Updated · Mike Certo, NMLS #260555
Utah Mortgage Programs
Cornerstone First Mortgage originates Utah mortgages through Mike Certo and his team of seasoned Utah-licensed loan officers. Below is the full menu of programs we run for Utah buyers, each one explained briefly with the key facts. For program-specific eligibility, income limits, FICO requirements, or to talk through your scenario, request more information below or call (480) 296-6513.
Utah Down Payment Assistance
Cornerstone is approved for both Utah state-level DPA programs and the major national DPA options. We run the full menu: Utah Housing Corporation (UHC) statewide programs plus national programs that work in Utah (Chenoa Fund, Arrive Home, Essex/NHF).
Utah state DPA programs
- UHC FirstHome Loan: First-time buyer combo, first mortgage + DPA second (up to 6%), 660+ score.
- UHC HomeAgain Loan: Repeat-buyer combo, first mortgage + DPA second. Listed as temporarily suspended on Utah Housing's site as of 2026; confirm current availability before you count on it.
- UHC Score Loan: Credit-tier program for the 620-659 range, DPA second up to 4%.
- UHC NoMI Loan: Conventional, reduced or no mortgage insurance (built on Freddie Mac's HFA Advantage), 700+ score, DPA second up to 5%.
- Utah Homebuyer Veteran Grant: $2,500 that never has to be repaid, for eligible first-time buyers serving now or separated within the past five years, validated through the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs. Currently closed for FY2026 (funds exhausted); confirm current availability with the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs.
National DPA programs (also available for Utah buyers)
- Chenoa Fund: FHA-paired DPA with both repayable and forgivable structures depending on income/credit profile.
- Arrive Home: national DPA for low-to-moderate income buyers, includes ITIN borrower path.
- Essex Mortgage / NHF: multi-tier DPA pairing for FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional buyers.
One DPA program per transaction. Specific eligibility (income limits, purchase-price caps, FICO thresholds, occupancy, FTHB status) varies, so request more information for your specific scenario.
Buy Before You Sell (BBYS)
Bridge financing for the move-up Utah buyer who needs to buy their next home before their current home sells. Removes the contingency from the offer, and listing agents in Lehi and Park City call this the deal-saver. Cornerstone's BBYS program lets the buyer write a clean offer; we underwrite the bridge based on equity in the existing home plus the new purchase.
- Common scenario: Contract Contingent on Buyer Sale (CCBS) deals where the seller doesn't want a contingent offer; BBYS removes the contingency.
- Process: We underwrite the bridge alongside the new purchase mortgage; close concurrently or near-concurrently.
- Audience: Consumer move-up buyers AND industry listing agents who want their CCBS deal to actually close.
Self-Employed Loans
Tax returns underrepresent self-employed income because of legal deductions. Standard mortgage underwriting punishes that. We run the alternative paths for Utah self-employed buyers: bank-statement loans (12 or 24 months), 1099 loans, and asset-qualifier loans (qualify on liquid assets without showing income).
- Bank statement loans: Qualify on 12 or 24 months of business bank deposits with expense-factor adjustments, not deposit gross.
- 1099 loans: For contractors, gig workers, real estate agents, and other 1099-only earners who qualify on documented 1099 income.
- Asset-qualifier loans: Qualify on liquid assets (cash, brokerage, retirement) divided over an asset-utilization period.
Jumbo & Medical Professionals
Loan amounts above conforming limits: full doc, alt doc, super jumbo (above $2M), plus the standout Medical Professionals program. Up to 100% LTV with NO PMI for physicians, dentists, and a specific list of credentialed medical roles. Utah has substantial jumbo markets in Park City, Deer Valley, Lehi (Silicon Slopes), and Salt Lake County, and Medical Professionals is a frequent Utah path for doctors at Intermountain Health, University of Utah Health, MountainStar Healthcare, and Steward Health Care.
- Medical Professionals eligible: MD, DO, DDS, DMD, DPM, DVM, PharmD, Ophthalmology MD/DO, Psychiatry MD/DO, CRNA with DNAP/DNP.
- Up to 100% LTV at $1.5M with FICO 680; 100% at $2M with FICO 720; 95% at $2M with FICO 680.
- Student loan exclusion: Deferred and IBR student loans excluded from DTI for residents and fellows on resident/fellow income.
Investor & DSCR Loans
For real estate investors buying Utah rental property. DSCR loans qualify on the rental income of the property, not your personal income. We finance below a 1.0 DSCR ratio; sub-1.0 programs are part of our investor menu. Short-term rental products are available for the Park City and St. George Airbnb / VRBO markets.
- DSCR loans: Qualify on the rental income vs the property's debt service, not personal income.
- Below 1.0 DSCR: We finance sub-1.0 scenarios, so request more information for your specific deal.
- Short-term rental specific: Airbnb / VRBO-targeted DSCR products with experienced underwriting for STR income.
First-Time Home Buyer Loans
FHA, USDA, conventional with low down payment, and Utah DPA-paired structures. Designed for the Utah buyer with real-life income and credit, not a perfect-paper applicant. Compare all the first-time buyer loan paths in Utah side by side.
- FHA: 3.5% down, 580+ FICO published (620+ practical overlay).
- USDA: Zero down in USDA-eligible Utah areas.
- Conventional 97: 3% down, 620+ FICO.
Find the program that fits
Call (480) 296-6513 for a free consult, or send your scenario through the form below. Mike and his team review every Utah scenario and respond shortly: no commitment, no salesy follow-up, just an honest read on what’s possible.