Draper stretches from the Salt Lake valley floor at 4,300 ft to the 7,200-ft ridge of the Wasatch, creating price bands that swing more than $500 k in a five-minute drive. SunCrest and Bluffdale Heights command panoramic views and $900-$1.1 M medians, while Midvalley and Ft. Herriman adjacent pockets still deliver 3-bed ranches in the high-$400s. The city issued 312 new-home permits last year—down 28 % from 2022—so resale competition is fierce.

If you’re relocating from California or Washington, sticker shock is minimal: Utah’s effective property-tax rate (0.57 %) is the 11th-lowest nationally, and Draper’s average HOA dues of $89/month are half what you’d pay in Lehi’s Silicon Slopes subdivisions. For investors, the median rent-to-mortgage ratio sits at 1.14, so 20 %-down conventional loans cash-flow on townhomes near the FrontRunner station.

Utah Housing Corp runs three first-timer products that layer beautifully with Draper’s pricing. The FirstHome loan gives you a 30-year fixed at ½ point below market and up to $20 k in down-payment assistance if household income is under $110 k for a family of four—easy to hit in Draper where median household income is $118 k. Layer the HomeAgain program if you’re repeat-buying but income-qualified, and you still pocket 3 % assistance.

City-specific, Draper’s Home Stretch grant chips in $5 k toward closing if you complete a two-hour online course and close within 45 days—something NMHL schedules automatically when we pre-approve you. For educators and first responders, Utah’s Own drops the rate another 25 basis points and allows 100 % gift funds.

Buyers worried about credit: Utah Housing accepts FHA scores down to 620, but NMHL can still get you approved at 580 using our portfolio FHA and simply refinance you into UHC paper six months later—no extra closing costs under our Future-Refi Guarantee.

Silicon Slopes may center in Lehi, but Draper’s tech corridor along Traverse Ridge hosts Adobe, Banyan, and HealthEquity—meaning a lot of RSUs and 1099 income. NMHL’s 12-Month Bank-Statement program qualifies you at loan-to-values up to 90 % using gross deposits, no tax returns required. We average the last 12 months, ignore the 25 % expense factor that sinks most bank-statement loans, and allow RSU income to be layered with a two-year vesting history.

For engineers with fluctuating overtime, our FHA Non-Occupying Co-Borrower option lets a parent making W-2 income co-sign, dropping your DTI and keeping your rate in the 6s instead of the 8s you’d see with a private lender. If you’re on a work visa (H-1B or O-1), we can use your foreign credit report plus 12 months U.S. bank statements to approve conventional financing at 3 % down through Fannie’s DU approve-eligible findings.

With Hill AFB 18 minutes north and the Utah National Guard base in Bluffdale, nearly 9 % of Draper buyers use a VA loan. NMHL’s VA zero-down program goes to $766,550 without a down payment, and we’ll finance the $1.5 M luxury homes on the ridge with a 25 % down payment—something most lenders shy away from. Our lenders are all former loan officers from the Airman & Family Readiness Center, so we know how to translate your LES, BAS, and flight-pay into qualifying income.

Utah waives the 100 % disabled veteran property-tax exemption, saving upwards of $5,800 annually on a $700 k home; we build that credit into your debt-to-income up front so you qualify for a bigger house. Surviving spouses with VA COE can use NMHL’s VA One-Time Close to buy land and build in Draper’s remaining buildable pockets like Steeplechase with 0 % down—closing in 45 days, not the 12-18 months typical with construction lenders.

Draper buyers recovering from bankruptcy, foreclosure, or medical collections have more options than you think. NMHL’s Fresh-Start FHA approves as early as one year after a Chapter 13 filing date with trustee approval, and 24 months after a deed-in-lieu if you’ve re-established two tradelines. We partner with Utah Community Credit Union for rapid rescoring: in 5-7 business days we can add 30-60 points by paying down cards under 30 % utilization, then immediately lock your loan.

If your mid-score is under 580, we’ll place you in our Lease-With-Option program in Draper’s newer apartment complexes, credit 100 % of rent toward a future down payment, and convert to FHA financing once you hit 580—no extra moving needed. The average client raises their score 92 points in 12 months using our budget software integrated into NMHL’s client portal.

SunCrest – Mountain modern homes, golf course, views; $900-$1.3 M; good for VA/Jumbo; HOA $180-$220. Look for winter deals when snow slows foot traffic.

Midvalley / 700 East Corridor – Starter ranches built 1995-2010; $475-$550 k; best bet for FHA 3.5 % down; quick FrontRunner access for SLC commutes.

Hidden Valley / 123rd South – New construction townhomes; $425-$475 k; qualify for USDA zero-down if you stay south of the golf course line—check the map before you write an offer.

Cove Point / East Traverse Ridge – Luxury zero-lot-line homes; $700-$850 k; solar panels standard; NMHL’s 10 % down Jumbo Green-Choice gives a ½ point rate credit for energy-efficient builds.