Clearfield is home to The Tim Hawkes Team — and we don't say that just as a tagline. We live here, work here, and have built our mortgage practice around the specific needs of Clearfield and Davis County buyers. With median home prices around $380,000 to $420,000, Clearfield remains one of the most affordable and accessible communities along the Wasatch Front, making it especially attractive to first-time buyers, military families from nearby Hill Air Force Base, and anyone looking for strong value without sacrificing convenience.
But affordability alone doesn't make a home purchase easy. The lender you choose will shape your rate, your closing costs, your timeline, and your stress level throughout the entire process. This guide helps Clearfield buyers understand the different types of lenders available and which one is the best fit for their unique situation.
Types of Mortgage Lenders in Clearfield
When you start exploring mortgage options in Clearfield, you'll find three primary categories of lenders. Understanding the differences between them is the first step toward making the right choice.
National Online Lenders
Rocket Mortgage, Better.com, LoanDepot, and similar companies have built slick digital platforms that make applying for a mortgage feel effortless. And for simple, straightforward transactions — strong credit, large down payment, no DPA needed — they can work fine. Their rates are often competitive, and the convenience of doing everything from your phone is a genuine advantage.
The problem arises when your situation requires local knowledge. Online lenders have no idea that Clearfield City has its own DPA program. They won't know about Davis County assistance, UHC stacking opportunities, or the nuances of buying near Hill AFB. If you qualify for any form of down payment assistance, choosing an online lender could mean leaving thousands of dollars on the table.
Big Branch Lenders
Major banks like Wells Fargo, Chase, and US Bank have a physical presence and long histories. Some buyers prefer the familiarity of working with a big bank, and that's understandable. But large banks are often structured around centralized processing, which means your file may be handled by teams in different states who don't understand Utah's market or closing practices.
When you need a fast answer on a condition, creative structuring for a DPA-layered deal, or a quick pivot after an appraisal comes in different than expected, big banks struggle to move with the speed and flexibility the situation demands.
Local Mortgage Teams
A local mortgage team — especially one headquartered in Clearfield — offers the most tailored experience. You get the product selection and institutional stability of a national lender, combined with a loan officer who knows Clearfield's neighborhoods, agents, title companies, and DPA programs firsthand.
The Tim Hawkes Team at Cornerstone Home Lending is exactly this. We're not a call center. We're a dedicated team of mortgage professionals based right here in Clearfield, with in-house processing and underwriting that keeps your loan moving efficiently from application to closing.
Best Lender for First-Time Buyers in Clearfield
First-time buyers in Clearfield have access to some of Utah's most impactful assistance programs. But accessing them — and combining them strategically — requires a lender who is both approved to offer these programs and experienced in structuring them correctly.
Clearfield City DPA — $7,500 Matching Grant
Clearfield City has historically offered a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $7,500 for first-time buyers purchasing within city limits. The program matches the buyer's own savings, effectively doubling their down payment contribution. Important note: as of early 2026, this program is currently closed to new applicants. However, it has reopened in the past when new funding becomes available. We recommend checking in with us for the latest status — we track these programs closely and will notify you as soon as funding is restored.
UHC FirstHome Loan
Utah Housing Corporation's flagship program offers up to $27,500 in down payment and closing cost assistance through a second mortgage. This program is available statewide and is one of the most frequently used DPA tools for Clearfield buyers. It can be paired with FHA, VA, and conventional first mortgages, giving buyers significant flexibility.
Davis County Homeownership Program
One of the most generous county-level programs in the state, Davis County offers up to $50,000 in assistance through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. This is income-restricted, but for buyers who qualify, it can cover a substantial portion of the down payment and closing costs on a Clearfield home.
FHLB HELP Program
The Federal Home Loan Bank's Homeownership Equity Leverage Partnership provides $20,000 in forgivable grant assistance through participating lenders. Cornerstone Home Lending is a participating institution, which means our team can originate HELP-funded loans directly. The grant is forgiven after five years of owner occupancy.
Stacking Multiple Programs
The real power for Clearfield first-time buyers comes from stacking. By combining a UHC FirstHome Loan with the FHLB HELP grant and potentially the Clearfield City DPA (when available), buyers can cover their entire down payment and most or all of their closing costs. We've helped buyers close on Clearfield homes with under $500 in total out-of-pocket expenses. The key is having a lender who understands which combinations are allowed and how to structure the deal so that every program's requirements are met simultaneously.
Best Lender for VA Buyers in Clearfield
Clearfield's proximity to Hill Air Force Base means a large percentage of local buyers are active-duty military, veterans, or military spouses. The VA loan is widely considered the best mortgage product available in America: zero down payment, no private mortgage insurance, competitive interest rates, and more flexible credit requirements than conventional loans.
But VA loans have specific requirements that not every lender handles well. The VA appraisal process includes Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs) that go beyond a standard appraisal. Issues like peeling paint, broken handrails, or inadequate ventilation can trigger conditions that delay closing if your lender isn't prepared. A lender who processes VA loans daily — especially in the Hill AFB area — knows what to expect and can advise buyers and agents proactively to avoid surprises.
Our team works with military buyers from Hill AFB every week. We process VA purchases, VA refinances, and VA streamline (IRRRL) loans with a level of expertise that comes from doing this work consistently in the same community, year after year.
Best Lender for Down Payment Assistance in Clearfield
If we had to name the single most important factor in choosing a Clearfield mortgage lender, it would be DPA expertise. The difference between a lender who knows these programs and one who doesn't can be tens of thousands of dollars in savings for the buyer.
Too many buyers assume they need 10% or 20% down to buy a home. In reality, between FHA's 3.5% minimum, UHC assistance, county grants, and city programs, many Clearfield buyers need far less than they think — and some need almost nothing at all.
The challenge is that DPA programs each have their own eligibility requirements, income limits, purchase price caps, and layering rules. Navigating this landscape without expert guidance is nearly impossible. This is where working with a team like ours makes the biggest difference. We evaluate every buyer's eligibility across all available programs, identify the optimal combination, and handle the paperwork and coordination from start to finish.
The Tim Hawkes Team Advantage
We're not just in Clearfield — we're of Clearfield. Our office is here. Our families live here. We coach little league here. When we say we know this market, we mean it at a level that no out-of-state call center or big bank branch can match.
Here's what sets us apart:
- In-house processing and underwriting: Your loan doesn't get shipped to a processing center in another state. Our team handles it from application to closing, right here.
- DPA expertise: We're approved for and experienced with every major down payment assistance program available to Clearfield buyers.
- VA loan specialists: With Hill AFB right in our backyard, VA lending is a core part of our practice — not an afterthought.
- Local relationships: We work with Clearfield's top real estate agents, title companies, and appraisers every day. When issues arise, we resolve them with a phone call, not a support ticket.
- Proactive communication: No crickets. We keep you updated at every stage and make sure you fully understand your options before making any decision.
Let's Get Started
Whether you're a first-time buyer exploring DPA programs, a veteran using your VA benefit, or a current homeowner considering a refinance, we're here and ready to help. As your Clearfield neighbors and mortgage experts, we take every transaction personally — because in a community this tight-knit, your success is our reputation.