The 15 most difficult places to buy a home in the US

For wannabe homeowners in real estate markets full of well-qualified buyers, competition is fierce, according to recent data from online loan marketplace LendingTree. Especially out West.

"Of the top 10 most competitive cities, only two, St. Louis and Boston, were not in a western U.S. state. High-paying tech jobs, common in places like Oregon, San Francisco and Seattle, likely help fuel market competitiveness in some western cities," the site reports.

In the most competitive areas, potential homeowners are vying against other buyers who are often pre-approved for mortgages, have excellent credit scores and are able to offer hefty down payments. They not only have to be strong candidates, but they have to beat out other qualified buyers as well.

Here's the full list of the 15 housing markets were competition is the toughest.

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 58
Average down payment: 17 percent
Median home price: $829,000

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 55
Average down payment: 14 percent
Median home price: $239,990

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 52
Average down payment: 14 percent
Median home price: $124,900

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 48
Average down payment: 15 percent
Median home price: $275,000

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 58
Average down payment: 14 percent
Median home price: $300,000

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 57
Average down payment: 16 percent
Median home price: $699,900

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 50
Average down payment: 15 percent
Median home price: $312,650

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 65
Average down payment: 19 percent
Median home price: $689,950

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 52
Average down payment: 14 percent
Median home price: $299,900

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 54
Average down payment: 15 percent
Median home price: $145,000

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 65
Average down payment: 19 percent
Median home price: $939,000

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 59
Average down payment: 17 percent
Median home price: $1.3 million

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 57
Average down payment: 15 percent
Median home price: $449,900

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 55
Average down payment: 17 percent
Median home price: $799,250

Percent of buyers with good or excellent credit: 56
Average down payment: 16 percent
Median home price: $459,900

Interestingly, the most difficult places to buy a home aren't necessarily the most expensive. Although the median home price in Denver, $459,900, according to Zillow, is significantly higher than the national median of $275,000, it's still well below the median in expensive markets like New York and San Francisco.

Other competitive cities are even cheaper: St. Louis, Missouri, with a median home price of $145,000, comes in at No. 6. And Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a median home price of $124,000, earns the No. 10 spot.

That means that, even in a more affordable housing market, it can still be challenging to buy a home.

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