Seller markets creep up on you. They don't just suddenly happen from one month to another. As a local economy strengthens, jobs are created bringing in workers, which creates a demand for more homes. As one builder told me, "Homes are where the jobs go at night."
      Buyer markets on the other hand, can materialize suddenly, like a really bad cold in the morning or the obnoxious brother-in-law at your front door. All it can take is a couple of stories in the local media about some sort of slow down or a possible factory closing and suddenly, buyers don't want to buy anymore. As the economy slows, people lose jobs and start moving elsewhere. With no one moving into town, those houses can sit on the market a long time.
      This economic climate creates a glut of homes, which means you've moved into a buyers market. Buyers are in control and get prices lowered, lots of seller subsidies and even some extra perks and cash.

     As you embark on your house-hunting ventures, chances are the contenders canopied by mature trees will make the top of your list. Or, if you're buying a new home, you're probably anxious to get those trees planted to reap the awards in the years ahead.
      The benefits of trees are numerous. They increase property values, sometimes as much as 20 percent, according to the National Arbor Day Foundation. On average, trees add between 5 to 7 percent to the value of the property - the U.S. Forest Service says the added value results in an extra $5,000 per lot.
      Trees also help cool your home. The USFS says trees that are placed strategically around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20 to 50 percent in energy used to heat a home.
      Growing Greener Cities, A Tree Planting Handbook (Global Releaf, Living Plant Press, Los Angeles, 1992), says the average base value for a tree with a 10-inch diameter (measured 4.5 feet from the ground) is $1,729. A tree with a 30-inch diameter has an average base value of $15,554. The values are adjusted based on species, location in relation to the house, and condition.