As homeownership challenges continue across Utah, one University of Utah student is helping homebuyers rethink what’s possible.
Joel Jones, a real estate agent, landlord coach, and founder of Utah House Hacks, is showing Utahns how to reduce their housing costs by turning their homes into income-generating assets. Jones is enrolled in the Master of Business Creation (MBC) program at the David Eccles School of Business to help him refine his business operation and prepare for growth.
Through his business, Jones helps homebuyers find properties with built-in rental potential—such as basement apartments or accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — that can generate income and significantly offset their monthly mortgage payments.
“Homeownership in Utah isn’t just possible — it’s actually affordable,” Jones said. “You just need the right system.”
That system is called the HomeLord System, a step-by-step program that helps clients find, buy, and manage house hacks. It includes everything from sourcing the right property to landlord coaching after the sale. Jones’ company operates under the brokerage Prime Real Estate Experts and serves buyers across Utah.
The financial results are significant. Clients using the HomeLord System are saving an average of $18,000 per year on their mortgage through rental income alone, Jones said. And by self-managing their properties, they also avoid paying thousands annually in property management fees.
Jones was inspired to create Utah House Hacks after watching home prices rise faster than incomes across the state. House hacking, he says, is one of the few ways average buyers can still access homeownership — and build long-term wealth while doing it.
“If you’ve been priced out of Utah’s housing market, it’s time to rethink what’s possible,” Jones said. “You may be closer to owning a home than you think.”
For more information about Utah House Hacks, visit utahhousehacks.com.
