Kelley said she had a client last fall who was outbid by other buyers two or three times.

“And there even were some houses we went to see at the end of the day after work on the first day and the house was already under contract,” she recalled. “So it’s like, do you call in sick just to go see a house? That was really frustrating for (her client.) It’s been a challenge. We want to make people happy.”

Kelley said even in the Bonner and Turrah area, potential buyers are getting beat out by offers over the asking price.

She said that there are reasonably priced condos and townhomes available, but people have to be willing to share a wall with neighbors. And getting financing for those types of living units can sometimes be tricky because there are homeowners' boards or associations.

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The affordability gap has been growing in Missoula. From From 2012 to 2016, the median price of a home in Missoula rose from $209,700 to $249,900. However, the median income for a single person has stagnated right around $44,000 and actually decreased last year.