Whether you’re planning your next move or just love scrolling Zillow, NBC’s home buyer index — which debuted in May and is updated monthly — might help you keep better tabs on the Seattle real estate market as it shifts from month to month.

How it works

The study uses a 0-100 scale to measure the level of difficulty when purchasing a home; the higher the score, the more difficult. It's measured using four factors: cost, competition, scarcity, and economic instability (think: market volatility, unemployment, and interest rates).

Is it legit? A real estate industry analyst, bank economist from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and other experts helped develop the tool, according to NBC News. Examine the methodology.

A few caveats: The index does not capture additional homebuying difficulties for certain groups, such as those with lower credit scores, and it can't always capture data for more rural communities.

King County's rating

The data listed below comes from June 2024, but it's updated monthly — in other words, you can check back whenever you're curious. Check out King County's numbers, on a scale of 0 (easy) to 100 (difficult):

Overall difficulty index | 72
Cost index | 76.8
Competition index | 73.2
Scarcity index | 41.5
Economic instability index | 91.3

The index also shares that a median income buyer here in King County can afford a $616,000 home — compare that to the median list price for a home, which is $875,000.

Feel good about buying, but want to stay updated on what it's like to live in Seattle? Check out our City Guides for the 411.