There seem to be a lot of resources for those hoping to buy a home, but what about people who are selling? When selling, you are often doing both: trying to sell and buy a home all at about the same time. Cue the stress.

To help you fully focus on finding the next home, here are some of our favorite resources to help make the selling process a breeze.

1. Home Valuation Tool

Finding out what your home’s real value is can be one of the most important things you do when selling your home. You can often get a free estimate to give you an idea of what your home could sell for or how to price your home. You can also hire a professional appraiser for your home to give you an official value, although this step will often be completed anyway during the due diligence period once your home is under contract. A home value estimate can start you off on the right foot with realistic expectations.

2. Market Reports

A market report can give you a snapshot of your local real estate market. It often includes new listings of homes in your area and their prices, as well as homes that have recently sold, how long they were on the market, and what they ultimately sold for. 

These reports give as much of a direct comparison as possible and help you set an expectation for what your home selling timeline may look like. These market reports will also help you in pricing your home in the sweet spot of not too little, but not too much to scare off potential buyers. These market reports are often shown to buyers who see your home, so they can see how your home compares to others in the neighborhood.

3. An Inspector

An inspector can come and look at the bones of your home. While we aren’t worried too much about the aesthetics that will help sell your home, an inspector can ensure everything is in working order and can disclose any renovations or fixes that need to be made.

You will need to make some of these fixes, but you can opt to let the new homeowners take care of other issues for a discount on your home’s price. Similar to a home appraisal, you or the ultimate homebuyer will handle this step at some point during the process. Who pays for it often depends on the market and what you have written in your contract.

4. A Home Consultation Professional

A home consultation can be a valuable tool in helping you get the best price for your home as possible. What usually happens is a realtor or other professional comes and can guide you on what to improve, update, or fix to increase your home’s value. They may also give you tips on how to present your home when the time comes for open houses and showings. These consultations can help you see which investments you would make your money back (and more) for, and which investments wouldn’t be worth it, which can potentially save or earn you thousands.

5. A Landscaper

A landscaper can go hand in hand with a home consultation. If you or your home consultant noticed any curb appeal that could be updated or improved upon, a landscaper may be someone you want to hire. 

Try to have fresh and clean landscaping with neatly manicured grass, shrubs, and mature colorful flowers to make a good first impression when buyers come. Although you could do this all yourself, sometimes hiring out is worth the cost during the chaos of moving and trying to sell a home. 

6. A Home Stager

Similar to a landscaper, a stager can come to help your home show its best side. A home stager can help arrange the furniture and decor in the home—or even redecorate altogether! They can suggest different paint colors, help arrange closets and storage spaces to look bigger, and they can even help with cleaning your home. 

Ultimately, they are there to put your home’s best foot forward and present it in the best possible way. This often leads to less time on the market and higher offers from buyers when they see a clean and aesthetically pleasing house.

7. An MLS 

An MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is a large database where realtors from all different companies and firms list their clients’ homes as well as look for future homes for their clients looking to buy. 

Getting your home’s listing to shine out above the others is what will help drive traffic to your home. All the previous resources culminate together to help your listing stand out, with a good market price, valuable upgrades, and clean fresh staging. Before buyers come to your home, this listing will be their first impression—so make it count!

8. A Real Estate Contract

The contract you write up with your real estate agent is what protects your interests and prevents major headaches further down the home-selling line. You can include contingencies, the terms of the sale, and your specific closing date and costs. Some of these options can be negotiable when a buyer makes an offer, but this is ultimately created to help keep you safe.

9. An Experienced Realtor

Speaking of writing up a contract, you will need a real estate professional to help you navigate writing one up and suggesting any sort of clauses or contingencies they think will be in your best interest. Not only can a realtor help you with your contract, but they can ultimately help you with all the resources mentioned above: finding your home’s value, analyzing market reports for you, finding professional stagers and inspectors, and listing your home once you’re ready.

Realtors are valuable as you get your home ready to sell, but they become an essential asset when you start receiving offers. They will help you navigate the negotiation process to ensure you are getting the best deal for you and your home. 

Although selling your home can still be a big process, using these resources and finding professionals can help you be confident and successful as you prepare to sell your home.

Selling your home is a big undertaking! Not only are you focused on the sale of your own home, but you’re likely actively looking for your next home at the same time. Finding the quickest way to sell your home while still getting top dollar for it is a hard balance to find. 

As experts in Utah’s real estate, we know the stress that comes with it. From our years of experience, here are our secrets to selling your home efficiently and for the best price.

Make a Selling Plan

If you are ready to sell, make sure you have everything in order first before you go right to listing your home. Are you financially ready this very day to cover any additional costs that come along with selling? Is your home ready for showings? 

Even the time of year you list your home can affect how much you are offered. A recent study from Redfin shows that homes in Utah sell the quickest between April and July, with April and May being the best months to list. However, in 2022, that time came earlier in the year, with sales picking up in March. 

Coming up with a selling strategy can help you with your timeline of selling your home. An experienced realtor can help walk you through the process and help you price your home in a way to maximize the ultimate sale price. 

