← Market IndexIndex method

Scarcity Index

How tight observable supply is relative to the size of the town's housing base.

What it measures

A public signal, not a verdict.

Supply pressure. A higher score means there are fewer public options for buyers relative to the underlying housing stock.

It tends to move when

  1. 01active listings fall
  2. 02inventory stays thin across multiple weeks
  3. 03the same buyer pool has fewer credible substitutes

What it does not mean

Scarcity does not guarantee price appreciation. It explains pressure, not certainty.

How Scout uses it

Scout uses scarcity to frame negotiation risk, buyer urgency, and whether a listing's premium has market support.

The public method explains the signal. Send us a property and we'll read it against the town baseline — comps, risks, and the price that changes the call.

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