This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
Mortgage rates, which dipped below 6% in February, climbed back up to end the month just under 6.4%. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.18% in March, 13 points (bps) higher than February. The average 15-year rate also increased by the same amount to 5.56%. Despite the recent increase, both rates remain lower than a year ago by 47 bps and 27 bps, respectively.
The rebound in mortgage rates was driven primarily by movements in the 10-year Treasury yield, which jumped 11 bps to 4.24% as tensions in the Middle East escalated. The ongoing Iran conflict has disrupted oil markets, pushing oil prices higher and reigniting fears that inflation could pick up again.
Amid this uncertainty, the Federal Reserve held the federal funds rates unchanged at 3.5% to 3.75%. They revised their inflation expectations higher from 2.4% last December to 2.7% but maintained that one rate cut is still possible in 2026.
This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .
Whether you’re dealing with clients, colleagues, contractors or vendors, it’s essential to establish clear lines of communication to prevent misunderstandings.
Zlata Rybchenko, founder of Ohra Studio, believes transparency and clarity help to build trust and prevent misunderstandings before they even begin.
“Setting clear goals, budgets and timelines gives every party confidence that we’re working toward the same vision,” she says. “The Houzz Pro tool helps us make this even smoother — we can share proposals, track budgets and manage timelines in one place so nothing is left vague or open to misinterpretation. This level of organization not only keeps clients informed, it also reassures our team that we’re aligned at every step.”
Alicja Wawrzyniak of Alwa Interior Design Studio agrees that clarity generally prevents conflict. “Similar to your personal life, clarity in the professional field helps establish goals and expectations on both sides, reduces anxiety and ensures a project is stress free and more enjoyable. Lack of communication and avoiding updates can cause misunderstandings, which can quickly erupt into conflict.”
“Communication with builders is also crucial,” designer Anna Auzins of Anna Auzins Interiors says. “Contingency for surprises needs to be built in, such as a change to delivery times. I’ve never been involved in a project where something unexpected didn’t crop up.”
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