Clean, Clean, Clean

Clean like your home depends on it—because it does! A dirty home feels unkept and leaves buyers wondering if more important aspects of the home haven’t been taken care of as well. Buyers will snoop, so make sure you are cleaning under and inside cabinets, your window tracks, the laundry room, your oven hood, baseboards, air vents, and the garage to name just a few. If needed, hire a professional cleaning company. Both the money and time you spend to clean your home will pay off immensely

Depersonalize and Declutter

Buyers need to be able to visualize themselves in the home, and that’s often difficult to do when pictures of your family are hanging on the walls surrounded by your own sentimental items. Remove those personalizations, and downsize the clutter as much as you can while still making the room feel comfy. One of our favorite tricks is leaving closets half empty so buyers can see how much storage your home actually has.

Use a Professional Photographer

Photos from a professional are necessary for making your listing stand out. These photos will give a buyer their first impression, and will even determine whether someone takes the time to visit your home. Allow your home to show its best side by taking down heavy curtains and letting in natural light as your photographer works their magic.

Upgrade Appropriately

Simple upgrades can make a world of difference in selling your home. In addition to making sure your home is in good repair, fresh coats of neutral paint and painting over scuffs on baseboards can make your home feel brand new. But, be careful not to over-upgrade certain areas of your home at risk of not making your money back. Getting new hardware for your cabinets, painting, and cleaning your grout will pay off while a luxurious bathroom makeover likely won’t. 

Don’t Forget The Yard

Aside from your listing photos, your curb appeal creates an initial impression for a buyer that can be hard to shake off. A whole makeover isn’t usually necessary, but choosing some bright flowers and shrubs to place around your entry is sure to help. You can easily make a good first impression with a clean front door and nicely swept porch.

Be Ready and Flexible

Keeping your home in tip-top shape for showings can be a stressful period, but it will be worth it. Try to be flexible about showing periods. If you only show your home for a couple of hours on the weekend, you’ll likely get fewer offers and your home may stay on the market a lot longer. Trying to allow for more home showings often means you’ll have to maintain a show-ready home for less time.

Find a Good Realtor

Our best tip is to find a knowledgeable realtor. They can offer advice on how to stage your home or make it more sellable. They also know how to price your home competitively and can handle negotiations when offers come in to get you the best price possible. Navigating the home selling process is already difficult, don’t make it more stressful without an expert to help guide and negotiate for you. At Harvest Park Group, we are experts in Utah’s local markets, which gives you the home advantage and helps your home-selling process go as smoothly as possible. 

Have you felt overwhelmed with your home space? Does most of your space go unused? Are you looking to move closer to family or get away from the city after retiring? 

Downsizing your home can be quite a task, but it can be very rewarding if it’s the right decision for you physically, mentally, and financially.

Is Downsizing Right For You?

Downsizing isn’t the right choice for everyone, but it can come with some major benefits if you are ready for it. Your current stage of life, how much you can afford, and how much effort you want to put into maintaining your home can all contribute to whether or not you’re ready to sell your home and prepare to downsize.

Lower Maintenance

When moving to a home with less square footage, there’s simply less to clean and maintain to keep your home running smoothly. When downsizing for retirement, it’s important to think about how much you can manage as you grow older. 

Another thing to consider is that downsizing can often lead you to a smaller home in a community setting, such as an apartment complex or a townhome where a Homeowner’s Association takes care of a lot of the maintenance work.

Lower Cost

A major factor that goes into deciding whether or not you want to downsize is the cost of living in a smaller home. If your current home is too much to afford, or if you’d like to start saving a bit more money, selling your larger home for a profit and buying something smaller could really help you put quite a bit into your savings. Smaller homes usually have lower property taxes, lower home insurance premiums, and use less in utilities, so you would be saving monthly on your mortgage and on all your other home-related bills.

A New Place For Your New Chapter

Another reason to downsize your home would be to also move locations at the same time. As you enter a new stage of life, your priorities, schedules, and home dynamics change. Where you’re living may not reflect where you want to be anymore. You may want to consider moving closer to family and closer (or further away) from city life when looking for a new home.

Preparing to Downsize

Once you’ve decided to downsize, you need to prepare your home and your finances and find an agent to help you sell your home and find you the perfect smaller house.

What Should I Do To Prepare?

When downsizing your home, you’ll need to downsize the amount of stuff you can fit in your home as well. To not overwhelm yourself, go room by room and try to declutter decor, closets, and anything else you can get away with. It may be good to get a feel for how much space you’ll need to fill in your new home by deciding how much space you’ll be looking for in your new purchase. Then trim down your furniture accordingly. To help declutter, you can donate or sell unwanted items, pass down sentimental items, and have a limit on the number of things you want to keep for yourself.

When Should I Sell My House?

Selling your home is one of the most important factors when downsizing. Selling at the right time will help you get into the new home you want, with potentially some leftover money for you to use how you need. Selling is tricky to time, so it’s best to work with your agent to know when is best for you. If you’re curious about what your home is worth right now, you can check out our home valuation tool to give you an estimate.

Buying and selling a home is a big process anytime you do it, especially when downsizing. However, the unexpected benefits of downsizing your home can make it all worth it, whether you are downsizing for retirement or just looking to have a more manageable space. Find what your current home is worth and talk with an experienced agent to have a smooth and stress-free experience from start to finish.

