Salem Five Bank — Providing full-service financial services including banking, mortgage lending, loans, insurance and investments.

HOMEOWNERSHIP
ARTICLES

Homeownership
Getting the Lowest Mortgage Rate

Mortgage rates have surged in recent years, making affordability a challenge for homebuyers ...

Homeownership
Understanding VA Loans

VA loans are issued by private lenders but guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). They are available to active-duty service members, eligible veterans, and ...

Homeownership
What Is a Jumbo Loan?

Jumbo loans, or jumbo mortgages, are designed for financing properties that exceed the loan limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) for conventional mortgages ...

Homeownership
Tax Implications of Home Ownership

Owning a home comes with valuable tax advantages that can reduce your annual obligations to the IRS. From mortgage interest deductions to ...

Homeownership
Key Mortgage Terms

Choosing to buy a home is a straightforward decision, but navigating the home loan process can be intricate, with many mortgage terms that might be new to you ...

Homeownership
Getting Rid of Private Mortgage Insurance

When purchasing a standard mortgage from a private lender, you may be required to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI). However, PMI can be costly, usually charging you ...

Homeownership
House, Townhome, or Condo?

The real estate market offers many different housing options. Depending on your life stage, financial resources, and where you are on your financial journey, one ...

Homeownership
Building Equity in Your Home

Your monthly mortgage payments don’t just cover your loan—they help you build valuable home equity ...

Homeownership
How Escrow Accounts Work: Do Escrow Accounts Earn Interest?

An escrow account helps homeowners manage property tax and insurance payments by spreading costs over monthly ...

Homeownership
Down Payment Assistance Programs

For those at the low-to-moderate-income level, the most substantial barrier to homeownership are the closing costs and a down payment associated with ...

Homeownership
Down Payment Strategies for First-Time Home Buyers

The idea of buying a first home is exciting. Coming up with a sizeable down payment, however, can feel like an insurmountable task. That is especially true ...

Homeownership
How Home Construction Loans Work

Home construction loans provide families and individuals with the ability to finance new home construction projects ...

Homeownership
Buying a Vacation Home

It is something many families dream of: Owning a small cottage by the lake, a cabin in the mountains, or ...

Homeownership
What Now for Home Equity?

The recent tax law changes have many homeowners and home buyers more than a little nervous ...

Homeownership
Estimating a Home's Market Value

Whether you're buying, selling, or refinancing, understanding your home’s market value is essential for making informed financial decisions ...

Homeownership
15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgages

Choosing between a 15-year and a 30-year mortgage is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a homebuyer ...

Homeownership
About Private Mortgage Insurance

If you're buying a home with less than a 20% down payment, chances are you'll encounter Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) ...

Homeownership
Buying vs Renting a Home

Does it make more sense to rent than to buy? This has been a long-running debate in this country ...

Homeownership
Cash-Out Refinancing or a Home Equity Loan

If you’ve built up equity in your home, you may be considering how to put it to work—whether for renovations, debt consolidation, or major expenses ...

Homeownership
Finding the Right Home

Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make—financially and emotionally. From location to layout, there’s a lot to consider ...

Homeownership
Fixed Rate vs Adjustable Rate Mortgages

What is the best way to decide whether you should aim for a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate loan? Do the research ...

Homeownership
Home Affordability

Before you start house hunting, it’s essential to understand how much home you can comfortably afford ...

Homeownership
Know When to Lock-In a Mortgage Rate

Interest rates can shift quickly—and even a small change can significantly impact your monthly mortgage payment. That’s why locking ...

Homeownership
Qualifying for a Mortgage

Getting approved for a mortgage is a major milestone on the path to homeownership. Whether you're a first-time buyer or looking to upgrade ...

Homeownership
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?

As you explore options to get out of debt and get your financial house in order, your home, becomes one ...

Homeownership
Should You Refinance Close to Retirement?

When mortgage rates are low -- and in late 2016 the rates on both 30-year rates were at 4.30 percent and ...

Homeownership
Should You Refinance Into a Shorter Term Mortgage?

When mortgage rates are low refinancing to a shorter-term mortgage can save you tens of thousands of dollars ...

Homeownership
The Pros and Cons of an HOA

A homeowners association (HOA) provides you with the chance of living in an orderly and well-run neighborhood ...

Homeownership
The ROI of Home Improvement Projects

One of the most rewarding things about being a homeowner is that you can make changes to your home ...

Homeownership
Understanding Housing and Debt Ratios

You've found your dream home in the perfect neighborhood. There's just one problem ...

Homeownership
Understanding Mortgages

Most people will need a mortgage to finance the purchase of a home. A mortgage works much like any other ...