DC Aiken - CrossCountry Mortgage

09/18/2026

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The recent quarter-point rate hike by the Fed may seem negative for mortgages, but it could signal a serious approach to combating inflation. While the Fed doesn't directly set mortgage rates, controlling inflation—especially with rising oil and gas prices—can influence bond yields and potential...

09/18/2026

Maybe the Fed hike was exactly what the doctor ordered.
Another quarter-point increase. Mortgages already above 7%. Gas over $4. Hardly sounds like good news.

But the Fed doesn’t set 30-year rates — the bond market does. And inflation is the bond market’s kryptonite.

If this hike convinces Wall Street the Fed is serious about inflation, it may help mortgage rates more than it hurts them.
Sometimes the worst-tasting medicine is the one you need.

Read more: https://crosscountrymortgage.com/mortgage/resources/maybe-the-fed-hike-was-exactly-what-the-doctor-ordered/

Watching rates? Let’s talk.
— DC Aiken

Senior VP of Lending, CrossCountry Mortgage | NMLS 658790

09/11/2026

No butts in seats without a pre-approval.

We all know “Joe Lunch Pale.” Great credit. Great income. Cash to spare… according to Joe.

Then the 950 score is 620. He co-signed loans, bought a truck, went hourly, and that 401(k) isn’t ready cash.

Maybe he qualifies for $650k. Maybe $400k. Maybe nothing. Better to know before four weekends of showings — and before he falls in love with a house he can’t buy.

Show me. Don’t tell me

Read more: https://crosscountrymortgage.com/mortgage/resources/why-no-butts-in-seats-without-a-pre-approval/

Ready to get pre-approved? Let’s talk.
— DC Aiken

Senior VP of Lending, CrossCountry Mortgage | NMLS 658790

09/08/2026

⭐ NOTHING BETTER THAN HEARING FROM A HAPPY CLIENT!

Buddy, thank you for trusting our entire team and me throughout your homebuying journey. It was truly a pleasure to be part of such an important milestone.

Big thanks to Terri, Monica, Roxie, and everyone behind the scenes who helped make this closing happen. It takes a team to make moments like this possible! 🏢🔑

Congratulations, Buddy! Wishing you many great memories in your new condo! 🎉

09/07/2026

Here’s to the people who keep moving us forward!

This Labor Day, I’m celebrating hard work, dedication, and the dream of having a place to call home.

Wishing you a happy and relaxing Labor Day! 🏡

09/04/2026

Washington stirred the pot again — and mortgage rates climbed to a 15-month high.

Just as Persian Gulf tensions looked like they might cool, fighting between the U.S. and Iran intensified. Oil prices jumped, and the bond and mortgage markets followed.

We’ve seen this movie before: Gulf tensions → higher oil → inflation fears → higher Treasury yields → higher mortgage rates.
The average top-tier 30-year fixed is now around 6.89% — the highest since June 2025 and uncomfortably close to seeing a “7” again.

This latest move has almost nothing to do with housing. Prices didn’t surge. Demand didn’t explode. Rates are being driven by events thousands of miles away.

A cooling of tensions could bring relief. More escalation could keep rates elevated. For buyers waiting on the “perfect” rate, this is another reminder that the path lower was never going to be a straight line.

Keep one eye on the 10-year Treasury… and the other on the Persian Gulf.

Read the full take: https://crosscountrymortgage.com/mortgage/resources/washington-stirs-the-pot-again/

https://videos.crosscountrymortgage.com/watch/N5hGFpbixiHySkxVtDNU11

Watching rates or ready to move? Let’s talk.
— DC Aiken

Senior VP of Lending, CrossCountry Mortgage | NMLS 658790

09/02/2026

#1 and counting. 🍑🏆

The Aiken Zulauf Team just closed August as the #1 CCM Branch in Georgia—$21 million in volume and a whole lot of Georgia families with new keys.

Grateful is an understatement. Thank you to our clients, realtor partners, and this team that treats every file like it’s the only one that matters.

Peach State. Top branch. What a great month!

Ready when you are. 🏡

08/29/2026

Nothing means more than a repeat client! 🙌

Thank you for trusting me again and for the kind words. I'm grateful for the referral and continued support! 🏡

08/28/2026

Huge thank you to every agent who showed up for Winning with Objections. 🙌

You didn’t just sit through a class. You leaned in, asked the hard questions, practiced the conversations that actually happen at the kitchen table, and spent real time with the Aiken Zulauf Team.

That’s how deals get saved and buyers stay confident.

Grateful for partners who invest in their craft. We’re better together.

Tag an agent who never stops leveling up. ⬇️

08/28/2026

If you’re going to be a bear… be a grizzly bear.

Today’s housing market is giving me an uncomfortable case of déjà vu.
From 2020–2025, U.S. home prices jumped roughly 50–55% — similar to the early 2000s run-up. Underwriting is far stronger this time. What’s concerning is seller psychology.

Metro Atlanta homes that once sold in days are now sitting close to 60 days. Price cuts and concessions are rising, but many sellers still won’t budge $20k–$30k after gaining hundreds of thousands in equity.

A $700,000 home dropping 25% would be $525,000. Suddenly a $30,000 reduction today doesn’t look so painful.
I’m not predicting another 2008. But prices can still get ahead of affordability. If competing homes at $700k aren’t selling, listing at $699k isn’t a strategy. Create the market — don’t chase it.

If you’re finally ready to get realistic on price… don’t be a teddy bear. Be a grizzly.

Check out my video: https://videos.crosscountrymortgage.com/watch/Mj51hEKisq7VcAyyNrbnev

Read the full take: https://crosscountrymortgage.com/mortgage/resources/if-youre-going-to-be-a-bear-be-a-grizzly-bear/

Thinking about listing or buying? Let’s talk strategy.
— DC Aiken

Senior VP of Lending, CrossCountry Mortgage | NMLS 658790