BRIEFLY

* California’s median price for an existing single-family detached home rose 19.4% in December to a record $404,520 from $338,840 in December 2002, the California Assn. of Realtors said.

* The average rate on 30-year mortgages edged up to 5.68% last week, up from 5.64% the week before, Freddie Mac said. Rates for 15-year mortgages averaged 4.97%, up from 4.95%. Those for one-year adjustable mortgages increased to 3.59% from 3.56%.

* California home and apartment construction in 2003 totaled 194,956, the highest since 1989, the Construction Industry Research Board reported.