Utah, like most of the Mountain West, has experienced a huge population increase , driven by Utah’s robust job market as well as remote workers who are understandably attracted to Utah’s outdoor recreation culture. The number of households in Utah are expected to double within the next 50 years and a recent legislative audit found that Utah is on the hook to build nearly 28,000 new housing units to keep up with projected growth. That rapid growth is one reason why home prices have soared: The median price of a home in Utah is $501,652 compared to the national average of $342,941.
While the affordability crisis looms large, casting a shadow over the aspirations of many Utahns dreaming of homeownership, a staggering 73% of would-be home buyers nationwide find themselves priced out of the housing market. While the national average of starter-size homes is 67.7%, Utah has the lowest proportion of homes with three or fewer bedrooms at 41.
8% , underscoring the urgent need for solutions. Utah’s geographical constraints further compound the issue. With its lakes and wonderful mountains, suitable land for development is hard to come by.
This scarcity not only drives up property values but also underscores the preciousness of our public lands. Yet, in the face of the affordability gap, there’s a temptation to view some of Utah’s 22 million acres of public space as a panacea for our housing woes. A currently proposed piece of federal legislation called the Helping Open Underut.
