The median home price in Aspen is $5,200,000, with a local 30-year mortgage rate of 6.85%. A buyer putting 20% down carries a loan of $4,160,000, generating a monthly P&I payment of $27,259. Adding property taxes ($1,517/mo) and homeowners insurance ($2,167/mo) brings total monthly PITI to $30,942.
Aspen's property tax rate of 0.35% 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 Aspen median home, that is $1,517/month, or $18,200 per year.
Colorado levies a state income tax, which affects take-home pay and effective buying power. High-income earners in Aspen should factor state tax liability into their overall housing budget — mortgage interest may be deductible on both federal and state returns.