Most people moving to Utah end up looking at the Wasatch Front, the line of cities that runs north and south along the foot of the Wasatch Mountains. It stretches from around Ogden in the north, through Davis County and Salt Lake County, to Utah County and Provo in the south. Most of the state's population lives here, and most of the homes for sale are here too.
This guide is a starting point. It is not a ranking of places, and the right fit depends on what you want from a home: the commute, the size of the lot, the kind of house, and how close you want to be to the mountains.
The lay of the land
The cities sit in valleys between the Wasatch Mountains to the east and the Great Salt Lake and the Oquirrh Mountains to the west. That shapes almost everything. Homes on the east benches sit higher, often with views across the valley. Homes on the valley floor are usually closer to the freeway and to shopping. Newer subdivisions keep spreading south and west, where there is still open land.
Salt Lake City is the state capital and the centre of the metro area. Ogden to the north has its own historic downtown. Provo and Orem to the south are home to large universities. In between are dozens of cities, each with its own character, its own city services and its own rules for things like fences, sheds and accessory units.
Getting around
Interstate 15 is the spine of the Wasatch Front and runs the length of it. Interstate 80 heads east into the mountains and Park City, and Interstate 215 loops around much of Salt Lake County.
The Utah Transit Authority runs FrontRunner, a commuter train between Ogden and Provo, and TRAX light rail within Salt Lake County, along with buses. If you will commute to downtown Salt Lake City or the university, living near a FrontRunner or TRAX station can change your daily drive a great deal. Ask us to show you homes near a station if that matters to you.
Four real seasons
Utah has four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and dry. Winters bring snow, more on the benches and in the mountains than on the valley floor. Spring and autumn are short and pleasant. Two things surprise many newcomers: how dry the air is, and how quickly the ski resorts are reached from the cities. Several resorts in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, Parleys Canyon and around Park City are under an hour from much of Salt Lake County, traffic and weather allowing.
Winter also brings inversions, when cold air is trapped in the valleys under warmer air and haze builds up. They come and go with the weather and are worth knowing about before your first January.
Things to check before you buy
The commute at the time of day you will actually drive it.
Whether the home has secondary water for the yard, and what it costs.
How the home is heated and cooled. Many Utah homes have a gas furnace, and some older homes use evaporative (swamp) coolers rather than air conditioning.
Radon test results. Radon is found across Utah, and testing is simple.
The city's rules if you plan to add a basement apartment, a shed or a fence.
How we help people moving here
Moving from out of state means choosing an area you may have only seen online. We can show you homes by video, send you what has sold nearby, and plan a short trip so you see the most in the least time. When you are ready, tell us what matters most and we will narrow the map with you.
If you are thinking about a move to Utah, contact The Luxury Agency with your questions. We are glad to help, whether you are moving this spring or just starting to look.
