Spotlight: Regional Home Sales Rise in January

Sales of homes in Southern California rose 9.2% during January from the same month last year, to 13,072 properties, according to real estate investment research firm DataQuick Information Systems. The median sales price for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties remained virtually flat at $160,000, a 0.6% gain from January 1995. In Los Angeles County, the median sales price increased 1.9% to $163,000. In Orange County, it slipped 2.6% to $185,000.