REAL ESTATE

California Home Foreclosures Decline: A slight improvement in the economy and fewer layoffs helped to push the number of home foreclosures in the state down 13.3% in November from October, a private research firm said. Legal proceedings were started against 9,112 troubled borrowers in the state last month, down from 9,663 in October, La Jolla-based Dataquick Information Systems said. Foreclosures fell in all six Southland counties, including a 13.7% drop in Los Angeles County and a 13.5% decline in Orange County. The dropoff in foreclosure activity was most noticeable in San Diego, Marin, Monterey and Kern counties. The statewide figure has steadily declined since June, when a record 12,054 foreclosures were filed.