These are the worst housing markets for millennials

Young Americans looking to buy a home are facing tough times this spring as low inventory and high prices meet strong demand.

But the localness of real estate means that there are wide differences between the toughest markets for millennials and those where they should find buying a home relatively easy.

An analysis from Realtor.com finds that San Jose, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis and Omaha, Neb. are the toughest housing markets for millennials this spring.

"Millennials want to buy, but record-low inventory is making it extremely difficult," says Danielle Hale, chief economist for realtor.com. "Our analysis shows millennials are facing challenges in both established markets such as San Jose and Seattle, as well as more recently popular areas like Omaha and Salt Lake City. Despite the difficulties, first-timers are optimistic and more than willing to weather the challenges this spring has to offer."

These are the 5 toughest markets

The five markets on this list are all millennial hotspots; areas where high-paying jobs and strong economies have attracted a large share of millennials. Household income in these markets is on average almost $20K higher than the national median.

1. San Jose - The median list price in San Jose is $1,244,000, compared to $280,000 for the U.S. overall. On average, San Jose millennials earn $109,800 annually. Millennials make up 14.3 percent of the total population in San Jose and account for 24.1 percent of total realtor.com® page views in the area.
2. Seattle - The median list price in Seattle is $553,000. On average, millennials earn $78,300. Millennials make up 15.4 percent of the total population in Seattle and account for 24.2 percent of total realtor.com® page views in the area.
3. Salt Lake City - The median list price in Salt Lake City is $394,000. On average, millennials earn $67,800 annually. Millennials make up 15.5 percent of the total population in Salt Lake City and account for 26 percent of total realtor.com® page views in the area.
4. Minneapolis - The median list price in Minneapolis is $283,000. On average, millennials earn $73,600 annually. Millennials make up 13.8 percent of the total population in Minneapolis and account for 25.9 percent of total realtor.com® page views in the area.
5. Omaha - The median list price in Omaha is $283,000. On average, millennials earn $63,500 annually. Millennials make up 13.8 percent of the total population in Omaha and account for 25.9 percent of total realtor.com® page views in the area