Relocating to Davis County, Utah: A Step-by-Step Buying Plan for Out-of-State Buyers

You work backwards from your move date. Pick the commute you can live with, get your financing settled first, tour with a plan instead of a wish list, and write an offer that fits your timeline. Done in that order, a long-distance purchase is manageable.

Charisse Walker is a real estate agent with Chalker Properties Group in Salt Lake and Davis County, Utah, and a licensed mortgage lender. I work with a lot of relocating buyers, and the steps below are the ones that keep a move on schedule.

Davis County runs north from Salt Lake County along the Wasatch Front. It includes Bountiful, Centerville, Farmington, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse and more. Each has a different mix of home age, lot size and commute. That variety is the reason a plan matters before you book a flight.

Decide three things at home, before you travel.

1. Where you need to get to. Your job, a base, a school drop-off, an airport. Write the address and the time of day you will be making the trip.
2. Your monthly number. The payment you are comfortable with, including taxes, insurance and any HOA dues.
3. Your must-haves versus nice-to-haves. Bedrooms, garage, yard size, single level. Keep the must-have list to five items or fewer.

The commute is the one people get wrong from a distance. A map shows miles. It does not show you the stretch of road at 7:30 on a weekday. Drive it once on your first trip, at the hour you will actually be on it. Layton, Farmington and Bountiful sit at different distances from downtown Salt Lake City and from Hill Air Force Base, so the same budget can put you at very different drive times.

Talk to a lender before you look at a single listing. A pre-approval tells you what you can borrow and shows sellers you are serious. When I am your agent, your loan comes from your own lender, and I will tell you what to ask them. Ask about the loan types they offer, the closing timeline they commit to, and whether they can work with your documents while you are out of state.

Send your documents early. Pay stubs, bank statements and tax returns take time to gather when you are in the middle of packing a house. If your income is changing because of the move, say so up front. A new job offer letter can matter, and your lender will tell you exactly what they need.

Also ask if the lender can sign documents electronically or by mobile notary. Closing can often be arranged without you being in the room, but it needs to be planned early.

You have two good options, and many buyers use both: a video tour with your agent, then one concentrated trip to see your short list in person.

For the video tour, ask for a live walk-through, not just the listing photos. Ask to see the sides and back of the house, the garage, the attic access, the water heater, and the view from the windows. Ask what you can hear. Ask about the street at different times of day.

For the trip, book two to three days. Day one, drive your commute and the neighborhoods. Day two, tour the homes. Day three, sit down with your notes and decide. If you can, visit a grocery store, a gym and a coffee shop near where you might live. That gives you a better read than any listing description.

Price is only one piece. When your move date is fixed, the dates matter just as much.

Think through the closing date, the inspection period, and the financing and appraisal timeline. A seller who needs a quick close and a buyer who needs a later close can still agree, but only if it is talked about before the offer, not after. If you need to rent back time or if you need the seller to stay after closing, those terms belong in writing.

Utah transactions are handled with a title company and the contract terms your agent writes. Your agent and your lender should talk to each other early, so the dates in the contract match what the loan can actually do. A mismatch is what pushes a closing past a move-in date.

If you lose a home you wanted, that is normal. I have had relocating buyers lose a first choice, keep watching, and end up with a backup that worked. A calm second plan beats a rushed first one.

Most of these are avoidable.

• Choosing a town off a list instead of driving the actual commute.
• Skipping the inspection because the trip was expensive.
• Not budgeting for the move itself, temporary housing and overlapping rent or mortgage payments.
• Waiting to get pre-approved until after finding a home.
• Making a decision on the last afternoon of the trip because the flight is tomorrow.

Winter driving is also worth asking about. Davis County sits against the mountains, and snow, hills and driveways with a slope all vary by street. Ask your agent what a particular street looks like in January.

Here is an example, and it is only an example, not a promise or a client story. A buyer starts planning about three months before the move. In month one, they get pre-approved and pick their commute. In month two, they tour online, then fly out for one trip. They write an offer on the last day of the trip. In month three, the inspection and appraisal happen, the lender finishes underwriting, and closing is scheduled for a few days before the truck arrives.

The details shift from deal to deal. What stays the same is the order: financing, commute, tour, offer, inspection, closing.

Do I have to be in Utah to close? Often not. Many closings can be done by mail or mobile notary, but plan it with your lender and title company early.

Should I rent first? Some buyers do, and it is a reasonable choice if you are not sure which town fits. It costs more in the short run and takes the pressure off in the long run.

How many homes should I tour on one trip? Plan on a short list of five to eight that you already reviewed on video.

Can you help if I am moving for the military? Yes. See the VA and military buyer page for how that works.

What should I send you first? Your move date, your commute address, and your budget range.

Send me your move date and where you will be commuting to. From there I can narrow Davis County to the few towns that fit your drive and budget, and we can set up a video tour. You can also look at the relocation page and the Layton and Bountiful area guides. When you are ready, contact me here and we will build your plan.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Confirm the details of your own transaction with your lender and title company.