When looking into purchasing real estate, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why we make it our job to be experts in all different types of real estate. We aim to find just what you’re looking for—from the perfect home to an investment property where you can make an income from renting. Here are some of the different types of real estate you can purchase:

Residential

Residential is the most common real estate to purchase and invest in. From buying the dream home for your own family to renting real estate to make a passive income, residential real estate is quite an active market, especially in Utah. However, there are a couple of different options when looking into buying residential real estate:

Single Family

Single-family homes are typically what you think of when you think of residential housing. A single-family home is classified as a single home on its own plot of land, physically disconnected from other homes. It’s possible for a single-family home to be home to multiple families—if it includes a mother-in-law suite or a basement apartment, for example—but the structure itself is designed to be owned by one owner with no shared walls. Single-family homes are highly sought after for their privacy and their separation from neighbors, while still allowing you to be in a neighborhood.

Condos

Condos, also known as apartments, are also a form of residential real estate. Most condos for sale in Salt Lake City are usually found in multistory buildings, with multiple apartments sharing one parcel of land. For example, if there are 12 apartments on 1 acre of land, you would technically own 1/12 of an acre, as all condo owners would share the land. Condos are typically less expensive than single-family homes and are perfect for families with fewer members living at home and those wanting more community amenities that a complex could offer.

Townhomes

Townhomes are a good happy medium between condos and single-family units. Townhomes are less expensive than single units, and they also share the land with those on their row. But they often offer a little more square footage than a condo. When looking for townhomes for sale in Utah, consider HOA amenities—just like condos—such as private parks, pools, or clubhouses. You will still be sharing a wall or two, but no one will live below or above you as you’d find in an apartment complex.

Extra Housing

As mentioned before, investing in extra housing can be beneficial as a passive income or as a benefit for your family. For example, many homeowners seek out cabins for sale in Utah to use as a vacation spot for their family and/or as a place they can rent out during other times of the year. Since any sort of extra housing would likely be a more specific request, it’s best to talk to a seasoned real estate agent to find exactly what you are looking for.

Raw Land

Raw land is another popular real estate investment. Raw land is a plot of land with nothing on it—a blank canvas just for you! Depending on zoning laws, you can use raw land to design and build the new house of your dreams! You can also use this as farmland or an industrial endeavor. Again, it merely depends on what the land is zoned for. Raw land is a great option if you aren’t finding what you want with an existing building or residential home and you want something customized to your needs and wants.

Commercial

Commercial real estate is meant for those venturing into a business endeavor—whether that means a brick-and-mortar location or multiple units and renting out the separate spaces as a passive income.

Find Your Dream Investment with Harvest Park Group

There are so many real estate options in Utah. Whether you’re ready to sell your home and look for something new or you’re looking for an additional property, make sure to not only work with a licensed real estate agent but one who knows the ins and outs of Utah’s local markets. Work with our team at Harvest Park Group!

Wondering how to buy a house in Utah? It’s no secret that the Utah real estate market can be tricky. If you’re looking to take that first step, check out our recommendations to help set you up for success in your home-buying process: 

1. Check Your Credit Score

Your credit score will determine how much money mortgage lenders are willing to loan you. Check your credit score as early as possible so you can work on improving your score if necessary. Although checking your credit score multiple times can hurt it, you can get a free credit report once a year!

2. Get Pre-Approved

Get pre-approved by a mortgage lender. Finding a lender before you find a house serves you in two ways: It allows you to have a better idea of what your budget can be, and it makes closing on a home a much smoother, quicker process. Most pre-approvals only last a few months, so make sure not to get pre-approved too early. 

3. Set Your Own Budget

Although your lender will tell you the amount of money they are willing to loan to you, you don’t always need to make that amount your budget. When you set a budget, make sure to account for things like home insurance, utility bills, property taxes, and other costs you may not have had while renting. If you’re not sure how much you can afford, take a few months to practice “paying” a mortgage by setting that extra money aside to go towards your down payment and closing costs. 

4. Choose a Good Agent

Finding a good, local agent is critical to your success in buying a home. A good realtor is an expert in Utah real estate and can help you search through listings, make the most competitive offers, and navigate through the closing process. However, not all agents are created equal. Find someone very familiar with the area you’re house hunting in and who understands the nuances of your local market.

5. Find a House

The most fun part of the process is actually finding the home you’ve been looking for! Your real estate agent has access to every listing and will help you find the best homes in your area in your price range. Because they are so familiar with Utah real estate, they can also identify and show you overpriced homes that will end up being sold within your budget.

6. Make a Competitive Offer

After you find your dream home, it’s time to make a competitive offer. Based on the market, your agent can help you know what sort of contingencies to include, how much earnest money to offer, and any other requirements to get you and the seller the best deal. This is another step where your realtor is an important asset in buying a home.

7. Get Under Contract

If the seller accepts your offer, you’re under contract! Congratulations! Before you can close, there will be a couple of steps you’ll need to take that your agent can help you coordinate. These steps often include an appraisal of the property, a home inspection, and any other contingencies in your offer.

8. Close on Your New Home!

Your realtor can now walk you through the paperwork you need to sign to close on your home to become an official homeowner! This is the last step and it’s when you get the keys to your new home. You’re now ready to move in!

How to Buy a House in Utah: Harvest Park Group

Understanding how to buy a house in Utah can be wonderful but also incredibly stressful. Having the right team behind you makes all the difference in how stress-free the process is and which home you’ll end up in.

Need to sell your house first? See what your home is worth to get started! 

