A total of 1,229 homes sold in October 2010, a decrease of about 23 percent below October 2009 home sales of 1,604.

Active listings increased by about 5 percent this month compared to last year, with 7,244 active listings in October, compared with 6,877 homes available in October 2009. The average days on market (DOM) for homes in October 2010 increased by about 5 percent to 61 days, compared with 58 days in October 2009.

Average sales prices rose by about 11 percent compared with those realized last year. The average sales price this October was $470,882, compared with last October's average of $424,510.

The median price of homes sold in Northern Virginia in October was $399,400, which is an increase of around 12 percent compared with October 2009's median price of $356,800. The number of pending home sales in Northern Virginia in October decreased by about 20 percent with 1,601 sales pending compared to 1,990 in October 2009.