Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1369918
TimLewis frompage1 Q: What's the best way to improve a credit score? Not just pay on time, pay in full and pay down balances, but something that can directly cause scores to rise? A:Creditisamajor issueforvirtuallyalladults. Goodcreditmeanshigh creditscoresandlowinter- estrateswhenborrowing. Badcreditmeanshigher costsandpotentially declinedloanapplications forsuchthingsashomes andcars. What'sthesecretto highercreditscores?It's simplycreditawareness, understandingthatevery billandpaymentpotentially impactsyourcreditstanding. Let'sstartwithan extremesituation.Millionsof peoplehavenocredithistory andthusnocreditscore. "Nearly50million Americanslackenoughof acredithistorytoobtain atraditionalcreditscore," explainedtheUrbanInsti- tutein2018."Some28 millionconsumershave fileswithinsufficientdata, andmorethan20million havenocreditbureau fileatall,orare'credit invisible.'" Translation:Ifyouwant cheaperfinancing,youatleast needacreditprofile,onewith thehighestpossiblescore. Thereareseveral concretestepsthatcanhelp bulkupyourcreditsituation. First,youneedtoestab- lishabudget.Lookatwhat youearnandtrackwhatyou spend.Dothisinwriting,so youcanseehowyourspend- inghabitsevolveovertime. Second,youneedto havereadycashonhand foremergencies,otherwise youmaywindupborrowing frompaydayandautotitle lenders.It'sbeenestimated thatthetypicalpaydayloan isabout$400,somakethat aninitialgoal.Put$10a weekintoasavingsaccount andwatchyourmoneygrow. Third,youneedtoget intothesystem.Ifyouare nowcreditinvisible,start withabasicgasolineorstore creditcard. Fourth,spendalittleevery monthonthecardsyouobtain. Fifth,theoldstandbys reallywork.Alwayspaya littleearlyandinfull,soyour creditscorecanimproveand youcanavoidonerouslate feesatthesametime. Sixth,youcantrackyour creditstandingatAnnual- CreditReport.com,theonly siteauthorizedbythefederal governmenttoprovidefree creditreports. Underfederalrules consumerscanreceiveone freecreditreportevery12 monthsfromeachofthe threeleadingcreditreporting agencies(CRAs):Equifax, ExperianandTransUnion. However,lastApril,inthe midstofthepandemic andwithsomanypeople losingjobsandreceiving lessincome,thethreeCRAs madeanunprecedented offer.Consumerswhogo toAnnualCreditReport. comcanaccesstheircredit reportsonaweeklybasis withoutchargeforoneyear. Now,in2021,thethree creditreportingagencies haveagainsteppedup.In March,theyannouncedthat freeweeklycreditreports willcontinuetobeavailable throughApril20,2022. Theinformation containedincreditreports isthebasisforcreditscores. Thehigheryourscorethe lessitcoststoborrow.It's importanttoreviewcredit reportsregularlytoseeif thereareanyfactualerrors, itemsthatareoutofdate orstrangeitemsthatmight suggestidentityfraud. Suchthingshappenand whentheydocreditscores canbesignificantlyreduced. A2013studyfromthefederal governmentfoundthat"1in5 consumershadanerroronat leastoneoftheirthreecredit reports."Errorstypically causedcreditscorestofallby 25points,butinsomecases, scoreswerereducedby100 pointsormore. Thetemporarycredit accesspolicynowinplaceis agreatdeal.It'sfreeandcan helpyougetabetterscore. Useitwhileyoucan. Emailyourrealestate questionstoPeterMillerat peter@ctwfeatures.com. Keeping an