When searching for homes to buy, coming across houses with mother-in-law suites in Utah is fairly common. While these types of home situations can offer many benefits, it’s important to understand the ins and outs of owning a mother-in-law suite before purchasing.

What Is a Mother-In-Law Suite?

Mother-in-law suites are also known as in-law apartments, granny flats, or accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Although the name implies housing for an aging parent, mother-in-law suites have many different purposes that can work with your unique situation. Not only can mother-in-law suites provide a safe and easy place for your in-laws or parents to live, but they can also house an adult child or serve as a guest unit, rental property, or home office. 

An ADU can be a basement apartment, an apartment constructed over a garage, or even a detached dwelling in the yard for a more private living situation. The size and specifics of a suite can be up to you (and city ordinances), but suites usually have a full bathroom, bedroom, small kitchen or kitchenette, and separate entrance. Most also include basic comforts such as a small living room and dining room.

History of the Mother-In-Law Suite

Mother-in-law suites became highly popular in the early 1900s when caring for aging parents was the societal expectation after a couple married. At the time, multigenerational housing was more common than it is now. 

After WWII and America’s exodus to the suburbs, many cities created zoning laws that banned in-law apartments. However, with housing prices rising, a large population of aging Americans to care for, and a high demand for passive income, ADUs are becoming quite popular again.

Advantages of the Mother-In-Law Suite

There are so many advantages to owning a mother-in-law suite that it’s difficult to make a comprehensive list. Here are some of the biggest advantages these in-law suites provide:

#1: Mother-In-Law Suites Offer a Place for Family

Having a separate space for parents or adult children allows for supportive multigenerational living, even if you don’t have plans to care for family members in the future.

#2: Mother-In-Law Suites Offer Additional Private Space

You can use your mother-in-law suite for personal uses like a gym space, a studio for a hobby, or an at-home office!

#3: Mother-In-Law Suites Increase Your Home’s Value

Because the demand for ADUs is rising, your home value increases immediately with the addition of an in-law suite. Your 5-bedroom house with a mother-in-law suite will easily sell for more than the 5-bedroom home down the street.

#4: Mother-In-Law Suites Provide Additional Income

If you don’t have in-laws living with you, you can easily rent out your ADU short or long-term to create a passive income.

Disadvantages of the Mother-In-Law Suite

Although there are great benefits to owning a new home with a mother-in-law suite, you should also be aware of some disadvantages.

#1: Mother-In-Law Suites Are Dependent on Local Ordinances

Your ADU will be subject to any city ordinances and zoning laws. Those could include the size of the in-law suite, how far away the detached suite can be from the primary residence, and how many people can live in the space.

#2: Mother-In-Law Suites Are Expensive to Build

If you didn’t buy a new home with a mother-in-law suite already built, it can be a pricey investment upfront. It’s best to get a good quote from multiple contractors before diving into the building.

#3: Mother-In-Law Suites Are Expensive to Upkeep

If you decide to rent out your mother-in-law suite, you will need to regularly maintain the apartment, just like any other home. With renting, this would include deep cleaning between renters and possibly fixing some damage.

Contact Harvest Park Group

Mother-in-law suites come with both pros and cons, but they can be a great addition if they work for your family! When searching for houses with mother-in-law suites in Utah, make sure to work with a professional at Harvest Park Group to find the perfect fit.

If you’ve started daydreaming about a new place to call home, you’re probably already looking at Utah real estate on popular websites. Of those websites, Zillow is one of the most popular. Zillow boasts millions of home listings that are available and accessible immediately. But is Zillow the best place to look when searching for homes for sale in Utah? 

Here are some of the pros and cons.

Zillow Pros:

Getting Started Early

Zillow is easily accessible to everyone. If you are getting close to the home-searching process, Zillow is a great way to look at homes in your area. It can help you get a better idea of what kind of home and area you’re interested in. Plus, it allows you to narrow your home wish list before you actively search for a home. 

Realistic Expectations

Zillow can help you set up realistic expectations. For example, as you scroll through listings, you can see what a typical 3-bedroom home costs in your area. Although the home prices aren’t often completely accurate (more on that later), Zillow can still give you a good idea of the kind of home you can afford and whether you’re ready to buy or still need some time to save up.

Website Features

Zillow’s website is very user-friendly! You can share homes directly with a partner, save homes you love, and narrow down your home search through Zillow’s many filters so you can look at listings you’re genuinely interested in. Zillow can also email you updates on the trends of your local housing market or home suggestions that are close to homes you’ve saved on your account. Its mortgage calculator is one of Zillow’s most handy features, which can get you an idea of what you would pay per month based on the price of a specific home.

Zillow Cons:

Zillow’s Home Valuation

Zillow’s biggest drawback is its property valuation tool, Zestimate. Zillow bases Zestimate on an algorithm, but because there are so many different factors that play into a home’s value, Zestimate is notoriously inaccurate. 

Zestimate gets its valuation from home tax records. An in-person realtor can pull recent comparisons for homes recently sold in the area. In-person realtors can walk through the house and show you things that may not have been on the original listing such as new upgrades or even extra rooms. 

Zillow may be able to get you into the ballpark of an estimate, but when we are talking about homes and mortgages, even $5,000 makes a big difference in what you may pay monthly. Nothing can truly compensate for an in-person appraisal and walk-through. 

