MHProNews has learned from CNNMoney the top housing markets for buyers are where the inventory is fuller and houses tend to remain on the market for a longer time, giving more opportunity for bargaining strategies. Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Providence, Detroit and Pittsburgh are strong buyer markets, according to Zillow.

The S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index reports low inventory contributed to home prices in January 2015 increase 4.5 percent over the previous January.

Skylar Olsen, a senior economist at Zillow, noting that things are easing, says, “We are heading toward better balance. Buyers will be able to take a little more time this year compared to last year.” While homes in the top ten buyers’ markets are going for almost four percent below asking price, homes in sellers’ markets get a discount on average of under one percent.

She added that cities in the buyers’ markets continue to lag in recent job market and economic growth. “Top buyers markets were generally in areas that were once founded on manufacturing jobs, which have slowed and not returned in earnest,” she said. ##

(Photo credit:wenatcheeworld/Phil Irwin)

Article submitted by Matthew J. Silver to Daily Business News-MHProNews.