Rent vs Buy in Phoenix, AZ

Compare renting vs buying with Phoenix's real market data (2025)

Phoenix Housing Market at a Glance

Median Home Price

$480,000

Median Monthly Rent

$1,850

Property Tax Rate

0.62%

Avg Home Insurance

$1,600/yr

Price-to-Rent Ratio: 21.6x (Lower ratios favor buying; higher ratios favor renting)

Phoenix-Specific Insights

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Key Factors for Phoenix Buyers

1. Down Payment Requirements

With Phoenix's median home price of $480,000, a 20% down payment is $96,000. Putting down less triggers PMI (typically 0.5–1.5% annually until you reach 20% equity).

2. Property Taxes

AZ's property tax rate averages 0.62%, which translates to roughly $248/month on a median-priced home. This is below the national average.

3. Tax Deductions

Mortgage interest is deductible if you itemize (must exceed standard deduction: ~$14,600 single, ~$29,200 married in 2025). Combined with AZ state taxes, itemizing may be worthwhile.

4. Opportunity Cost

If you rent and invest your down payment instead (e.g., S&P 500 averaging ~10% annually), you build wealth differently. The calculator models this trade-off month-by-month to find your break-even point.

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