The conditions on the ground can vary widely across state and even county lines.
The higher the index value, the higher the difficulty.
A low index value, of 10 for example, suggests better purchasing conditions for a buyer — low interest rates, ample homes for sale.
Chambers County, Texas, near Houston, is one of the 50 least difficult places to buy in in the country as of May, with low scores on scarcity, cost and competition.
For July, the national Home Buyer Index was 85.3, nearly even with June and two points lower than it was this time one year ago.
Organizations:
NBC, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Chambers, U.S
Locations:
Chambers County , Texas, Houston, Coconino County , Arizona