Utah is Changing Forever

Utah isn't changing. In fact, it's already changed. And most people won't fully understand this until it's too late. And the scariest part, most people that think they're the safest are actually the most exposed. So if you live in Utah or you're thinking about moving here or raising a family here, these are things that you need to know. And this video might be just a little bit uncomfortable, but you need to see it because Utah is changing forever, culturally, economically, socially, and the version of Utah that you think you're preparing for, honestly, to some degree, no longer exists. Most people believe that Utah will always be safe, family centric and family oriented, affordable, predictable. And what I think is the best way to describe it is different from everywhere else, that it'll just be more people, but the same Utah. Well, that belief is dead. Utah isn't becoming more Utah. It's actually becoming something entirely new. And the people who will win over the next decade are the people that choose to live here or move here and relocate here, who actually see this shift happening already. And this isn't fear bait. This is just being prepared and understanding what's to come. This is just simple pattern recognition. And yes, we can look at all of our neighboring States to see how those States have been impacted by other people moving there. But the truth is Utah is very different. It's going to happen here. It just will happen differently. And so I'm going to show you what's changing, why it's irreversible and how most people are just preparing for the wrong future here in Utah. There are five massive shifts happening right now in Utah. And the first one is already reshaping your daily life, whether you notice it or not. And the last one, well, that's the one that blindsides families the hardest. So if you're thinking of making the move to, or within the state of Utah, these are things that you need to know and understand in order to move forward with confidence. Okay. Let's start things off. First off, Utah is no longer a local economy. And this is a big shift because Utah used to be a place where local wages matched local living, but now that's over. That's not the case anymore. Utah is now competing with Silicon Valley money, Seattle salaries and remote workers who are paid in coastal dollars. And to me, that's why starter homes are gone. The middle class home here in Utah has shot up in price for this and so many other reasons. And rent prices can feel very random depending on the specific area in the specific city. And sometimes it feels like entire neighborhoods can flip in a matter of 18 to 24 months. This is why Utah's real estate market is on fire and why so many people are finding new construction as not only a viable option, but the best option for them. And I like to tell people that you're not losing this game because of money you're losing because the game has changed. Utah real estate is simply no longer the same as it used to be. If you look back 15 to 20 years, Utah has changed dramatically in terms of our growth and our positioning, not only nationwide, but in terms of the world as well. And to me, this means that the old rules of save up money, buy and just settle in over time, just don't apply anymore. Things move too quickly. And here's what most people miss. This economic shift is what unlocks every other shift and change that you're about to see. Okay. Shift number two here in the state of Utah is culture is segmenting and look, Utah used to have a cultural gravity. Now sometimes it feels like cultural friction because not everybody is for everyone. And what we're noticing is so many people, as they move into the state of Utah, they're bringing different cultures and different ways about them, which to a great degree is really healthy and awesome. And to others, it can feel uncomfortable. And this is happening for so many different reasons and in so many different ways, migration from multiple ideologies and different cultures and different states altogether really create a melting pot here in Utah as well. There's no more shared assumptions across the board. There's no more parallel communities. They're more blended ones. Now there's just not the same environment that we used to have. Now, depending on the specific location, you can still find that. And some people think that this diversity equals automatic harmony. And I just don't believe that because in reality, to me, it means negotiation. And quite frankly, Utah has never had to negotiate its identity ever before. Now this affects you and your family and your kids as well. You asked yourself the question, are you going to blend into the community that you choose to make your new home? Many people believe that they're going to have a struggle blending into the neighborhoods and the communities here in Utah, especially with the strong LDS or Mormon culture. I don't think that's anywhere near the problem that it used to be, but it certainly can still be the case depending on the makeup of the neighborhood where you're choosing to live. But it's not just about faith. It's not just about religion. It's about everything else in between. And of course you'll see the same patterns play out here in Utah, as you will in so many other places with the culture and the beliefs and the ideologies that are adopted in the middle of the city being quite different than that of the suburbs or the outer areas. And all of this directly affects not only you, but your kids as well, whether you want it to or not. Okay. Shift number three is the family advantage is kind of disappearing to a great degree. And look, Utah was built for families, but sometimes these systems lag behind the growth. This means in some of these growing areas, we see crowding schools, schools that are built. And by the time they're finished, they're already full and they're ready to build the next one. This means sometimes time poverty can kick in. Do you have enough time with your family, with your kids? Is the commute becoming cumbersome as well? Or do you need two incomes just to get by, which is the case across this country in so many places, it also dilutes communities to some extent. And you know what, that to me is so incredibly important. I believe that what makes Utah so incredibly special is the tight knit communities here that you just don't get most anywhere else. And so to me in Utah, families aren't failing here. I believe they're being asked to live a small town lifestyle in a Metro scale reality. And Salt Lake city has grown up right before our eyes. And next, here's the part that nobody wants to say out loud. Utah is becoming what I like to think of as a sorting machine. Utah is no longer just one place and it's becoming many versions of itself depending on the location. And it's different in each and every part of the state. So what does this mean? This means class separation can really kick in depending on where you fall. If you're living in certain areas, you might experience a separation