The median home price in Phoenix is $420,000, with a local 30-year mortgage rate of 6.9%. A buyer putting 20% down carries a loan of $336,000, generating a monthly P&I payment of $2,213. Adding property taxes ($245/mo) and homeowners insurance ($175/mo) brings total monthly PITI to $2,633.
Phoenix's property tax rate of 0.7% is among the lower rates in the country, which improves overall affordability by keeping total PITI closer to the principal and interest payment alone. On the Phoenix median home, that is $245/month, or $2,940 per year.
Arizona levies a state income tax, which affects take-home pay and effective buying power. High-income earners in Phoenix should factor state tax liability into their overall housing budget — mortgage interest may be deductible on both federal and state returns.