April 27, 2026
The 7 Best Utah Cities for House Hacking in 2026 (Ranked by Cash Flow)
House HackingReal Estate InvestingBuying a HouseFirst-Time Buyers
Invest and Grow
Build Your Utah Rental Portfolio
Whether you're buying your second property or your twentieth, I'll help you find, analyze, and acquire cash-flowing rentals in Utah's best markets.
Schedule a Free Strategy CallOur Investment Strategies
Three proven plays we run with Utah investors — pick the one that fits your timeline, capital, and risk tolerance.
🏠 Long-Term Rentals
The backbone of most Utah portfolios. Single-family homes, townhomes, condos, and small multifamily (2–4 units) all run the same play: hold long-term, let tenants pay down the mortgage, ride Utah's appreciation curve.
✓ Consistent monthly cash flow
✓ Long-term tenant stability
✓ Mortgage paydown & appreciation
✓ Works for SFH, condo, townhome, 2–4 unit
🏖️ Short-Term Rentals
Higher income potential in tourism-driven markets like Park City, Moab, and St. George. Bigger swings, more management, but a top-performing nightly listing can outperform a long-term lease 2–3x.
✓ Higher revenue per night
✓ Flexibility for personal use
✓ Tourism-driven markets
✓ Bonus depreciation eligibility
🔄 BRRRR Method
Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat — the strategy experienced investors use to recycle the same pool of capital across multiple deals. Sourcing the right distressed property is the whole game.
✓ Forced appreciation
✓ Recycle your capital
✓ Build equity quickly
✓ Scale faster than buy-and-hold
What You Can Buy
Rental Property Types in Utah
Same long-term-rental playbook, five different shapes. The right one depends on your budget, financing, and how hands-on you want to be.
🏡
Single Family
Detached homes, the classic Utah rental. Easiest to finance, easiest to sell, attracts the most stable long-term tenants.
Best for: first investment, lower management overhead
🏘️
Townhomes
Lower entry price than detached SFH, with HOA-managed exteriors. Strong rental demand from young professionals and small families.
Best for: cash-flow-focused investors, hands-off owners
🏢
Condos
Lowest barrier to entry in many Utah markets. HOA covers exterior, but rental restrictions and HOA fees need careful review.
Best for: starter rentals near downtown SLC, ski markets
🏬
Multifamily (2–4)
Duplex, triplex, fourplex. Still qualifies for residential financing (FHA, conventional). The best house-hack vehicle in the state.
Best for: house hackers, scalable cash-flow plays
🏤
Commercial Residential (5+)
Apartment buildings of 5 or more units. Commercial financing, valued on income (NOI ÷ cap rate). A different game with bigger checks and bigger upside.
Best for: experienced investors scaling beyond residential
The Big Decision
Single Family vs Multifamily in Utah
Two different ways to play the long-term rental game. Both work in Utah — but they suit different investor profiles.
🏡
Single Family Homes
Entry Price$400K–$700K typical
FinancingConventional, 25% down
Cash FlowModest ($100–$400/mo)
ManagementOne tenant, simpler
Vacancy Risk100% if tenant leaves
Exit StrategySell to retail buyer (deepest market)
AppreciationStrong (broad demand)
Best for: First-time investors, hands-off owners, anyone prioritizing appreciation and exit flexibility over cash flow.
🏬
Multifamily (2–4 Units)
Entry Price$500K–$1M typical
FinancingConventional, 25% down
Cash FlowStronger ($400–$1,200/mo)
ManagementMultiple tenants, more work
Vacancy Risk25–50% if one leaves
Exit StrategySell to investor (smaller market)
AppreciationSolid (smaller buyer pool)
Best for: House hackers, cash-flow-focused investors, anyone willing to trade some management complexity for stronger monthly returns.
In Utah specifically, multifamily inventory is thinner outside Salt Lake and Ogden, while SFH inventory is everywhere. We'll help you decide which fits your timeline and stomach — and which one is actually findable in your target market.
Run the Numbers
Investor Calculators
Three quick calculators to help you screen deals. Type in the inputs — results update live.
💵 Cash-on-Cash Return
Annual cash flow divided by cash invested. The fastest way to compare deals on equal footing.
$
%
$
Cash invested$125,000
Cash-on-Cash Return
7.20%
Investment loans typically require 25% down. Investors target 8–12% cash-on-cash in Utah's current market.
📊 Cap Rate
Net Operating Income divided by property value. The standard yardstick for valuing income property.
$
$
Cap Rate
4.80%
Utah residential cap rates typically run 4–6.5%; commercial multifamily often higher.
🏦 Mortgage Payment
Principal and interest only. Add taxes, insurance, and HOA separately for true PITI.
$
%
%
yrs
Loan amount$375,000
Monthly Payment (P&I)
$2,495
For total monthly cost, add property tax (~0.55% in UT), insurance, and HOA.
These are screening tools, not underwriting. For a real deal we'll work through the full numbers together — vacancy, capex, management, and the local rent comps that make or break the analysis.
Keep More of What You Earn
Tax Strategies for Investors
Two of the most powerful tax tools in real estate — one defers gains, the other accelerates deductions. Both can compound your wealth dramatically over a portfolio's lifetime.
