St. George & Washington County Down Payment Assistance
Southwest Utah is growing fast, and prices in St. George have climbed with it. Utah Housing can still cover your down payment and closing costs here. Here's how Washington County's income and price limits work, and what fits under the cap.
How Utah Housing DPA works in Washington County
St. George has been one of the fastest-growing markets in the country, and the numbers here tell their own story. Washington County sits in a lower limit tier than the Wasatch Front: the income ceiling is $118,000 for a couple or $135,700 for a larger household, and the acquisition-price cap is $635,300. Prices in the county have run up faster than those limits, so the fit is tighter than it was a few years ago. That makes the assistance more valuable, not less, because the down payment on a St. George home is a bigger cash hurdle than it used to be.
The Utah Housing second mortgage works the same as it does statewide. Traditional covers up to 6% of the loan (max $27,500) as an amortizing second; Deferred covers up to 3.5% (max $27,500) with nothing due until you sell or refinance. Either one can take care of the down payment and most closing costs on a home that fits the county cap.
Where in Washington County does it fit?
The $635,300 cap still covers a real slice of the market. St. George proper, Washington City, Hurricane, and La Verkin hold the most homes in range. Ivins and Santa Clara, tucked against the red rock near Snow Canyon, run higher and sometimes push past the cap. Toquerville and the smaller outlying communities can offer more room under the line. The bigger constraint here is usually income, not price: with the ceiling at $118,000 to $135,700, a higher-earning household may need to look at other financing. I will run your exact numbers before you get attached to a listing.
Check your income against the Washington County limit first
This is the county where the income limit matters most. Because the ceiling is lower here than up north, a two-income household in St. George can be over the line without feeling high-income. Family size helps, a household of three or more gets the $135,700 figure, and Utah Housing looks at qualifying income rather than every dollar in the home. If you are close, it is worth a real conversation. If you are well over, I will point you to a conventional low-down-payment option instead of wasting your time. See the full county table on our eligibility page.
Washington County figures verified August 2026 from utahhousingcorp.org/lenders/limits/. Limits change periodically; confirm on the UHC limits page. Related: All county limits · Cache County (Logan) DPA · Traditional vs. Deferred.
Common questions
What is the income limit for Utah Housing in St. George / Washington County?
The FirstHome income limit in Washington County is $118,000 for a 1-2 person household and $135,700 for a household of 3 or more, verified August 2026. It is lower than the Wasatch Front counties, so check your household income against the county figure early.
What is the maximum home price for Utah Housing in Washington County?
The maximum acquisition price in Washington County is $635,300 as of August 2026. St. George, Washington City, and Hurricane hold the most homes under that cap; Ivins and Santa Clara often run higher.
Is Utah Housing DPA still worth it in the fast-growing St. George market?
Yes. As prices in Washington County have climbed, the cash needed for a down payment has grown too, which makes the assistance more useful. Utah Housing DPA can cover the down payment and most closing costs on a home that fits the county price and income limits.
Ready to see your Utah Housing options?
Tell us your county, credit range, and whether you've owned before, and we'll map your Utah Housing path in a no-pressure 20-minute call. No obligation.