Buying a Historic Home in Utah Valley: The Guide

Living September 30, 2026 7 min read ✓ Updated September 30, 2026

JoAnn Giordano Editor-in-Chief, Provo.com How we make Provo.com

Utah Valley's older homes, the brick Victorians and bungalows of Provo's historic districts, Pleasant Grove's National Register district and other old town centers, are some of the most distinctive houses in the county. Buying one is different from buying new. Our Provo historic districts guide makes the short case for and against; this is the fuller buyer's guide to what the purchase actually involves.

What "historic" means, legally

The National Register of Historic Places is the federal list. Being on it, individually or as a contributing building in a listed district, is an honor and a door to tax credits, but by itself it does not restrict what a private owner does with private money.
Local historic rules are what can restrict you. Cities with historic districts or landmark registers may review exterior alterations; in Provo, that review step is part of the permit process our building permits guide sets out.

Before you make an offer, ask the city whether the house is on a local register or in a local district, and what that means for windows, porches, siding and additions.

The tax credit most buyers do not know about

Utah returns 20 percent of qualified rehabilitation costs as a state income tax credit, administered by the State Historic Preservation Office:

The use: the building must be a residence after the work, owner-occupied or rented.
The listing: it must be on the National Register, individually or as a contributing building in a district such as Pleasant Grove's, or be listed within three years of the finished project.
The spending: at least $10,000 within three years of preapproval.
The standards: all work must meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, and the office warns that one noncompliant change can void the entire credit.
The timing: apply before the work is finished, preferably before it starts.

A separate 20 percent federal credit applies only to income-producing buildings, so a historic rental can qualify for both.

What the inspection has to cover

An old house needs more than a standard inspection. Plan for the wiring, plumbing, heating, roof and foundation, and for the hazards of age:

Lead paint in any home built before 1978; sellers must disclose known lead hazards under federal rules.
Asbestos in older insulation, flooring and siding.
The brick: many older Utah Valley homes are unreinforced masonry, the construction most vulnerable in an earthquake.

See Home Inspections and Appraisals in Utah Valley and Asbestos and Lead in Older Homes.

Brick, earthquakes and insurance

Unreinforced brick is the Wasatch Front's biggest earthquake weakness, and a structural engineer, not a listing, is the one to tell you what you have and what retrofitting would cost. Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquakes, and brick homes cost more to cover. See The Wasatch Fault and Your Mortgage.

Budgeting for an old house

Price the systems, not just the kitchen: wiring, plumbing and heating come first.
Keep a contingency. Old houses reveal surprises once walls are open.
Plan work to the standards if you want the credit, and apply first.
Line up the right trades: contractors experienced with old masonry and wood windows.

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a tax credit for restoring a historic home in Utah?

Yes. Utah's historic preservation tax credit returns 20 percent of qualified rehabilitation costs as a state income tax credit for buildings used as residences, owner-occupied or rented. The building must be on the National Register of Historic Places, individually or as a contributing building in a historic district, or listed within three years of the finished project; at least $10,000 must be spent within three years; and the work must meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.

When do I apply for the credit?

Before the work is finished, and preferably before it starts. The State Historic Preservation Office warns that a single noncompliant change can void the whole credit.

Does National Register listing stop me from changing my house?

Listing on the National Register by itself does not restrict what a private owner does with private money. Local rules are a different matter: cities with historic districts or landmark registers may review exterior changes.

What should an inspection of an old house cover?

Wiring, plumbing, heating, the roof and the foundation, plus the hazards of age: lead paint in homes built before 1978, asbestos in older materials, and, for brick homes, whether the masonry is unreinforced.

Does a house have to be on the National Register for the tax credit?

Yes, individually or as a contributing building in a historic district, or listed within three years of the finished project, and at least $10,000 must be spent within three years of preapproval.

Do old houses have lead paint?

Any home built before 1978 may, and sellers must disclose known lead hazards under federal rules.

Are brick homes risky in an earthquake?

Unreinforced brick is the Wasatch Front's biggest earthquake weakness; a structural engineer, not a listing, can tell you what you have and what retrofitting would cost.

Does homeowners insurance cover earthquake damage to an old house?

No. Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquakes, and brick homes cost more to cover.

JoAnn Giordano

Editor-in-Chief

JoAnn Giordano is the editor-in-chief of Provo.com. Having lived in and around Utah Valley for years, she leads the site's editorial direction with a focus on the comprehensive, honest local coverage that helps residents, students, and newcomers feel at home. When she's not shaping Provo.com's restaurant and neighborhood coverage, she's exploring the valley's trails and tracking down the best new spots on Center Street.

Buying a Historic Home in Utah Valley: What It Actually Involves