The median home price in Fresno is $370,000, with a local 30-year mortgage rate of 6.85%. A buyer putting 20% down carries a loan of $296,000, generating a monthly P&I payment of $1,940. Adding property taxes ($237/mo) and homeowners insurance ($154/mo) brings total monthly PITI to $2,331.
Fresno's property tax rate of 0.77% 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 Fresno median home, that is $237/month, or $2,849 per year.
California levies a state income tax, which affects take-home pay and effective buying power. High-income earners in Fresno should factor state tax liability into their overall housing budget — mortgage interest may be deductible on both federal and state returns.