The median home price in Oakland is $820,000, with a local 30-year mortgage rate of 6.85%. A buyer putting 20% down carries a loan of $656,000, generating a monthly P&I payment of $4,299. Adding property taxes ($513/mo) and homeowners insurance ($342/mo) brings total monthly PITI to $5,153.
Oakland's property tax rate of 0.75% 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 Oakland median home, that is $513/month, or $6,150 per year.
California levies a state income tax, which affects take-home pay and effective buying power. High-income earners in Oakland should factor state tax liability into their overall housing budget — mortgage interest may be deductible on both federal and state returns.