Reston Home Prices Went Up. So Why Did the Median Drop 10.6%?

Reston's median home price fell 10.6% in September, yet detached houses and townhouses both sold for more than they did in August. We walk through how that happens, then turn to Herndon, where buyers signed half as many contracts as a year ago and the condo median is down 19% this year. The housing segment covers the mix of homes that sold, the 79 townhouses for sale in Reston (the most since 2017), Herndon's 59 condos for sale, and what buyers and sellers can do with all of it. Kathy explains why a listing that has sat and taken a price cut leaves room to negotiate, and why the right time to buy is when you are ready. Before the numbers, Kathy recaps walking the red carpet at the Washington West Film Festival, where Paralympic medalist Ali Truwit's documentary opened the 15th year. Herndon's Chaatwala landed at No. 36 on the Washington Post's 40 best restaurants list. Reston Association proposed a $900 assessment for 2027, a $10 increase, and Bread Breakers invites neighbors to a free dinner at Lake Anne on Oct. 27. Then the calendar: Halloween on the Farm at Frying Pan Farm Park, Trick or Treat Beyond Market Street at Reston Town Center, early voting through Oct. 31, the Worldgate auction on Oct. 26, and Winterfest at Brown's Chapel Park on Dec. 3 to 5. Get the weekly Reston Insider newsletter for the calendar, openings, closings and market numbers in Reston and Herndon: https://kathyandgraham.greaterrestonliving.com/?modal=signup Links referenced in this episode: Reston's September housing market: https://greaterrestonliving.com/reston-september-2026-housing-market-median/ Herndon's September housing market: https://greaterrestonliving.com/herndon-september-2026-housing-market-contracts/ Reston Association's proposed 2027 assessment: https://greaterrestonliving.com/reston-association-2027-budget-900-assessment/ Chaatwala on the Washington Post's 40 best list: https://greaterrestonliving.com/chaatwala-herndon-washington-post-40-best-restaurants/ Reston and Herndon fall events: https://greaterrestonliving.com/reston-herndon-fall-events-october-november-2026/ Worldgate Centre foreclosure auction: https://greaterrestonliving.com/worldgate-centre-herndon-foreclosure-auction/ Washington West Film Festival: https://wwfilmfest.com Bread Breakers: https://www.meetup.com/breadbreakers/ Winterfest tickets: https://www.reston.org/winterfest Fairfax County early voting: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/early-voting