SEATTLE—US home values rose more slowly inAugust than they have in a year, and the cooling market offered aclear view of local markets that favor either buyers or sellers,according to a recent report from Zillow.
The nation's hottest markets, on the west coast, continued to favorsellers with quick sales and high asking prices. But somestill-recovering markets remained a bargain for buyers as morehomes went up for sale.

U.S. home values rose in August, up 0.1% from July and 6.6% fromAugust 2013, to a Zillow Home Value Index of $175,600,according to the August Zillow Real Estate Market Reports.The pace of home value appreciation is expected to slow to 3.1%through August 2015, according to the Zillow Home ValueForecast.
According to the latest Zillow analysis of buyers' and sellers'markets, sellers in the Bay Area, Seattle andDallas have the most negotiating power, with finalsale prices largely at or above asking. For those looking to buy ahome, the Northeast and Midwestoffer the most favorable conditions, as buyers are less likely tobe faced with the fierce bidding wars seen across the West Coastand in larger cities across the country.
In this analysis, a sellers' market is not necessarily one wherehome values are rising, but rather one in which homes are on themarket for a shorter time, price cuts occur less frequently andhomes are sold at prices very close to (or greater than) their lastlisting price. In buyers' markets, homes for sale stay on themarket longer, price cuts occur more frequently and homes are soldfor less relative to their listing price.

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