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Fixer Upper Homes for Sale in Kearns, Utah
Kearns sits in the west-central Salt Lake Valley, a postwar community originally built around the Kearns Army Air Base in the 1940s and filled out with ramblers, ranch homes, and split-entries through the 1960s and 70s. That building era is exactly why the area has one of the deeper inventories of fixer uppers in Salt Lake County — many homes are still owned by original families or have been long-term rentals, and they hit the market needing kitchens, baths, windows, HVAC, or full cosmetic refreshes. Lot sizes tend to be generous for the price point (often 0.18 to 0.25 acres), and the grid street layout makes it easy to spot the blocks where neighbors have already started renovating.
For buyers willing to put in work, Kearns offers something rare along the Wasatch Front: entry pricing that still pencils for owner-occupant rehab loans like FHA 203(k) or Fannie Mae HomeStyle. The Oquirrh Mountains are right out the west-facing windows, the Utah Olympic Oval and Kearns Junction shopping are minutes away, and you're 20 minutes from downtown Salt Lake and about 25 from the airport. Schools fall under Granite School District, and the area is served by UTA bus routes plus quick access to Bangerter Highway and Mountain View Corridor. Project homes in Kearns range from light cosmetic flips in the $330s to full studs-out rehabs under $300K. Browse the active listings below to see what's currently on the market.
May 2026 · Kearns market
Live from the Utah MLS — what's actually happening in Kearns right now.
Median sale
$437,000
12 closed in May 2026
Median DOM
7 days
listing → contract
Sale-to-list
100.0%
of final list price
Unsold inventory
24
active + pending
2 matching · page 1 of 1
Active listings
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Common questions
About fixer upper homes in Kearns.
What kind of fixer uppers typically come up in Kearns? ▾
Most are mid-century ramblers and split-entries built between the 1950s and 1970s, often on 0.15 to 0.25 acre lots. Common projects include kitchen and bath updates, original single-pane windows, aging furnaces, and basement finishes. A smaller share are full gut jobs from estate sales or long-term rentals that need everything down to the subfloor.
Are Kearns fixer uppers a good value compared to the rest of the Salt Lake Valley? ▾
Yes — Kearns has historically been one of the more affordable pockets in Salt Lake County, often running 15-25% below comparable square footage in Murray or West Jordan. That gap is what makes the cosmetic-rehab math work here. Even after a $40-80K renovation, totals usually stay under the county median.
What financing options work for a home that needs serious work? ▾
FHA 203(k) and Fannie Mae HomeStyle loans are the two most common routes — both roll purchase and renovation costs into one mortgage. Hard money or cash-then-refi also shows up with investors competing for the rougher properties. Conventional loans can be tricky if the home has active leaks, missing flooring, or a non-functioning kitchen.
Does Kearns have an HOA or design rules I need to worry about during a remodel? ▾
The vast majority of Kearns neighborhoods are unincorporated Salt Lake County with no HOA, which gives owners a lot of latitude on exterior changes, ADUs, and detached shops. You'll still pull permits through Salt Lake County, and setback rules apply. Always verify zoning before planning an addition or accessory dwelling.
What should I check during inspection on an older Kearns home? ▾
Galvanized or polybutylene plumbing, original electrical panels (Federal Pacific and Zinsco show up here), buried oil tanks on pre-1970 builds, and aluminum wiring on some 1960s homes. Also check for foundation cracks from the area's clay soils and confirm the sewer line with a scope — many laterals are original clay or Orangeburg.
How fast do fixer uppers move in Kearns right now? ▾
Livable cosmetic projects under $400K still see multiple offers within a week, especially from owner-occupants using 203(k) financing. Heavier rehabs — vacant, no kitchen, roof issues — sit longer and tend to sell to local flippers and landlords at a discount. Pricing realism matters more here than in trendier ZIPs.