We know how awesome Utah is. That’s why we’ve broken ground here, laid our foundation and planted our roots deep within its rich, salty earth. (We’ve been in the business long enough to know prime Utah real estate when we see it!) But the bigger question is…do your potential clients know how awesome Utah is?
We could tell you how two of Utah’s biggest metro’s made Zillow’s list for the ‘hottest housing markets of 2016’. Or we could tell you that Utah’s capital ranks #5 in the nation for top real estate investment locations. But these are probably already part of your repertoire.
The Utah real estate market is booming — in large part due to millennials — and there is good reason why. An increasingly younger demographic are choosing to call the Beehive State home. In fact, Utah’s median age of 30.5 is the lowest in the nation. So let’s dig a little deeper. If you find your clients asking themselves, ‘Why Utah?’ we’ve got a few selling points that may surprise them.
Put your old prejudices aside. Diversity in religion, race and culture is increasing throughout the state, especially in the metropolitan area of Salt Lake City and its suburbs. The Avenues, Sugarhouse and Cottonwood Heights are just a few neighborhoods known for their cultural diversity. According to a recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau, ‘[Utah’s] diversity is increasingly reflective of a globally connected population.’
Did you know Utah is rated #1 in the nation for its strong economy? After leading the nation in job growth in 2015 (with significant growth in technology), Utah is expected to have robust economic growth, positive labor market performance and an increasing number of people moving to the state in 2016.
This is the place…for high paying tech jobs! Utah offers tax incentive packages for tech companies looking to make the move to create new, high-paying jobs. Adobe, Xactware, and Vivant Solar have all taken up Utah real estate and with the recent installation of Google Fiber in Provo (coming soon to SLC), Utah is prime territory for high-tech companies.
The opening of an overnight youth homeless shelter happened this year. The $6 million, 20,000-square-foot facility offers 24/7 support as well as education, counseling and job training to help teens struggling with homelessness. Last year, we were able to donate a portion of our net sales to the Homeless Youth Resource Center and will continue to be one of their biggest supporters. This is just one of many ways our community rallies around one another to give back.
Lover of the arts? We are ranked among the top 10 cities for creatives (coming in at #3!) Home of the Sundance Film Festival, Utah Museum of Fine Arts and Ballet West, Utah fosters the arts in all forms. Not only that, but the Salt Lake City metro area has the 11th highest concentration of creative professionals of any U.S. metro (and there are over 400).
So the next time you’re meeting with a new client, having coffee with an old friend or stuck with awkward elevator small talk — avoid that momentary social panic and refer to these ice breakers. Take a deep breath. You got this! Show that small talk who is boss. Why Utah? Why not!