Emery County offers home buyers loans up to $15,000 and owners up to $20,000 for repairs
The county's redevelopment agency is paying for the program mostly with money set aside from local solar projects. Households earning 80% to 120% of the area median income can apply.
Emery County has started a housing program that offers eligible residents money toward buying a home or repairing the one they live in. [1][2][3]
The Emery County Housing Initiative was set up by the county's Community Reinvestment Agency. Most of its money comes from funds the agency set aside for housing from local solar energy projects, and the county may add state and federal housing money, grants, private donations and approved partnerships. The county says the goal is to help residents afford homes, fix existing homes and add housing for local workers, including teachers, law enforcement officers and other essential employees. [1]
The initiative has two parts. The Homeownership Assistance Program lends eligible buyers up to $15,000 for a down payment and closing costs at a fixed 1% interest rate, with no monthly payments. The loan comes due when the home is sold, refinanced or transferred, or stops being the buyer's main home. Buyers must live or work in Emery County, take a homebuyer education course and buy a home priced below $382,338, which is 125% of the county's median home value for 2026. [1][2]
The Home Rehabilitation Assistance Program gives income-qualified homeowners up to $20,000 for repairs tied to health and safety, structural problems, accessibility or major home systems such as roofs, wiring, plumbing, furnaces and septic systems. The home must be the owner's main residence, built before 1980, and current on property taxes and insurance. [1][3]
Both programs are for households earning 80% to 120% of the area median income. For a family of four in 2026, that is $78,650 to $117,950. [2][3]
The Utah Association of Counties will run the program through its Housing Foundation Program: it will take applications, manage the money and check that requirements are met. Emery County will keep overseeing the program. Eligibility rules and applications are on the association's pages for the homeownership and home repair programs, and questions go to info@uachousingfoundation.org. [1][2][3]
The county asked local businesses to share the program with employees who might qualify. [1]
Sources
- ETV News: Emery County launches housing assistance programs for local residents, Nov. 2, 2026 etvnews.com
- Utah Association of Counties: Emery County Homeownership Assistance Program utahcounties.org
- Utah Association of Counties: Emery County Home Rehabilitation Assistance Program utahcounties.org
This story was written by AI from the report by ETV News, which has the full story. How we write stories.