eye on your credit helps improve your scores MarketWatch By Peter G. Miller beautifullydesignedand availablenow.Ontop ofthelististhecrown jewelofEastSacra- mento,SutterPark,re- centlyrecognizedbythe NorthStateBuildingIn- dustryAssociationwith itsprestigiousNeighbor- hoodoftheYearAward. Thisiconiccommu- nityiscomposedof88 single-family,solar-living detachedhomesnestled withinthehistoriccom- munityofEastSacra- mento.Thethreedistinct productlinessurrounda brand-newcommunity parkthatembracesthe historyandheritageof EastSacramentoand theSutterHospital legacy.ThePark,builtby StonebridgeProperties, iscenteredinthecom- munityanddesigned withgatheringspots, localartists'sculptures androsegardensatboth ends.UrbanElementsis buildingtheirprojectto includesomesmalllocal eateriestocomplement theneighborhood'swalk- ability.Onlyafewhomes remaininthefinalphases ofthisneighborhood. AndjustupHighway 80tothePlacerCounty foothills,youwillfind TheSummitatWhitney Ranch.TheSummit, alsobuiltbyTimLewis Communities,offerssix innovativesolar-living homeplans.Thesingle- familyhomesrangefrom 2,351squarefeetto3,447 squarefeet,withboth single-andtwo-storyop- tionsavailable,three-car garagesandanabun- danceofpersonalization opportunities.Someof themincludeoptional junior/multigensuites, beautifullyappointed kitchensandoutdoor roomswithoptional fireplaces.Manyofthe homesatTheSummit sitonbreathtakingview lotsandabutthemany walkingtrailsofWhitney Ranch. WhitneyRanchoffers manyamenitiesforan excitinglifestyle,includ- ingTheRanchHouse, wherehomebuyerscan takeafitnessclass,swim intheresort-stylepoolor kickuptheirheelsinthe lounge.Theywillenjoy accesstothecommunity's threesprawlingparksand 5milesofwindingtrails. VisitallthatTim LewisCommunitieshas toofferbysigningupfor thisspringandsummer's new-homecommunities' openingsunderComing Soonattimlewis.com. Contentprovidedby TimLewisCommunities 94027 95014 95006 95060 95017 95064 95065 95062 94022 94062 94028 94304 94305 94306 94303 94301 94025 94027 94063 94065 94061 94070 94002 94404 94403 94010 94401 94402 94019 94037 94038 94044 94015 94080 94066 94030 94014 94005 94074 94060 95070 95129 95117 95128 95008 95125 95124 95130 95051 95050 95054 94086 94085 94089 94043 94041 94040 94024 94022 95002 95134 95035 95131 95112 95133 95116 95122 95121 95111 95118 95032 95033 95066 95018 95005 95030 95136 95123 95126 95110 95132 95127 95148 95135 95138 95037 95120 95046 95020 95076 95003 95010 95073 95140 94087 SANTA CLARA CO. ALAMEDA CO. SANTA CRUZ CO. SA N MA TE O C O. SFO Saratoga San Francisco Morgan Hill Half Moon Bay Los Gatos Scotts Valley Felton Boulder Creek Aptos Santa Cruz Los Altos Hills Palo Alto Menlo Park Mtn. View Sunnyvale Campbell Cupertino San Jose Santa Clara Milpitas Redwood City San Mateo Millbrae Burlingame Daly City Pacifica Downtown Stanford 85 17 84 92 237 280 880 680 101 101 Median price change Duplicate-Zip Listings - See Data No sales recorded -41% or lower -21% to -40.9% -01% to -20.9% 0% to 20.9% 21% to 40.9% 41% or greater San Mateo County Santa Clara County Santa Cruz Cou nt y Median home prices and sales Median home price and sales data is updated monthly and is compiled by MLSListings Inc. This data reflects sales and price information from