Home prices in the Washington region are rising thanks to government employment while the national market weakened during the third quarter, according to a new report. From July through September, average home prices in the Greater Washington area — which includes Northern Virginia, part of West Virginia and Central Maryland — increased by 4.5 percent compared with the corresponding period in 2009, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices.

The Washington market was one of just five where prices increased — San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles showed similar annual climbs, and Boston prices increased minimally.