Hard money loans in Utah

BuildUp Capital is an asset-secured hard money lender based in Salt Lake City. In Utah we make first-position, business-purpose loans of $100K–$10M for 6–18 months, up to 80% LTV on residential or commercial property — from Ogden to St. George.

See if you qualify in 60 secondsEvery Utah city we serve

Hard money loan terms in Utah

Loan size
$100K–$10M
Term
6–18 months
Position
First position (a second position is the rare exception)
Max LTV
Up to 80%, residential or commercial
Rates
Rates as low as 11% for prime-market, low-LTV loans; most first-position loans start around 12%.
Payments
Monthly, interest-only; prepayment allowed
Speed
Term sheet typically within 5 business days; close typically around 10 days once diligence is in
Purpose
Business purpose only — not consumer mortgages

Final pricing depends on the property, the market and the exit; fees are stated in the term sheet before you pay for diligence. Documents we ask for

The Utah market for hard money

Utah is our home market. We are based in Salt Lake City, and most Utah deals we see sit on the Wasatch Front — Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Tooele counties — where the bulk of the state’s population and commercial property is concentrated. Southern Utah (Washington and Iron counties) is the other active pocket, with St. George and Cedar City on our served-city list.

Utah has been one of the faster-growing states this decade: the Census Bureau estimates it grew from about 3.27 million people in April 2020 to about 3.50 million in July 2024. Growth like that shows up in hard-money demand as land-to-construction timing gaps, owner-occupied commercial buildings that have appreciated faster than the bank will re-lend against, and business purchases that have to close on a seller’s calendar.

Utah population: 3.27 million (April 2020 base) to 3.50 million (July 2024), +7.1%. (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 estimates)

Collateral we lend against in Utah

  • Owner-occupied commercial buildings — the shop, office or warehouse the business runs from — refinanced for cash-out or working capital.
  • Investment residential (1–4 units) and small multifamily held by a business, including fix-and-flip and value-add projects along the Wasatch Front.
  • Industrial and flex space in the Salt Lake Valley and Utah County, where owner-users frequently hold the real estate in a separate LLC — a structure we underwrite routinely.
  • Multiple properties pledged together (cross-collateralized) when no single parcel covers the loan.

How Utah deals typically use hard money

Bridge to a bank or SBA refinance

A Utah County manufacturer buys the building next door on a 30-day contract. We close the purchase against both buildings, and the owner refinances into SBA 504 or bank debt once the expansion is seasoned.

Cash-out on an appreciated building

A Salt Lake contractor owns its yard and shop free and clear. One first-position loan releases equity for equipment and payroll while a large receivable is outstanding, repaid when the job pays.

Partner buyout on a deadline

Two owners of a Davis County business split. A cash-out loan on the company’s real estate funds the departing partner on the agreed date.

Illustrative structures, not specific client transactions.

Utah trust deeds, foreclosure and title — the basics

  • Utah business-purpose loans are typically secured by a trust deed. The trustee must be qualified under Utah law — for example, an active member of the Utah State Bar or a title insurance company or agency with an office in Utah. (Utah Code §57-1-21)
  • Non-judicial trust-deed sales follow a recorded notice of default; the trustee may not give notice of sale until at least three months after the notice of default is filed. (Utah Code §57-1-24)
  • Utah closings are customarily handled by a title company acting as escrow, which also issues the lender’s title policy. We order title on day one, because an unrecorded easement or an old judgment is the most common thing that moves a Utah closing date.
  • Because we are based in Salt Lake City, Utah collateral is the easiest for us to inspect quickly — but every loan still gets an appraisal or broker opinion, and the term sheet states the fees before you sign.

General information, current as of October 2026 — not legal advice. Statutes change; confirm with Utah counsel or your title company.

Regions

Utah hard money by metro region

Wasatch Front5 counties, 2.70 million people (2024): Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, Tooele.Wasatch Front hard money

Cities

Largest Utah cities we lend in

Population: Census Bureau July 2024 estimates.

Common questions

Hard money in Utah — what people ask

Are you a Utah hard money lender?
Yes. We are an asset-secured hard money and bridge lender based in Salt Lake City, making business-purpose, first-position loans of $100K–$10M across Utah, up to 80% LTV.
Who acts as trustee on a Utah trust deed?
Utah limits who may serve as trustee — for example, a Utah State Bar member or a title insurer or agency with a Utah office (Utah Code §57-1-21). In practice we use a Utah title company.
Do you lend in Southern Utah?
Yes — St. George, Cedar City and the rest of the state, on the same terms. The collateral needs to be real estate we can value and would be comfortable owning.
Can I use my Utah home as collateral for a business loan?
We lend for business purposes only. Some owners choose to pledge personal real estate to support a business loan; we will tell you plainly whether that structure is available on your deal and what it means for you.

All hard money states · Where we lend in Utah · Rates & terms