304 | 6.490% | $3,032 | 313 | −$3,060 | |
| 16 | $5,366 | 6.500% | $1,370 | 59 | −$2,998 | |
| 17 | $5,524 | 4.625% | $836 | 297 | −$2,840 | |
| 18 | $5,759 | 6.125% | $2,040 | 197 | −$2,605 | |
| 19 | $6,201 | 6.500% | $0 | 120 | −$2,163 | |
| 20 | $6,548 | 6.375% | $3,416 | 1,436 | −$1,816 | |
| 21 | $6,730 | 6.625% | $6,770 | 116 | −$1,634 | |
| 22 | $6,813 | 6.500% | $4,594 | 68 | −$1,551 | |
| 23 | $6,932 | 6.625% | $3,344 | 627 | −$1,432 | |
| 24 | $7,090 | 6.487% | $2,628 | 192 | −$1,274 | |
| 25 | $7,143 | 6.500% | $4,590 | 148 | −$1,221 |
Includes lenders with 50+ purchase originations in Utah. Source: HMDA 2025. Sorted by median total loan costs.
Total closing costs in Utah tend to fall in a range meaningfully above the national average, largely because higher loan balances scale up origination and third-party fees proportionally. Title insurance premiums and escrow fees are typically the largest third-party line items and vary enough between providers to reward comparison shopping. Lender origination charges — including any points, underwriting fees, and application fees — are the most commonly inflated category and can differ substantially across lenders even on identical loan scenarios, as the spread between top-five lenders' median costs illustrates. Government recording fees and state-related charges are relatively modest in Utah. Buyers should use their Loan Estimate to compare lender fees and simultaneously obtain competing title and escrow quotes, as these services fall in the 'shoppable' category under federal disclosure rules.
Got a Utah Closing Disclosure or Loan Estimate?
HMDA medians tell you what Utah lenders usually charge. Upload your paperwork to see exactly how your quote compares — and get a ready-to-send negotiation email.
See user-reported fees for lenders serving Utah →
Grades A–F from verified closing disclosure and loan estimate uploads — not industry medians.
Salt Lake County
9,657 originations
Utah County
8,747 originations
Davis County
3,308 originations
Weber County
3,088 originations
Washington County
2,688 originations
Cache County
1,306 originations
Tooele County
1,208 originations
Iron County
813 originations
Box Elder County
786 originations
Wasatch County
475 originations
Summit County
397 originations
Uintah County
348 originations
Sanpete County
240 originations
Sevier County
196 originations
Carbon County
184 originations
Duchesne County
147 originations
Morgan County
144 originations
Juab County
136 originations
See Utah closing cost details, fee benchmarks, and county comparisons → Utah Closing Costs Guide
Found your lender? Make sure their quote is fair.
HMDA data shows industry-wide medians. Your actual quote may differ. Upload your Closing Disclosure or Loan Estimate to see exactly where your fees stand — and get a ready-to-send negotiation email.
Data source: HMDA Modified Loan Application Register 2025, published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Statistics reflect originated first-lien purchase mortgages on owner-occupied principal residences. Medians exclude loans with exempt or unreported fee disclosures. Learn more at ffiec.cfpb.gov.