Briefly

* The median price of an existing home in California rose 16.8% in August to $474,370 from $406,140 a year ago, but sales last month fell 8.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 591,150 from 645,720 last year, the California Assn of Realtors reported Friday.

* The average rate on 30-year fixed mortgages fell last week to 5.7%, the lowest since early April, from 5.75% the week before, according to Freddie Mac. The 15-year rate fell to 5.1% from 5.13%.

* The Los Angeles City Council approved charging residents a $115 fee the first time police respond to a false burglar alarm. The fee will increase $50 for each additional false alarm.