Washington-area housing prices pick up in May

Home prices in the Washington area rose 11 percent in May from a year ago, as the area’s housing market slowly but steadily recovers from rock bottom, economists said.

Montgomery County excelled with an 11.7 percent increase in median sales price compared to May 2011 — a jump in price from $357,250 to nearly $400,000, according to monthly housing data released by Real Estate Business Intelligence.