Advertised Agents

An unfortunate part of Zillow is that real estate agents can pay for advertisements for more exposure. If you connect with a real estate agent linked with a listing, you could talk to someone who knows very little about the property. Finding the right agent for you (or even a good agent) can be difficult, as you’ll only see the agents who pay to advertise on Zillow. 

Outdated Information

Zillow can also list out-of-date information, especially if you live in a fast-paced housing market. Realtors have the connections and resources to know the status of a home (whether it’s still on the market, accepting offers, or under contract), but Zillow doesn’t. With Zillow, you could be looking through listings that aren’t even available anymore instead of looking at listings you could actually tour.

Find Your Dream Home with Harvest Park Group

Artificial intelligence can be helpful, but it can only carry you so far. Nothing can compare to a personal agent who interacts with you face-to-face and has your best interest in mind. When looking at homes for sale in Utah, you’ll want an agent who can give you a more customized approach to finding your perfect place.

See Your Home's Worth!

Looking for things to do this Fall? Check out these events in your local area to get started!

2022 Cross E Ranch​ Fall Festival

Enjoy the fun of a fall farm. Visit the pumpkin patch, explore a corn maze, and enjoy a variety of fall games! On your way out, don’t forget to stop by the Country Store for grass fed beef, fall decor, and apparel. 

When? Dates vary between 09/23/2022 - 10/29/2022 at 10:00 AM - 11:59 PM

Where? 3500 North 2200 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116

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2022 Fear Factory

The Fear Factory is up and running! Discover one of the top haunted houses in the world right here in Salt Lake City.

When? Dates vary between 09/09/2022 - 10/31/2022 at 6:45 PM - 11:59 PM

Where? 666 W 800 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84104

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Venetian Masquerade Ball

Gather to the Utah State Capitol and travel back to a time when Masquerade Balls were all the rage! Sign up now to enjoy a night of formal attire, exotic masks, court jesters, and more!

When? Sat, October 8, 2022 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM MDT

Where? Utah State Capitol, 350 State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84103

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An October Evening

An October Evening is one of Salt Lake City’s favorite cult Halloween Shows. Sign up to watch them make a grand return this season!

When? October 22, 2022; 6:30 PM & 9:00 PM

Where? Salt Lake Masonic Temple 650 East South Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84102

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Salt Lake City Halloweekend Hangover Bar Crawl

Get freaky this Halloween at Salt Lake City’s Halloween Hangover Weekend Bar Crawl! Sign up to enjoy a night of scares and fun now!

When? Sat, October 29, 2022 ; 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM MDT

Where? Salt Lake City (Various Venues) BEST BARS IN SALT LAKE CITY Salt Lake City, UT 84101

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Stranger Strings

See where Stranger Things meets the Salt Lake String Quartet! Enjoy featured works by Philip Glass, Metallica, and more at this epic concert now.

When? Thu, October 27, 2022 ; 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM MDT

Where? The Art Castle - Utah Arts Alliance 915 West 100 South Salt Lake City, UT 84104

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2022 Monster Mash Dash

Participate in Salt Lake’s Third Annual Monster Mash Dash from your own home! Register now to get started.

When? Sat, Oct 22, 2022, 7:00 PM –Mon, Oct 31, 2022, 7:00 PM MDT

Where? AROUND THE WORLD Participate from home! Salt Lake City, UT 84199

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Karaoke Night at The Pines

Take your karaoke skills to new levels every Thursday night at the Pines! Click below to register now.

When? Every Thursday at  9:00 PM

Where? The Pines SLC 837 South Main Street Salt Lake City, UT 84111

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Fall in Love with Decoupage

Create your very own fall decorations at Mulberry Paper this October!

When?  Sat Oct 15, 2022 at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Where? Mulberry Paper and More, 76 South Orchard Drive, North Salt Lake, United States

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HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY 2022! Best Witch Costume Contest!

Be the best dressed witch in the room at this Halloween Costume Party!

When? Sat, Nov 5, 2022, 6:00 PM MDT

Where? 7700 S Redwood Rd., West Jordan 7700 South Redwood Road West Jordan, UT 84084

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Fall Market

Feel the essence of fall by visiting our local Fall Market. Enjoy high-end vendors, fall attire, beauty products, and more!

When? Tue, October 11, 2022 ; 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM MDT

Where? The Primrose Room at The Azalea 11274 Kestrel Rise Road South Jordan, UT 84095

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2022 Bountiful Farmers Market

From food artisans to bakers to artists, the Bountiful Farmers Market provides the perfect ambiance of fall! Learn more to join in the fun!

When? Every Thursday 3pm-until dark; Starting June 16 ending October 13, 2022

4pm to dusk

Where? Bountiful Town Square 100 S 100 East, Bountiful, UT 84010

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Witchstock Festival 2022

Ogden’s favorite Witchstock Festival is back! Sip The Witches Tea and show your best moves at The Monster Bash Dance Party here!

When? 10/22/2022 from 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Where? 343 East 25th Street , Ogden, UT 84401

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Harvest Festival

The Mountain view Baptist Church is hosting a Fall Festival full of games, prizes, crafts, and more! Register now.

When? Sat, October 8, 2022 ; 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM MDT

Where? Mountain View Baptist Church 2585 East 3000 North Layton, UT 84040

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OWL-oween at the Wetlands

Welcome to the perfect family halloween activity! See live owls, take a spooky nature walk, and enjoy fun games and crafts at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center!

