SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rising prices sent California home foreclosure activity to a six-year low in the fourth quarter, a real estate research said Wednesday.

There were 38,212 default notices on houses and condominiums in the state from October through December, down 37.9 percent from 61,517 notices during the same period of 2011, DataQuick reported. It was the lowest tally since 37,994 notices were filed during the fourth quarter of 2006.