The median home price in Sacramento is $550,000, with a local 30-year mortgage rate of 6.85%. A buyer putting 20% down carries a loan of $440,000, generating a monthly P&I payment of $2,883. Adding property taxes ($358/mo) and homeowners insurance ($229/mo) brings total monthly PITI to $3,470.
Sacramento's property tax rate of 0.78% 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 Sacramento median home, that is $358/month, or $4,290 per year.
California levies a state income tax, which affects take-home pay and effective buying power. High-income earners in Sacramento should factor state tax liability into their overall housing budget — mortgage interest may be deductible on both federal and state returns.