The future of the housing market is up for debate, but one thing is for certain: Housing sales and prices have tumbled since the boom years.

The median sales price of a house in Loudoun dropped nearly 10 percent from mid-2006 to mid-2007 — one of the steepest drops in the Washington metropolitan area. Houses were staying on the market longer. In mid-2006, the average house spent 111 days for sale before finding a buyer.

Realtors say high gas prices also are scaring away would-be buyers in Loudoun who work in or near the District.

The effect is also being felt on county tax rolls. In Loudoun County, the average assessed value of a single-family home dropped 7.1 percent after several years of double-digit gains.