The median home price in Tucson is $295,000, with a local 30-year mortgage rate of 6.9%. A buyer putting 20% down carries a loan of $236,000, generating a monthly P&I payment of $1,554. Adding property taxes ($177/mo) and homeowners insurance ($123/mo) brings total monthly PITI to $1,854.
Tucson's property tax rate of 0.72% 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 Tucson median home, that is $177/month, or $2,124 per year.
Arizona levies a state income tax, which affects take-home pay and effective buying power. High-income earners in Tucson should factor state tax liability into their overall housing budget — mortgage interest may be deductible on both federal and state returns.