bds
|
ba
|
sqft
ac lot
|
car garage
|
|
Investment Properties for Sale in Cottonwood Heights, Utah
Cottonwood Heights sits right where the Salt Lake Valley meets the Wasatch, minutes from Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, Brighton, Solitude, and the mouth of the canyon roads that ski commuters use all winter. That location drives steady rental demand from two directions: seasonal ski workers and canyon-adjacent renters who want seven-minute drives to the lifts, and Salt Lake tech and healthcare employees who work near the University of Utah or downtown but want quieter, tree-lined streets. Housing stock here runs from 1970s and 80s split-levels and rambler-style homes near Fort Union and Union Park, up to newer builds and townhomes closer to Bengal Boulevard and Wasatch Boulevard. Lot sizes tend to be larger than in Salt Lake proper, which matters for buyers considering an accessory dwelling unit or a long-term rental with a mother-in-law basement. Cottonwood Heights' short-term rental rules are stricter than in Park City or Midvale, so most investors here are building buy-and-hold or mid-term rental strategies rather than nightly Airbnb portfolios — worth confirming against current city code before you write an offer. Prices sit above the county median given the school district (Canyons) and canyon proximity, but that premium tends to show up in stronger appreciation and lower vacancy than cheaper valley submarkets. Basement apartments with separate entrances are common in the older housing stock and give house-hackers a way into the market without a full duplex purchase. Browse the active listings below to see what's currently on the market for cash-flow and appreciation plays alike.
August 2026 · Cottonwood Heights market
Live from the Utah MLS — what's actually happening in Cottonwood Heights right now.
Median sale
$813,500
13 closed in August 2026
Median DOM
39 days
listing → contract
Sale-to-list
97.2%
of final list price
Unsold inventory
84
active + pending
11 matching · page 1 of 1
Active listings
New investment properties in Cottonwood Heights, straight to your inbox
We'll email you the moment a new one hits the MLS. Free, and you can stop anytime.
Prefer the map?
See all 11 investment properties on a map
Pan around Cottonwood Heights and refine by drawing your own boundary.
Common questions
About investment properties in Cottonwood Heights.
What kinds of investment properties does Cottonwood Heights actually have? ▾
The bulk of the inventory is single-family rentals in subdivisions off Fort Union Boulevard, Bengal Boulevard, and around Butler Middle School. There's a smaller pool of townhomes near Old Mill and a handful of walk-out rambler basements legally set up as accessory units. True multi-family (duplex/fourplex) listings are rare here — most investor activity is SFR or short-term rental conversions.
Are short-term rentals (Airbnb/VRBO) legal in Cottonwood Heights? ▾
Cottonwood Heights regulates short-term rentals through a city licensing process, and operators generally need to occupy the property or meet specific zoning conditions. Rules have tightened over the last few years, so anyone buying with an STR plan should verify current city code and HOA restrictions before writing an offer. Ski-season demand from Solitude and Brighton skiers is the main draw.
What kind of rent can a single-family home pull in Cottonwood Heights? ▾
A typical 3-4 bedroom home in the $650K-$850K range tends to rent in the $2,800-$3,800/month band depending on finishes, garage, and yard. Homes closer to Big Cottonwood Canyon or with mountain views push higher, especially if marketed to traveling medical staff at nearby Intermountain facilities or seasonal ski tenants.
Do the numbers actually pencil for long-term rentals here? ▾
Cottonwood Heights is an appreciation play more than a cash-flow market — at current prices and rates, most long-term SFR rentals run break-even or slightly negative on a fully financed purchase. Investors typically come in with 25%+ down, target homes with basement apartment potential, or plan for medium-term furnished rentals tied to ski season and corporate stays.
What about basement apartments and ADUs? ▾
Many ramblers and split-entries in the city have walk-out basements that work well as internal accessory units. Utah's statewide internal ADU law applies, but Cottonwood Heights still requires permitting, owner-occupancy in most cases, and parking compliance. Properties with an existing legal second kitchen are worth a premium because the conversion work is already done.
How does Cottonwood Heights compare to Holladay or Sandy for investors? ▾
Cottonwood Heights sits between the two on price and rent, with stronger ski-tenant appeal than either because Big Cottonwood Canyon starts at the city's east edge. Holladay tends to attract longer-term affluent renters; Sandy has more inventory and slightly better cap rates. Cottonwood Heights wins on appreciation history and proximity to both canyons.