VA loans in Salem.
The Marion County figure on this page is a county reference only, not an address-based lookup for Salem. Confirm the property's county, and which local offices serve the address, before relying on it.
Marion County reference value. County reference, not an address-based lookup. Confirm the county of the property before using this value; city and metro boundaries can cross counties.
Source: FHFA Full County Loan Limit List for 2026 (HERA-based, final). One-unit limit; applies to mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026. Source checked 2026-09-16. · Marion County (FIPS 41047)
County reference, not an address-based lookup. Confirm the county of the property before using this value; city and metro boundaries can cross counties. Look the property's county up at FHFA.
What the county figure means here.
A borrower with full VA entitlement does not have a VA loan limit, subject to lender approval, ability to repay, and the appraised value or purchase price. The FHFA one-unit county conforming loan limit matters primarily when calculating remaining bonus entitlement for a borrower who does not have full entitlement, and it may affect whether a down payment is required.
Marion County carries a $832,750 one-unit conforming loan limit value for 2026, and that is the county figure we reference for Salem. County reference, not an address-based lookup. Confirm the county of the property before using this value; city and metro boundaries can cross counties. Whichever county your property is in, the value is used in remaining-entitlement calculations — including on a 2–4 unit property — and is not a cap on what a fully-entitled buyer can finance.
Planning around BAH? Rates vary by pay grade, dependency status, and ZIP-based Military Housing Area — verify yours on the official DoD BAH calculator.
This site does not publish current rates or APRs. Your rate and terms depend on your credit profile, income and assets, the property, market conditions, lock timing, points or lender credits, underwriting, and final lender approval. Request a personalized quote from Bolt Home Loans LLC.
Estimate a payment with your own rate assumptionSalem permits: dry rot, foundation and sewer work always need one
The City of Salem says it operates under the Oregon Specialty Codes. A permit is always required for new construction, demolition, additions, fireplaces, structural changes, in-ground pools, heating, cooling and ventilation work, electrical work including new outlets, plumbing, sewer changes, seismic upgrades, dry rot repair, foundation work and development in the floodplain.
Other work needs a permit only in certain circumstances. Examples include decks, sheds, detached garages, fences, retaining walls, reroofing, insulation, siding and window replacement. Practical step: if an inspection report or seller disclosure mentions dry rot repair, foundation work or a sewer change, ask for the Salem permit and final inspection. The City's Permit Application Center is at 440 Church St SE.
Marion County: no homestead exemption, and veteran exemptions are not automatic
The Marion County Assessor notes that Oregon has no homestead exemption. Property tax exemptions are not automatic, and application periods vary by exemption. The Assessor has a dedicated contact for active-duty military and veteran exemptions at 503-588-5144.
The Oregon Department of Revenue's claim form says disabled veterans and qualifying surviving spouses file with the county assessor by April 1 for the tax year starting July 1. Someone who acquires the property after March 1 but before July 1 files within 30 days of acquisition. Discharge papers and a disability certificate must be attached. Practical step: if you close in spring, check which filing window applies to you.
- FHFA — Conforming loan limit values
- City of Salem — Determine If You Need a Building Permit
- Marion County Assessor — Exemptions
- Oregon Department of Revenue — Disabled Veteran or Surviving Spouse Exemption Claim (PDF)
- VA — Home loan entitlement and limits
Sources checked 2026-09-24. Educational information only, not legal, tax or underwriting advice.
VA loan programs available in OR.
$0 down in Salem. No PMI.
Lower your rate. Minimal paperwork.
Up to 100% LTV — conventional caps at 80%.
$0 down above conforming.
Finance repairs into your purchase.
Roll energy upgrades into the loan.
Widows and widowers of OR veterans qualify.
Zero down, no PMI, and a 100% funding-fee waiver on a home in Salem, subject to eligibility verification and Certificate of Eligibility issuance.
Surviving spouse guideDisabled veteran? Stack the SAH grant on your Salem purchase.
Up to $126,526 in FY 2026 toward a VA-approved plan to acquire, construct, or adapt a suitable home. VA approves eligibility and use; the grant is separate from your VA home loan.
SAH grant guideVA loans in Salem — answered.
FHFA sets conforming loan limit values by county, not by city, and there is no single published figure for a city as such. The county we reference for Salem is Marion County (FIPS 41047), whose official 2026 one-unit value is $832,750 per the FHFA Full County Loan Limit List. County reference, not an address-based lookup. Confirm the county of the property before using this value; city and metro boundaries can cross counties. The figure only matters for remaining-entitlement calculations — with full entitlement there is no VA loan limit, subject to lender approval, ability to repay and appraised value.
BAH varies by pay grade, dependency status, and ZIP-based Military Housing Area, and DoD updates rates annually. Check your exact rate on the official DoD BAH calculator. Lenders may count BAH as qualifying income, subject to underwriting.
A VA-eligible borrower with full entitlement may be able to pursue a primary-residence purchase in Salem with no down payment and no monthly PMI. Eligibility, credit, income, the VA appraisal, and final lender approval all apply, and closing costs and prepaids are still due.
An unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died in service or from a service-connected disability may qualify for the full VA benefit in Salem — zero down, no PMI, and a 100% funding-fee waiver, subject to eligibility verification.