from people who live in a different area, which is of course a natural occurrence everywhere else. We've just yet to see that to a great degree here in Utah. Also it means value based migration. So many of the people that are moving to Utah are doing so for their values. In fact, most of the people that reach out to me right here on my YouTube channel are reaching out and they're being open about why they're choosing to live here and to move here. And it's greatly in part because of the values that Utah offers and they align more with those values. I know this is a half glass full kind of attitude, but it's truly what I get to experience every single day. So if that's you and you're considering making that move to or within Utah, reach out to me. Let's get the conversation started. And if we haven't met yet, my name is Scott Steele. I'm a local real estate broker here in Utah and I help people make this move every single day. So reach out. And once you do make the move here, you'll have to know that there are geographic silos depending on where you choose to live and where you live determines which opportunities you'll be presented with, your stress levels, your social circles and your future leverage if that's something that you're really thinking about, which leads me to then talk about the most dangerous shift of all. Okay. Shift number five is the window is closing. Every major transformation has a moment where early movers win and late movers absorb the cost. And Utah is about to cross that line right now as I speak. For example, one of those locations is down in Utah County, right there on the border of Lehi, Saratoga Springs and Eagle mountain as well. This has been the hotbed for growth in the state of Utah to a great degree. This infrastructure lag that we're seeing here is affecting this area in terms of traffic and congestion right now. But once this infrastructure that's currently already under construction is completed, this area is going to explode and appreciation is going to catch up with the County to the North and Salt Lake County. I greatly believe that this is still early enough to get into this area before it really takes off, but there's more to life than just infrastructure and freeways. There's also giving things time for the policies and the laws to catch up with the growth and the new identity of the now larger and more populated version of Utah. And for many people that are making the move here, they're choosing to purchase a new construction home and lock in a price now so that they don't have to wonder what they're going to be doing six months from now or a year from now, because right now is a great time to buy new construction homes. So if you're looking at new construction, reach out to me. It's one of my top areas of expertise and I help people guide them through that process of buying new construction and using the leverage that we have in the tools to get the best credits, the best concessions and the best deal for you. So reach out to me if that's you. And so while this window is closing, it's still open to a great degree. And I think the best way to look at this is to not have denial that it's actually happening because the vast majority of people end up waiting too long. In fact, many people believe that the market is going to crash like it did in 2008 during the financial crisis. I personally don't believe that. I think the crash has already happened. We just don't see it in the numbers because the value of the U S dollar has diminished so much. And the way I like to look at this is people oftentimes wait for certainty, but certainty only arrives after the advantage is completely gone. Now, with this said, I've never told people that it's the best time to buy. In fact, this is language that I see from real estate agents and professionals all the time. And I firmly disagree that we should be telling people this is the best time to buy. I think the only thing that truly matters is, is it the best time for you to buy? And I have said over the last few months that this is the best time to buy new construction because new construction is at a premium in terms of it's a desirability and its advantages right now in the Utah real estate market. But if you wait too long expecting certainty, you're likely leaving a lot on the table and you're going to miss out on the advantage that you have right now. And from my chair, I see that most people are preparing for the Utah that was 10 years ago. And those people are the ones that are expecting stability before they buy as well as predictability and continuity. But this isn't a cycle. Instead, it's a phase change. And so what does this mean for you? This isn't about panic. It's about positioning. And the best options are these adapt early, realize what's happening, be educated and make good decisions for you personally choose deliberately what it is your plan is to make sure that you can actually do something with a high level of intention. Also build leverage, make sure that you're well positioned to pull it off. If that's indeed what you're looking to do and stop outsourcing decisions to nostalgia and the people who thrive in the Utah real estate market don't do it because they're smarter. They do it because they're decisive and they do it earlier. And so we've covered the economic shift that's happening here in the state of Utah as well as the cultural fragmentation that to me means more opportunity for those coming from other States and the squeeze that we're feeling on families here in the state as well as around the country. But let's be honest here in Utah, housing has impacted the decisions that families can make in terms of buying a home. We've also talked a little bit about the geographic sorting depending on which area you live is going to impact your way of life far more than you can believe. And we talked about how the window is not closed, but it is certainly closing, especially if you want to be close to the metropolitan areas along the Wasatch front and specifically in Salt Lake city. And so look, Utah is changing forever, but being not ready or ready is completely optional. It's up to you. This moment will define those that look back and go, well, I saw it coming or the bigger group will be, I felt that it was coming, but I wasn't decisive. And now it's so much more difficult. If you want help thinking this through in terms of how does this impact your personal decision, if you're looking to make the move to or within the state of Utah, reach out to me, let's start the conversation. You can find my contact information in the description below or reach out to me in any way that works for you. But if you're also looking for this type of information, subscribe to this channel. I put out videos every single week to educate you, to help you, to make sure that I can make this move as smooth as possible for you. So if that's you subscribe to the channel, reach out to me. And if you want to learn more about life in Utah, check out these videos next and until next time, thanks.