Where Can Buyers Find More Space in Salt Lake County?
Buyers looking for more space in Salt Lake County should begin by comparing Herriman, Bluffdale, Riverton, South Jordan, Draper, and selected communities along the western side of the Salt Lake Valley.
These areas may provide larger floor plans, additional bedrooms, finished or finishable basements, three-car garages, RV parking, or more usable yard space. However, no city automatically guarantees more space or better value.
The best choice depends on what kind of space you actually need, how much you want to spend, and how the location affects your daily commute.
Start by Defining What “More Space” Means
More space means different things to different buyers.
One family may need five bedrooms and multiple living areas. Another may care more about a large backyard, RV parking, a workshop, or enough garage space for vehicles and recreational equipment.
Before choosing a community, identify your priorities:
Additional bedrooms
A dedicated home office
A finished basement
A multigenerational layout
A larger backyard
RV or trailer parking
A three-car garage
More storage
Space for pets
Room for future improvements
A 3,500-square-foot home on a compact lot solves a different problem than a 2,300-square-foot home with a large yard and detached garage.
Knowing what you mean by “more space” prevents you from buying a larger house that still does not meet your actual needs.
Herriman
Herriman is often one of the first communities buyers consider when they want newer construction and additional interior square footage.
Depending on current inventory, buyers may find:
Modern open floor plans
Multiple bedrooms
Large primary suites
Bonus rooms
Finished or unfinished basements
Two- and three-car garages
Planned neighborhood amenities
Herriman may work well for buyers who want a newer home and are comfortable living farther from central Salt Lake City.
The tradeoffs can include longer commuting distances, homeowner association fees, continuing construction, and smaller private lots in some newer developments.
Before purchasing, test your likely commute during the actual hours you expect to travel. A spacious home can quickly feel less appealing when the daily drive consumes too much time.
Bluffdale
Bluffdale can appeal to buyers looking for a less urban environment or a property with a larger or less conventional lot.
Housing in Bluffdale varies. Some areas include newer subdivisions and townhomes, while others may offer properties with more land, specialized garages, animal-related uses, or additional privacy.
Buyers considering a larger parcel should investigate:
Zoning
Permitted property uses
Utility connections
Sewer or septic service
Irrigation arrangements
Easements
Shared roads
Access rights
Slope and drainage
Homeowner association restrictions
A property should not be evaluated only by its total acreage. Usable land, access, restrictions, infrastructure, and maintenance requirements can matter more than the number shown in the listing.
Riverton
Riverton provides a combination of established neighborhoods, remodeled homes, and newer residential development.
Some Riverton properties may offer larger yards, traditional detached-home layouts, basement space, or additional parking compared with denser parts of Salt Lake County.
Because the age and condition of Riverton homes can vary significantly, buyers should compare:
Roof and mechanical-system ages
Basement condition
Garage size
Yard usability
Renovation quality
Drainage
Parking
Deferred maintenance
A larger older home can be a strong purchase, but only when the buyer understands its repair and maintenance needs.
Buyers should also review the biggest mistakes Utah homebuyers make before focusing too heavily on square footage. A home’s location, condition, payment, and long-term usability matter just as much as its size.
South Jordan
South Jordan offers a broad range of housing, including townhomes, planned developments, newer detached homes, and larger established properties.
Buyers looking for space should distinguish between:
Interior living space
Private yard size
Garage capacity
Basement potential
Community open space
Storage
Distance between neighboring homes
Some newer South Jordan homes provide generous interiors but relatively compact private yards. That arrangement may work well for buyers who want more bedrooms and office space without maintaining extensive landscaping.
It may not work as well for buyers whose main priority is a large private backyard.
South Jordan also has access to UTA’s FrontRunner commuter-rail system, which operates between Ogden and Provo and connects communities across Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah counties.
Draper
Draper may provide larger homes, mountain and valley views, recreation access, and proximity to employment areas in the southern Salt Lake Valley.