approximately 8-10 weeks post closing. This time includes the time for official recording of the sale plus time to aggregate and generate the data for all county sales reflected in this map. The percent change is a month to month comparison. Occasional atypical home sales and special circumstances may alter the average cost per square foot. If the cost looks erroneous, please email content@bayareanewsgroup.com for more info. About this index SAN MATEO | FEBRUARY 2021 COMMUNITY COUNTY FIPS MEDIAN PRICE % CHG $ / SQR FT # SOLD % CHG All Homes SAN MATEO 06081 1275000 -4.14 932 518 4.23 Condo SAN MATEO 06081 847500 -1.68 749 120 14.29 New Home SAN MATEO 06081 1325000 -8.43 1085 5 -28.57 Re-Sale SAN MATEO 06081 1270000 -2.50 932 513 4.69 County CITY ZIP MEDIAN PRICE % Chg $ / SQR FT # SOLD % CHG SAN MATEO ATHERTON 94027 4325000 -38.21 1601 8 14.29 SAN MATEO BELMONT 94002 1725000 3.76 1089 22 37.50 SAN MATEO BRISBANE 94005 907500 -19.26 741 8 33.33 SAN MATEO BURLINGAME 94010 2350000 -1.26 1217 21 31.25 SAN MATEO DALY CITY 94014 988000 5.67 517 22 29.41 SAN MA TEO DA LY C ITY 94015 1075000 13.16 745 33 -5.71 SAN MATEO EAST PALO ALTO 94303 935000 24.50 666 13 -18.75 SAN MATEO EL GRANADA 94018 1205000 33.67 806 4 300.00 SAN MATEO EMERALD HILLS 94062 3550000 77.50 639 9 80.00 SAN MATEO FOSTER CITY 94404 1131500 -16.06 787 25 8.70 SAN MATEO HALF MOON BAY 94019 1006000 -8.55 618 12 140.00 SAN MATEO HILLSBOROUGH 94010 3575000 -23.12 1076 13 44.44 SAN MATEO LA HONDA 94020 925500 -15.48 629 7 250.00 SAN MATEO MENLO PARK 94025 1840000 -14.42 1122 37 -21.28 SAN MATEO MILLBRAE 94030 1550000 -8.28 889 17 54.55 SAN MATEO MONTARA 94037 1010000 -12.17 628 7 133.33 SAN MATEO MOSS BEACH 94038 1189000 -21.49 830 6 200.00 SAN MATEO PACIFICA 94044 1000000 -7.41 731 28 33.33 SAN MATEO PESCADERO 94060 1600000 45.45 1 -66.67 SAN MATEO PORTOLA VALLEY 94028 2562500 -21.09 1145 4 -50.00 SAN MATEO REDWOOD CITY 94061 1425000 -0.35 983 25 -28.57 SAN MATEO REDWOOD CITY 94062 2306000 30.28 981 10 11.11 SAN MATEO REDWOOD CITY 94063 1050000 -5.15 836 11 -15.38 SAN MATEO REDWOOD CITY 94065 1437750 -13.23 930 10 -23.08 SAN MATEO SAN BRUNO 94066 965000 -7.66 854 15 -37.50 SAN MATEO SAN CARLOS 94070 1375000 -20.79 1004 29 -25.64 SAN MATEO SAN FRANCISCO 94158 1975000 695 1 SAN MATEO SAN MATEO 94401 870000 -17.14 765 23 -23.33 SAN MATEO SAN MATEO 94402 1505000 -13.63 870 18 -10.00 SAN MATEO SAN MATEO 94403 1355000 6.27 914 29 52.63 SAN MATEO SAN MATEO 94404 1055000 11.29 665 7 -22.22 SAN MATEOSOUTH SAN FRANCISCO94080 1059000 15.74 699 34 47.83 SAN MATEO WOODSIDE 94061 2425000 1023 1 SAN MATEO WOODSIDE 94062 1900000 -27.79 1994 8 -20.00 SANTA CLARA | FEBRUARY 2021 COMMUNITY COUNTY FIPS MEDIAN PRICE % CHG $ / SQR FT # SOLD % CHG_ ALL HOMES SANTA CLARA 06085 1030000 -1.90 750 1357 -2.09 CONDO SANTA CLARA 06085 846500 -0.29 624 424 -7.63 NEW HOME SANTA CLARA 06085 947000 -3.96 682 194 14.12 RE-SALE SANTA CLARA 06085 1050000 -1.87 751 1163 -4.36 COUNTY CITY ZIP MEDIAN PRICE % CHG $ / SQR FT # SOLD % CHG_ SANTA CLARA 1050000 -1.59 4 33.33 SANTA CLARA 95035 1028500 10.92 1 -83.33 SANTA CLARA 95133 809500 -2.82 3 -40.00 SANTA CLARA CAMPBELL 95008 992500 -18.91 726 36 5.88 SANTA CLARA CUPERTINO 95014 1750000 1.16 1046 32 6.67 