Home sales in the Washington suburbs climbed in September as prices dropped, according to recent data from the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems. Leading the way was Prince William County, where sales jumped from 248 in September 2007 to 1,116 last month. The average sales price dropped nearly 40 percent, from $361,369 to $219,675 last month.

Home sales and prices in D.C., however, remained stagnant compared with surrounding suburbs. The average sales price slipped 4.29 percent, from about $540,000 to $520,000, and there was one fewer house sale in September from a year earlier.