When? Sat, October 15, 2022, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM MDT

Where? George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center 1157 South Waterfowl Way Farmington, UT 84025

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The Addams Family Performances- SPOOKY CAST

The Clearfield Community Arts Center is hosting a showing of The Addams Family this October. Save the dates now!

When? Fri, Oct 21, 2022, 7:00 PM MDT

Where? Clearfield Community Arts Center 140 Center Street Clearfield, UT 84015

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Mommy & Me Fall Harvest Class

Make some fall sweets at the Spoon and Spatula cooking school! The treats you will be making will include Mini Cream Pies, Apple Pie Pops, and more.

When? Sat, Nov 12, 2022 ; 11:00am - 12:00pm MST

Where? 1867 Skyline Dr, South Ogden, UT 84403

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Pumpkin Train Heber Valley Railroad

Take your kids for a ride on the Pumpkin Train! Enjoy the 40 minute ride, eat a yummy pumpkin cookie, and pick a pumpkin from their Pumpkin Patch to take home. 

When? October 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th 2022; Departures at 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm, 3:30pm & 5pm

Where? 450 South 600 West Heber City, Utah 84032

Little Haunts at This is the Place Heritage Park

From story-time to trick-or-treating and pony rides, Heritage Park provides endless Halloween activities for your little ones. Get your tickets today!

When? October 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29, 2022 ; 10:00 AM-5:00 PM

Where? 2601 East Sunnyside Ave, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108

Gardner Village Witches

Join in on a night full of witches, scavenger hunts, and fun at Gardner Village! Don’t forget to snatch a magical souvenir on your way out!

When? September 17-October 31, 2022, runs daily, Monday-Saturday. 

Where? 1100 West 7800 South - West Jordan, Utah 84088

Cornbellys

Stroll through Utah’s original corn maze, and relish in a variety of popular fall activities this season! 

When? Monday-Thursday from 4-10PM; Friday-Saturday from 10-12AM. Closed Sunday. 

Where? 3003 N Thanksgiving Way, Lehi, UT 84043

Scarecrow Festival at Thanksgiving Point

The autumn colors within the Ashton Gardens are breathtaking this fall. Walk through the gardens and witness a wide variety of scarecrows created by the community!

When? October 10th – 15th at 9 am – 6 pm; Late Opening: October 15, 10 am

Where? 3900 N. Garden Drive Lehi, Utah 84043

Rowley's Red Barn

Taste fresh fruit, homemade ice cream, salsa and more at a cute barn in Santaquin, Utah! Plus, don’t forget to find your way through the corn maze!

When? Open 9:00 AM- 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday

Where? 901 South 300 West Street Santaquin, UT 84655

Wilkerson Farm Fall Fair

Peek into a cute fruit and vegetable farm in Orem, Utah! Plus, enjoy a fall carnival and a corn maze!

When? September 9-November 5, 2022; Open 9:00 AM- 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday

Where? 710 West 2000 South, Orem UT 84058

Festival Transylvania | Millcreek Gardens

Looking for a not so horrifying halloween adventure? Festival Transylvania is for you! Enjoy a night of comedy and take a blissful walk through Transylvania.  

When? October 13th through October 29th ; Weekdays: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm ; Closed on Tuesdays & Sundays

Where? Millcreek Gardens, 3500 S 900 E Millcreek, UT 84106

View more information here

Corn Maze on the Farm

Find your way through the corn maze, visit the pumpkin patch, and play the giant lawn games!

When? September 23 - October 29, 2022 ; Monday-Thursday 5 p.m.-10 p.m. ; Friday 4 p.m.-11 p.m. ; Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m

Where? American West Heritage Center in Wellsville

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Scarecrow Walk

Take a stroll through the USU Botanical Gardens and see the scarecrows you find!

When? September 8-18, 2022

Where? USU Botanical Gardens in Kaysville

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Black Island Farms

Discover Syracuse’s largest corn maze in Utah along with a variety of other fall activities!

When? September 17-October 29, 2022

Where? Black Island Farms, 2075 S 4000 W, Syracuse, UT, 84075

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Pack Farms

Slide down the BIG PVC Roller Slide, play Pumpkin Tetherball, and try more of their fun fall activities at Pack Farms!

When? Only $4/person and 3 and under are free. September 23-October 29, 2022; 10:00 am – 8:00 pm Monday – Saturday; Closed Sunday

Where? Farmington, Utah

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Pumpkin Days

Slide down the BIG PVC Roller Slide, play Pumpkin Tetherball, and try more of their fun fall activities at Pack Farms!

When? September 23-October 31, 2022; Monday-Thursday (10AM-8PM); Friday-Saturday (9AM-9PM); Sunday(9AM-4PM)

Where? Wheeler Farm, SLC

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Pumpkin Walk

Slide down the BIG PVC Roller Slide, play Pumpkin Tetherball, and try more of their fun fall activities at Pack Farms!

When? October 14 & 15, 2022; 10 am – 6 pm each day

Where? Benson Grist Mill

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Flight Train

Introducing a Halloween Train Ride you’ll never forget! Sign up for your free ride now!

When? October 29, 2022 at 12:00-6:00 pm

Where? South Weber, Utah

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Haunted Halloween Haven

Enjoy a night walk at the Haunted Halloween Haven with no tour guides or restrictions. 