The city includes everything from attached housing to larger foothill homes, so buyers should avoid treating Draper as one uniform market.
Properties near steeper terrain may require additional investigation involving:
Driveway grade
Winter access
Drainage
Retaining walls
Soil and slope conditions
Landscaping
Homeowner association responsibilities
Views and location can add substantial appeal, but they may also come with practical costs that are not obvious in listing photographs.
Should Buyers Also Consider Davis County?
Yes. Buyers who want more space should not automatically stop their search at the Salt Lake County line.
Depending on current Wasatch Front MLS inventory, communities such as Farmington, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse, West Point, Clinton, and South Weber may offer additional alternatives.
Davis County communities may provide different combinations of:
Detached homes
Basement space
Garage capacity
Yard size
Newer construction
Traditional neighborhoods
Access to Northern Utah
First-time and move-up buyers can begin by reviewing the best Davis County cities for first-time buyers. Although written for first-time buyers, the community comparisons can also help buyers understand how available housing changes across the county.
FrontRunner operates along the Wasatch Front between Ogden and Provo, with Davis County stations including Clearfield, Layton, Farmington, and Woods Cross.
The real question is not whether Salt Lake County or Davis County has larger houses overall. The better question is:
Where can you find the type of usable space you need while protecting your budget, commute, and long-term plans?
Calculate the Complete Cost of a Larger Home
A larger home usually creates costs beyond the mortgage payment.
Those expenses may include:
Higher utility bills
Increased homeowners insurance
Property taxes
Additional furnishings
More flooring and paint
Larger roof-replacement costs
Landscaping and irrigation
Basement finishing
General maintenance
Buyers should compare the complete monthly payment and realistic ownership costs rather than focusing only on price per square foot.
Public sites can be useful for broad context, but serious pricing and offer decisions should start with current Wasatch Front MLS comps.
Once you find the right property, understanding how to write a strong offer without overpaying becomes especially important. Price is only one part of an offer. Financing, contingencies, seller concessions, closing timing, and the condition of the property can all affect the final result.
Todd Porter, known as Utah Todd, and Tammy Swain are real estate agents with SURE Group, brokered by Real Estate Essentials, helping buyers, sellers, military families, relocating families, first-time buyers, and move-up homeowners throughout Davis County, the Wasatch Front, and Northern Utah.
Ready to Find a Home With the Space You Need?
Todd Porter, known as Utah Todd, and Tammy Swain can help you compare current Wasatch Front MLS homes, complete monthly payments, property condition, commute, seller concessions, and the smartest path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Salt Lake County suburbs may offer larger homes?
Herriman, Bluffdale, Riverton, South Jordan, and portions of Draper are reasonable starting points. The best opportunities depend on current inventory, price range, property condition, and the type of space you need.
Do newer homes usually have larger yards?
Not necessarily. Many newer communities emphasize interior square footage and shared amenities while using smaller private lots.
Is Davis County worth considering when I need more space?
Yes. Several Davis County communities may provide different combinations of larger homes, basements, garages, yards, and newer construction while maintaining access to Salt Lake County.
Should I buy the largest home I qualify for?
Not automatically. Mortgage qualification establishes a potential borrowing limit. It does not determine the payment that best supports your savings, lifestyle, maintenance needs, and other financial priorities.
Final Thoughts
More space should improve the way you live—not create unnecessary financial pressure or an exhausting commute.
Start by defining the type of space you need. Then compare actual homes, complete monthly costs, property condition, location, and long-term flexibility.
For help comparing larger homes across Salt Lake County and Davis County, contact:
Todd Porter — Utah Todd
SURE Group, brokered by Real Estate Essentials
801-755-1882
[email protected]
Tammy Swain
SURE Group, brokered by Real Estate Essentials
602-350-5325
[email protected]
Real estate is not only an agent’s business, it’s everyone’s business.
