For several years in a row, analysts have warned that the Wasatch Front is on the verge of a housing affordability crisis. Areas on all sides of the Wasatch mountain range have seen housing prices skyrocket since 2014. Unless measures are taken to address the issue, thousands of Utahns will be in danger of being priced out of the market, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
Meeting the current housing affordability challenge head-on, Layton City offers its At Home in Layton program — home ownership assistance to qualifying homebuyers. Assistance is offered as a grant that may be used for up to 50% of the required down payment, closing costs or principal reduction. The grant is available in $7,500 increments.
Grants are made possible thanks to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The program allows for blocks of grant funding to be disbursed to communities across the country, primarily for the purpose of benefiting low- and moderate-income people.
The CDBG program year covers July 1 through June 30. The recently completed 2020-2021 program year saw 15 households assisted for a total of $112,500 in down payment grants. At Home in Layton grants are secured by a Promissory Note and Trust Deed. If the house is sold before the end of the fifth year from the closing date, at least a portion of the funds would need to be repaid to the City.
For more information, contact Morgan Cloward, Layton City CDBG & Economic Development Specialist, mcloward@laytoncity.org, 801-336-3770.