The median home price in Los Angeles is $895,000, with a local 30-year mortgage rate of 6.85%. A buyer putting 20% down carries a loan of $716,000, generating a monthly P&I payment of $4,692. Adding property taxes ($552/mo) and homeowners insurance ($373/mo) brings total monthly PITI to $5,616.
Los Angeles's property tax rate of 0.74% 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 Los Angeles median home, that is $552/month, or $6,623 per year.
California levies a state income tax, which affects take-home pay and effective buying power. High-income earners in Los Angeles should factor state tax liability into their overall housing budget — mortgage interest may be deductible on both federal and state returns.