The median home price in Scottsdale is $720,000, with a local 30-year mortgage rate of 6.9%. A buyer putting 20% down carries a loan of $576,000, generating a monthly P&I payment of $3,794. Adding property taxes ($390/mo) and homeowners insurance ($300/mo) brings total monthly PITI to $4,484.
Scottsdale's property tax rate of 0.65% 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 Scottsdale median home, that is $390/month, or $4,680 per year.
Arizona levies a state income tax, which affects take-home pay and effective buying power. High-income earners in Scottsdale should factor state tax liability into their overall housing budget — mortgage interest may be deductible on both federal and state returns.