Amidst a poor economy, the number of homes sold in Anne Arundel County fell by 13 percent last month, the lowest such sales decrease here so far this year.

But experts said the numbers don't tell the full story because sales in October reflect activity in September and August, rather than last month, when Americans held off on buying and focused on the presidential election.

"The last week of October and the first week of November were absolutely dead," said Mike Hamby, principal of the Hamby Real Estate Group at Champion Realty in Annapolis.

County home sales fell 13 percent, dropping to 348 units sold, from 401 units...