REAL ESTATE

Fewer Homes Sold at a Loss: The share of California homes sold at a loss during the first 10 months of this year declined to 31.6% from 34.7% during the same period last year, according to Dataquick, a real estate information service. The number of homeowners who lost money on home sales has declined since reaching a statewide high of 42.7% in September 1993, according to Dataquick. In Los Angeles County, money-losing home sales accounted for 28.4% of all sales through October, down sharply from 37.5% for the same period last year. While loss-sales also dropped in Orange County, they remained at a steep 45.5%. In Ventura, 40.9% of home sellers suffered a loss, as did 35.7% in San Bernardino and 33.4% in Riverside.