Scam Watch: FTC offers Wi-Fi safety tips

Public wireless networks are convenient but they're not secure, the Federal Trade Commission cautioned in a recent bulletin. New hacking tools,...

Rising construction costs could boost new-home prices soon

With interest rates near rock-bottom levels, most people realize it's only a matter of time before loan costs start to rise. After all, what comes...

Builders put welcome mat out for retiring baby boomers

Once courted ardently by the housing industry, aging baby boomers sort of dropped off the housing map the last few years as their retirement funds...

Misrepresenting status of homeowners association can bring penalties

Question: My homeowners association's letterhead states we are "a non-common interest 55-plus senior community." I obtained all the documents...

Investing: Molson Coors is expanding globally

Question: I have seen stories lately about Molson Coors Brewing Co. How about that as a stock investment?

Federal Housing Finance Agency backs off proposal to ban transfer fees

Thousands of homeowner associations and condominiums around the country just sidestepped a potentially costly problem: A federal agency this month...

Donald Bren's legacy

Among Donald Bren's fondest childhood memories are the weekends on Lido Isle, a man-made jewel on the Orange County coast. He'd trek down from the...

Now may be the time to buy a home

If you're into bottom-fishing, now may be the time to start trolling for real estate. At least that's the advice of Michael Corbett, author of "Before...

Dealing with mortgage company's calls during payment grace period

Dear Liz: Our mortgage is due on the first day of each month. A late fee is due if the payment is received by the mortgage company after the...

Home of the week: Room after room with a view

If a view could say, "You've arrived," it would be the one from this house.

Tapatío hot sauce maker Jose-Luis Saavedra has recipe for success

The gig: Founder and chief executive of Tapatío Foods, maker of the Mexican-style hot sauce. The company, established in 1971, is...

Luxury home sales jump 21% in California

Even the rich love a deal.

'Do Not Track' Internet privacy bill introduced in House

A privacy bill introduced in Congress on Friday raised the possibility that Internet users will be able to prevent advertisers from tracking what they...

The unhappiest bull market ever

The symbol of Wall Street's late-1990s bull market was the giddy dot-com start-up.

Nokia forges smart-phone alliance with Microsoft

Nokia is set to pair its hardware with Microsoft's Windows Phone software in an effort to fend off increased competition from Apple's iPhone, Google's...

EMI chief Roger Faxon has optimistic view of future of music business

Roger Faxon may head a British music company, but he's no stranger to wild rides.

Downtown L.A. businesses expect big profits on NBA All-Star weekend

While merchants in Texas count their profits from Super Bowl XLV, downtown Los Angeles business owners are hoping for a big score from their own high-...

Small Business Administration yet to set rules on new loan program

A new federal loan program signed into law five months ago to help small businesses refinance the mortgages on their buildings could help save...

Fox TV demands share of stations' retransmission fees

The Fox TV network, looking for new sources of revenue, is demanding that its affiliates hand over a percentage of the money they receive from local...

SEC fraud lawsuit targets three former IndyMac executives

The Securities and Exchange Commission has accused former executives of the housing boom's biggest stated-income lender, IndyMac Bancorp, of...

Plan would reduce federal government's role in mortgage market

Jewelry sales sparkling again in time for Valentine's Day

Not to get anyone's hopes up this Valentine's Day, or get anyone else in trouble, but giving jewelry is back in style.

TV ad prices rebound for Academy Awards show

After two years of no rate increases for Academy Awards telecast spots, prices have rebounded sharply for this month's upcoming show, with ABC...

Mannkind to lay off 41% of its workforce

Mannkind Corp., the Valencia biotech firm, announced that it would lay off 41% of its workforce and focus on receiving regulatory approval for its...

Groupon and Facebook valuations: A new paradigm or return to insanity?

I am now officially terrified.

Groupon pulls controversial Super Bowl ads

Groupon's Super Bowl ads have been seen by many as a fumble on the part of the increasingly influential website. So, on Friday, Groupon Chief...

News Corp. is said to be near acquiring Elisabeth Murdoch's Shine Group

Rupert Murdoch is close to bringing his daughter Elisabeth back into the family business.

A 3.8% tax to fund healthcare? Yes and no

There's an e-mail going around warning that anyone who sells their home after 2012 "will pay a 3.8% sales tax on it" to help fund President Obama's...