I included information from Metrostudy, which tracks the industry and released numbers on the region this week -- the region as Metrostudy defines it, namely Washington, Northern Virginia and Maryland minus the Eastern Shore and far western edge. Notwithstanding Toll Brothers' opinion, Metrostudy ranks this area as among the healthier markets it follows because builders have decreased inventory.

However:

Sales in the region dropped about 50 percent last month, compared with September, Metrostudy said. The cancellation rate was 60 percent. The company attributed both problems to the credit crunch that hit in August, pushing up rates on the "jumbo" loans needed for pricey homes and cutting back on mortgage options.