When? October 27- 31 from 7:30PM-10:00PM

Where? Spanish Fork, Utah

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Buzzards and Bees Music Event

60+ bands will be playing live music, dressed in costume! Sign up to be a part of this Halloween Event now! 

When? Oct 21, 2022( starts @8pm), Oct 22, 2022 (goes from @4pm-midnight)

Where? Downtown Provo Center Street

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Halloween Town in Eagle Mountain

There will be a dog costume contest, games, and more! Be a part of the ultimate Eagle Mountain Halloween party here!

When? October 1 @ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM  – Cory Wride Memorial Park ; Hocus Pocus Drive-In Movie 7:30 PM – Mid-Valley Soccer Field

Where? Provided above.

View more information here

Lehi City Halloween Extravaganza

Get the family together and make your way to Lehi this Halloween for games, candy, and more!

When? Oct 28th, 5pm-8pm

Where? Lehi Legacy Center, 123 North Center Street, Lehi, UT 84043

View more information here

Murder By the Book

See where Halloween meets the Theater. Get your tickets to witness an unforgettable thriller now!

When? September 22 - October 15 Thursday - Saturday, Monday 7:30 p.m.

Where? 425 West Center Street, Provo, UT 84601

View more information here

CLAS Ropes Halloween Cruise

There’s a spooky cruise waiting for you at the docks of Provo River. Snatch your tickets for a haunting experience here. 

When? September 30th – October 31, 2022; First Departure: 6:30 pm, Last Departures: 9:00 pm (M-Th); 9:45 pm (F-Sa) ; Closed Sundays

Where? 3606 West Center Street, Provo, UT 84601

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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

SCERA Center for the Arts is putting on a fun Halloween play! Bring your family to this exciting event this October! 

When? 10/17/2022 - 11/4/2022 ; 7:00 PM to 11:59 PM

Where? SCERA Center for the Arts

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The Pumpkin Patch

Visit a local pumpkin patch and pick your pumpkin! Don’t forget to stick around for the hay rides and extra fun activities!

When? Sept 28th-Oct 31st, Mon-Sat 9am-dusk (until 3pm on Halloween) ; Sunday 10am - Dark

Where? 1541 Sandhill Rd, Orem, UT 84058

View more information here

Springville Art Museum Halloween Party

Dress in your best costume, and come on over to the Springville Art Museum for games, art activities, and more!

When? October 19, 2022; 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Where? Springville Museum of Art

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Sundance Halloween Lift Rides

Hope on a spooky ride on Sundance’s ski lift! Reserve tickets now. 

When? Oct 20th-31st, Mon-Sat @7pm

Where? 8841 North Alpine Loop Road, Sundance, UT 84604

View more information here

Witch's Breakfast

Join your favorite Halloween characters for breakfast at Thanksgiving point!

When? Oct 29th 9:00 am

Where? 3003 North Thanksgiving Point Way Lehi, UT 84043

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Dia de Los Muertos

Celebrate your ancestors this fall by joining in on this Latin American holiday!

When? Oct 22nd, 10am-8pm

Where? 2455 Executive Pkwy, Lehi, UT 84043

View more information here

Haunted Half Marathon, 5K, & Kids Run

The best Halloween half marathon in Utah is back! Bring your running shoes and family to this exciting event now!

When? October 29, 2022

Where? The Shops At Riverwoods

View more information here

Trick-or-Treating

Find the best places to trick or treat this Halloween with this map!

When? October 31, 2022

Where? Utah County

View more information here

Haunted Forest

Forget the Haunted House! Try the Haunted Forest this Halloween. Watch out for some epic pop scares!

When?  9/23/2022 - 10/31/2022; 7:30 PM to 11:59 PM

Where? Haunted Forest

View more information here

Strangling Brothers

Presenting a circus so haunted, you won’t be able to sleep for days after! Get your tickets for the Strangling Brothers Haunted House now. 

When?  9/23/2022 - 10/31/2022 ; 8:00 PM to 11:59 PM

Where? Strangling Brothers Haunted House

View more information here

Evermore

It may seem like a fun, family-friendly fantasy park by day. But, once the night comes…things get scary. Join in on Evermore’s event LORE this fall!

When?  9/23/2022 - 10/29/2022; 6:00 PM to 11:59 PM

Where? Evermore Park

View more information here

Terror in the Mall

Enter an epic dance party at the Provo Towne Center this Halloween!

When?  Oct 28, 2022; 9:00 PM

Where? 1200 Towne Centre Blvd, Provo, Utah 84601

View more information here

Pedal Provo Ghost Tours

Take a bike tour down the spooky parts of Provo, Utah! 

When?  Oct 14th - October 22nd: Fri and Sat @9pm-11pm

Where? Provo, Utah

View more information here

The Ghosts of Camp Floyd

Looking to do some ghost hunting this Halloween? Get tickets for this event to get started! 

When?  10/1/2022 - 10/29/2022; 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Where? Camp Floyd State Park and Stagecoach Inn Museum

View more information here

Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or a seasoned veteran, buying a home can be exciting. But, it can also be scary. What if you can’t find the right house? How do you find the right house? It can feel daunting to search through the dozens of listings of homes for sale in Utah.  

