Median home price sinks in Southern California

' The average price in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties hit $425,000 last month, the lowest level since February 2005, when the figure was $420,000, according to DataQuick Information Systems. "It was probably the most pitiful December we've seen in 20 years," said John Karevoll, an analyst with DataQuick. "Anybody that for one reason or another can hold off is holding off."'