How do you buy a new construction home in Utah, step by step?

Is buying new construction harder than buying a resale?

No. With a production builder like Candlelight the builder carries the construction financing, so you take out one standard mortgage that closes after the home is finished and has its certificate of occupancy, almost the same as a resale.

A custom build often means a construction loan first and a refinance into a permanent mortgage later: two loans, two sets of paperwork, and draws to manage. At Candlelight you sign once.

Where do I start?

At the Firefly Sales Center, 3004 N Wander Ln in Eagle Mountain. Six furnished model homes are open Monday to Saturday and by appointment on Sunday; no appointment is needed to walk them. Call or text 801-260-3053.

A New Home Specialist will be ready if you book. A first visit covers the community, the models, the 20+ home designs and options for personalising one. Bring the kids' bikes for the pump track, skate park and trails.

How does financing work?

Through one of three preferred lenders; Candlelight does not run an in-house mortgage company. You get a fully underwritten approval, not a quick pre-qualification, before you place a deposit.

• Up to $10,000 toward closing costs on a single-family home, and up to $8,000 on a townhome, when you finance with a preferred lender
• Up to $20,000 in Utah Housing assistance for qualifying first-time buyers on new homes priced $450,000 or less

Who are the preferred lenders?

Northpointe Bank, First Colony Mortgage and Guild Mortgage: three local lenders who each build dozens of Candlelight loans a year and know when the home will close.

• Northpointe Bank: upfront, fully underwritten approvals; knows the build timeline
• First Colony Mortgage: Utah expertise and personal service from application to close, including Spanish-language support
• Guild Mortgage: a streamlined process built to keep financing in step with the construction schedule
• Your lender talks directly with Candlelight's team, so the closing date and the completion date stay matched
• The four lender steps: apply and get pre-approved, know your number, lock in your incentives, then close once and move in

Should I buy a quick move-in home or build from a plan?

Quick move-in for the shortest path to keys: 13 are available on Firefly's standard lots today, plus 1 on Firefly Ranch. Build from a plan for your design, your lot and every selection; about six months.

Both paths run on the same one-mortgage financing and the same warranty. Your New Home Specialist has each listed home's build stage and completion date.

What happens at the design center?

You choose cabinets, countertops, flooring, paint, lighting and fixtures with a consultant at Carpet Diem, Candlelight's own design center. Design assistance is free.

Selections are locked early, before construction reaches those stages, which is what keeps the build on schedule and the budget predictable.

What happens during construction?

Three stages: foundation and framing, then systems and enclosure, then finishes. Your New Home Specialist gives you a target timeline up front and updates you at each milestone by phone, text, email or live chat.

• Foundation & framing — the floor plan takes shape on the lot
• Systems & enclosure — plumbing, electrical, HVAC, insulation and roofing, each inspected; the pre-drywall walkthrough, while the work behind the walls is still visible
• Finishes — cabinets, countertops, flooring, paint, lighting from your design-center selections
• Final walkthrough before closing

What do I get at closing?

Keys, one signed mortgage, and the Homeowner's Manual by email and on a USB drive. The manual sets out the first-year Candlelight Homes Limited Warranty, what is routine maintenance, and how to file a warranty request.

• Requests go through the online warranty portal, one claim per issue, routed automatically to the right trade, who contacts you to schedule the repair
• Major structural elements carry extended coverage beyond the first year. The number of years is in your manual; it is not published on this site

Where is Firefly, and how long is the commute?

Firefly is in Eagle Mountain, Utah: about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City and 30 miles north of Provo, 15 minutes from I-15, with an easy commute to Silicon Slopes.

Shopping, dining and medical care are a short drive away. From I-15, head west on Pony Express Parkway and follow the signs; the Sales Center is at 3004 N Wander Ln, just off Pole Canyon Boulevard.

What is included in a Candlelight home?

Every single-family home includes the smart-home package, professionally installed and configured before you arrive, all in the Google Home app. Plus the window design that floods each room with light, and on most plans a sunroom and covered patio.

• Google Nest video doorbell and Ecobee 3 Lite thermostat
• Kwikset SmartCode locks and smart garage control
• Smart lighting
• A 7-inch Nest Hub, router and access point