SANTA CLARA GILROY 847000 -1.34 17 -19.05 SANTA CLARA GILROY 95020 737500 -8.10 370 48 20.00 SANTA CLARA LA HONDA 94020 SANTA CLARA LOS ALTOS 94022 2564500 -3.68 1259 11 -31.25 SANTA CLARA LOS ALTOS 94024 2865000 -3.40 1364 14 0.00 SANTA CLARALOS ALTOS HILLS 94022 2850000 -24.00 1104 7 133.33 SANTA CLARALOS ALTOS HILLS 94024 3600000 -24.21 1362 1 0.00 SANTA CLARA LOS GATOS 95030 1800000 -20.00 996 13 18.18 SANTA CLARA LOS GATOS 95032 1565000 -7.26 919 21 -4.55 SANTA CLARA LOS GATOS 95033 1340000 26.42 539 5 0.00 SANTA CLARA MILPITAS 95035 917000 -0.97 606 90 32.35 SANTA CLARAMONTE SERENO 95030 2362500 -31.52 1298 4 -20.00 SANTA CLARA MORGAN HILL 95037 875500 -0.85 406 76 24.59 SANTA CLARAMOUNTAIN VIEW 94040 1807500 4.01 1126 17 -43.33 SANTA CLARAMOUNTAIN VIEW 94041 2172500 10.15 1348 8 100.00 SANTA CLARAMOUNTAIN VIEW 94043 1357500 -6.89 877 28 -24.32 SANTA CLARA PALO ALTO 94301 3656250 -9.27 1645 10 -23.08 SANTA CRUZ | FEBRUARY 2021 COMMUNITY COUNTY FIPS MEDIAN PRICE % CHG $ / SQR FT # SOLD % CHG All Homes SANTA CRUZ 06087 780000 7.29 513 249 14.75 Condo SANTA CRUZ 06087 591250 24.47 476 40 37.93 New Home SANTA CRUZ 06087 790000 -9.97 4 100.00 Re-Sale SANTA CRUZ 06087 780000 7.59 513 245 13.95 County CITY ZIP MEDIAN PRICE % Chg $ / SQR FT # SOLD % CHG_ SANTA CRUZ APTOS 95003 885000 14.94 521 43 48.28 SANTA CRUZ BEN LOMOND 95005 779000 7.45 431 11 22.22 SANTA CRUZ BONNY DOON 95060 560500 -10.32 813 2 100.00 SANTA CRUZ BOULDER CREEK 95006 522500 2.45 509 10 -56.52 SANTA CRUZ BROOKDALE 95007 680000 493 1 SANTA CRUZ CAPITOLA 95010 1115000 55.94 732 11 37.50 SANTA CRUZ DAVENPORT 95017 440000 705 1 SANTA CRUZ FELTON 95018 575000 -3.24 418 7 -12.50 SANTA CRUZ FREEDOM 95019 595000 66.90 371 3 -40.00 SANTA CRUZ LOS GATOS 95033 1177500 40.85 578 8 166.67 SANTA CRUZ MT MADONNA 95076 599000 -20.13 648 1 0.00 SANTA CRUZ SANTA CRUZ 95060 852000 -3.62 584 35 0.00 SANTA CRUZ SANTA CRUZ 95062 960000 2.67 682 23 9.52 SANTA CRUZ SANTA CRUZ 95064 330000 320 1 SANTA CRUZ SANTA CRUZ 95065 792500 -11.94 457 8 60.00 SANTA CRUZ SCOTTS VALLEY 95066 899000 8.31 439 21 -27.59 SANTA CRUZ SOQUEL 95073 908500 -5.07 565 13 30.00 SANTA CRUZ WATSONVILLE 95076 472500 -14.60 378 50 66.67 SANTA CLARA | FEBRUARY 2021 COUNTY CITY ZIP MEDIAN PRICE % CHG $ / SQR FT # SOLD % CHG SANTA CLARA | FEBRUARY 2021 COUNTY CITY ZIP MEDIAN PRICE % CHG $ / SQR FT # SOLD % CHG SANTA CLARA PALO ALTO 94303 2060000 -25.09 1492 6 -33.33 SANTA CLARA PALO ALTO 94304 2215750 925 2 SANTA CLARA PALO ALTO 94306 2615000 10.85 1441 22 4.76 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 1166250 -0.55 20 42.86 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95110 680000 6.67 724 12 -14.29 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95111 652500 -10.31 532 22 -42.11 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95112 805500 0.81 606 34 13.33 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95113 520000 -6.31 751 1 0.00 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95116 615000 -4.43 528 23 -28.13 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95117 1120000 -14.67 723 13 -40.91 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95118 1055000 6.24 636 27 -18.18 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95119 