If you’re in the market for a place to call home, we don’t want you to settle for anything less than your dream home. We know looking for that dream home isn’t always easy, but we’re here to help.

To guide you through the process, read our top five tips for buying your dream home:

1. Take Note of Your Credit Score

Your road to buying your dream home starts before you even look at listings. In the years and months before purchasing a home, do whatever you can to raise your credit score. Raising your credit score allows you to borrow more money at a lower interest rate, which means you will have more options to choose from when it’s time to buy a home.

2. Find a Realtor

Finding a good realtor is essential. A good realtor will increase your chances of getting your dream home. As a buyer, you don’t have to pay any fee to hire a realtor—sellers will! 

A realtor can compare surrounding homes that have previously sold to help you make the most competitive offers and can help you avoid big financial mistakes. Not to mention, they handle the vast majority of the paperwork involved. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain when working with a knowledgeable realtor who is comfortable with the Utah home real estate market.  

3. Set Your Budget

Nothing is worse than falling in love with a home and realizing you can’t afford it. Instead, set yourself up for success by looking at listings within your price range and finding your dream home there. To know what you can afford, get prequalified with a mortgage lender. You can shop around for lenders who will give you the best price, or you can also ask your realtor for a recommendation of who they have worked successfully with in the past.

Hot Tip: What a lender says you can borrow may not match what you can actually afford. Look at your monthly budget, practice making mortgage payments for a home in your price range, and see what mortgage payment you can realistically afford each month. 

4. List What You Want

Try to envision the home you see yourself in. You can change things like paint color and other aesthetics, but make sure you list the things that would be difficult or expensive to remodel, such as the layout, lot size, or number of bathrooms. Being picky and knowing what you want is important when looking for your dream home, but be realistic with your price range.

As you make this list, remember to anticipate your future needs. A house may be your dream home right now, but will your situation change in the next few years? Remember your negotiables and non-negotiables as you visit each open house and home showing. 

5. Keep Location in Mind

There’s a lot you can do to change the home you live in but not much you can do about your neighborhood. Narrow your search to a few neighborhoods you’re interested in. Take commute time, schools, and the overall feel of the area into account. Do you want more land further from the city, or are you looking for condos for sale in Utah so you can live minutes away from work? Keeping location in mind can help narrow your search to a place you know would work with your lifestyle.

Now that you’re ready to buy your dream home, you can find your dream realtor and start looking at listings! Home-buying can be a stressful process, even if you’ve done it before.

At Harvest Park Group, we’re here to make buying your dream home a stress-free process for you!

Know Utah Real Estate Like The Pros

Receive the Latest Local Market Stats

Stop rummaging through Utah real estate data you don’t understand and let Harvest Park Group do the work for you. Every month we review trends in our real estate market and consider the number of homes on the market in each price tier, the amount of time particular homes have been listed for sale, specific neighborhood trends, the median price and square footage of each home sold and so much more. 

Why Local Market Stats Matter

The truth is, location matters more than you may think. Knowing what gives a neighborhood an edge over the other neighborhoods in your community can be the very thing that helps you buy that property/home. When discussing Local Real Estate, Realtor Greg Nagel noted: 

"Even within a neighborhood, location matters, and can often be a matter of feet, not miles.  Here in West Town, for example, there are a lot of nuances on value from one block to the next, with all sorts of things like Blue Line stops, the Bloomingdale Trail or 606, multiple landmark districts, local school differences, proximity to Division Street or Six Corners Entertainment Areas, noisy area trauma hospitals with helipads, or even just proximity to busy streets like Ashland or Western, coming into play."

What makes your property/home stand out from the rest? What gives your neighborhood an edge over the neighborhood next door? Is it the close proximity to a prominent school district? Does it have a beautiful view like a mountainous terrain? Is it near a popular mall? Or, is it more of a quiet area to enjoy peaceful walks by a river? These are just a few of the questions to ask yourself when getting to know your local real estate. At Harvest Park Group, we can help get you started with our Local Market Reports!

Get Local Market Reports Sent Directly to You

How to Read Our Market Reports

Our market report, as shown below, provides a variety of filters to help narrow down the type of property or home you are looking for.

First, pick your County, City, Subdivision, and Zip. Then, select Property Details that matter to you. Property Details include school districts, pool features, lot size, and more! In the case below, the viewer chose Salt Lake City. They capped the price at $100,000. No preferences to the year built or the schools nearby. 

Once you are finished customizing your report, select the button below: “Go to Market Report”

Once you click the button, you will be asked to create an account. After you create your account, you will be led to this page.

Now, you can save your market report and get monthly updates!

How to Get Our Local Market Reports Sent to You

You can sign up here to receive your own market report, delivered as often as you like! It contains current information on pending, active and just sold properties so you can see actual homes in your neighborhood. You can review your area on a larger scale, as well, by refining your search to include properties across the city or county. As you notice price and size trends, please contact us for clarification or to have any questions answered.

We can definitely fill you in on details that are not listed on the report and help you determine the best home for you. If you are wondering if now is the time to sell, please try out our INSTANT home value tool. You’ll get an estimate on the value of your property in today’s market. Right now, you have the opportunity to get all the stats you need to succeed in the ever changing Utah real estate game. Don't miss this chance. Get all the data you need sent to you with Harvest Park Group today!

Sign up for our Harvest Park Newsletter here. 

Get a home/property evaluation here.