DEFER CAPITAL GAINS
1031 Exchange
Trade up without paying capital gains tax today.
A 1031 exchange lets you sell an investment property and roll the entire sale proceeds into a "like-kind" replacement property — without writing the IRS a check on the gain. Done right, you can keep deferring decades' worth of taxes while scaling into bigger, better-cash-flowing assets.
✓Defer all federal capital gains tax on the sale
✓Reset depreciation on the new property
✓Keep stacking until you pass it to heirs at stepped-up basis
ACCELERATE DEDUCTIONS
Cost Segregation
Front-load decades of depreciation into the first few years.
A cost segregation study reclassifies portions of your building (flooring, fixtures, landscaping, certain electrical) from 27.5/39-year depreciation into 5-, 7-, and 15-year buckets. The result: a much larger deduction in year one — often six figures on a single property — that can offset your rental income (and sometimes more).
✓Big paper losses without spending a dollar
✓Especially powerful with bonus depreciation
✓We partner with a specialty firm to run the study
Tax strategy is highly individual. We can introduce you to qualified intermediaries (1031) and a cost-seg firm we trust — but always loop in your CPA before pulling the trigger.
OUR FAVORITE STRATEGY
House Hacking
House hacking is one of the best ways to get started in real estate investing. Buy a multi-unit property, live in one unit, and rent out the others — your tenants help cover your mortgage while you build equity and wealth.
✓ Live for free or at a reduced cost
✓ Qualify with FHA loans (as low as 3.5% down)
✓ Build equity while gaining landlord experience
✓ Scale into your next property faster
Markets We Know
🏔️
Salt Lake Valley
Utah's economic engine and the state's deepest rental pool. Silicon Slopes spillover, a dense job base, and steady 5%+ annual appreciation make SLC, Sandy, Draper, Murray, and South Jordan a long-term hold investor's dream — with strong tenant demand year-round from professionals and University of Utah students.
🏙️
Utah County
One of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S. BYU, UVU, and tech employers like Adobe, Qualtrics, and Ancestry fuel relentless demand for student rentals and workforce housing in Provo, Orem, Lehi, and American Fork. Expect strong rent growth and multiple-offer inventory — ideal for BRRRR plays and by-the-room house hacks.
🏘️
Ogden Area
Utah's cash-flow play. Lower entry prices and stronger day-one rent-to-price ratios, plus a resurging arts, brewery, and outdoor scene, make Ogden, Roy, North Ogden, and Riverdale a favorite for first-time investors and out-of-state buyers hunting positive cash flow from day one.
Our App
Brick & Yield
Brick & Yield is our deal-finding app built for real estate investors in Utah. Whether you're searching for your first house or adding to a growing portfolio, our app puts the data you need right at your fingertips.
Browse active listings, run cash flow projections, and compare investment opportunities across the Wasatch Front and beyond — all from your phone. No more spreadsheets, no more guesswork. Just smart, data-driven investing.
Benefits
- Sort and filter investment properties
- Analyze cash flow and ROI instantly
- Compare properties side by side
- Set alerts for new opportunities
- Interactive maps and neighborhood data
Investor Resources
June 27, 2024
The Ultimate Guide to Renting vs. Buying a Home in Utah
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June 20, 2024
Navigating Utah’s Real Estate Market: Key Insights for New Investors
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June 13, 2024
The Best Neighborhoods in Utah for Young Professionals
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June 6, 2024
How to Invest in Utah Real Estate: A Beginner's Guide
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June 2, 2024
Top 10 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers in Utah: A Guide to House Hacking
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May 9, 2024
The Ultimate Guide to House Hacking in THE Salt Lake VALLEY
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Investor Wins
What Our Clients Say
Real Google reviews from Utah investors building their portfolios with us.
★★★★★
Outstanding Support
"Jocelyn is amazing to work with. She was actively looking with me for a duplex every day. I was out of state during an open house and she walked through for me on FaceTime. She creatively helped me build a competitive offer."
Shawna Howard
6 months ago
★★★★★
Expert Guidance
"Jocelyn is great! As I begin to invest in real estate, it's nice to have an expert by my side. She has a great grasp of the Utah market and worked hard getting us the best price possible."
Katie Barr
7 months ago
★★★★★
Patient & Knowledgeable
"Jocelyn was incredibly patient and attentive, and she's a wealth of knowledge. Beyond understanding the market, she is super crafty when it comes to fixing/renovating things."
Wolf Weisz
6 months ago
★★★★★
Won a Bidding War
"Just closed on a house and couldn't be happier with Jocelyn! She helped us understand the SLC market and was patient with our search. Her expertise helped us win a bid with 7 competing offers."
Willy McNamara
11 months ago
★★★★★
Professional Excellence
"As a mortgage lender who works with many realtors, working with Jocelyn was an awesome experience. She stayed on top of everything and made sure the whole process ran smoothly."
Devyn Gerber
10 months ago
★★★★★
Honest & Available
"Jocelyn is amazing she went above and beyond to help us get our first home! She's a straight shooter, and whenever we wanted to look at homes she was always available to take us around."
Alex Zwahlen
7 months ago
Ready to Scale Your Portfolio?
Let's find your next cash-flowing rental in Utah.
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