996500 14.87 602 11 37.50 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95120 1421000 10.16 635 28 -17.65 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95121 973000 14.20 429 17 6.25 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95122 699000 7.54 529 26 4.00 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95123 805000 -1.89 532 65 -14.47 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95124 1193500 5.62 842 48 17.07 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95125 1250000 -8.42 770 47 -7.84 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95126 889000 -3.11 726 21 -19.23 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95127 774500 0.58 482 46 17.95 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95128 987500 -13.00 677 30 15.38 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95129 1830000 52.50 1661 26 73.33 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95130 1294000 1.49 825 6 -25.00 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95131 955000 -13.06 597 19 18.75 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95132 1072500 7.46 573 21 -8.70 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95133 827500 2.48 575 18 0.00 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95134 849500 4.88 670 2 0.00 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95135 849500 5.53 484 22 -4.35 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95136 945000 3.73 476 35 -14.63 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95138 1125500 -5.42 581 10 -41.18 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95139 906000 -9.04 455 15 15.38 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95141 SANTA CLARA SAN JOSE 95148 920000 -2.13 441 29 45.00 SANTA CLARA SAN MARTIN 95046 675000 -64.47 334 2 -33.33 SANTA CLARA SANTA CLARA 95050 1220000 -3.94 716 31 6.90 SANT A CLARA SANT A CLARA 95051 1440000 5.88 897 30 -33.33 SANTA CLARA SANTA CLARA 95054 1165000 0.32 717 11 10.00 SANTA CLARA SARATOGA 95070 2672500 13.97 1038 26 4.00 SANTA CLARA SUNNYVALE 94085 1343500 11.03 917 36 44.00 SANTA CLARA SUNNYVALE 94086 1350000 -14.96 845 21 -19.23 SANTA CLARA SUNNYVALE 94087 2004000 14.19 1017 24 -11.11 SANTA CLARA SUNNYVALE 94089 1189000 -1.53 729 5 -58.33 SANTA CLARA WATSONVILLE 95076 1445000 174.71 1 0.00 Over 21 years experience and 5 star Yelp reviews Bayview Residential Mortgage 51 E. Campbell ave #110 Campbell, CA 95008 CA Broker DRE#01498198/ NMLS#329189 Call today for rate quote! Rob Heath 408-482-8080 CA DRE#01241953/NMLS#319548 Apply at my personal secure loan application at www.excellentmortgageloan.com Product Rate Points Fees % Down APR 30 Yr Conf. Fixed 15 Yr Fixed 5 Yr Jumbo ARM 30 Yr Conf. Jumbo 3.125 2.75% 3.25 3.50 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 $0 $0 $0 $0 20% 20% 20% 30% 3.125% 2.75% 3.67% 3.50% JUMBO REVERSE MTG, 5* Yelp reviews. NO CLOSING COST LOANS are available. 3.125% 30yr Conf Fixed 2.75% $0 UW $0 UW $0 UW $0 UW 2.75% 2.75% 3.00% 3.375% 0.00 2.25% 2.25% 40% 20 Yr. Conf. Jumbo 15 Yr Conf. Fixed 30 Yr Fixed APR 3.00% 40% 40% 2.75% Product Rate Points Fees % Down APR 2.75% 30% Yr Fixed APR H6 BAYAREANEWSGROUP 111 Homes | Advertising Section