Overview
Market Pulse gives you instant visibility into what's happening in the broader mortgage market without leaving your workflow. The feature displays national average lock rates from Optimal Blue, updated daily, so you can quickly compare your pricing against market benchmarks and have informed conversations with borrowers about rate trends.
Before You Start
Requirement | Details |
Access level | Any user with Deal Details access |
Data source | Optimal Blue aggregated lock data |
Update frequency | Daily (reflects previous business day's locks) |
Understanding the Market Pulse Display
Location
The Market Pulse section appears at the bottom of the Deal Details screen in your dashboard.
Rate Categories Displayed
Loan Type | What It Shows |
Conventional | Average locked rate for conforming loans |
FHA | Average locked rate for FHA-insured loans |
Jumbo | Average locked rate for non-conforming jumbo loans |
US Prime Rate | Current prime rate (useful for HELOC pricing) |
SOFR Index Rate | Secured Overnight Financing Rate for ARM products |
Reading the Daily Rate Movement
Trend Indicators
Each major loan type displays a movement indicator showing what happened between market open and close on the previous day.
Indicator Color | Meaning |
Red / Up arrow | Rate increased from open to close |
Green / Down arrow | Rate decreased from open to close |
⚠️ Important: These rates reflect the previous business day's data. For real-time pricing on a specific loan, always use your pricing engine.
Practical Applications
When to Reference Market Pulse
Scenario | How Market Pulse Helps |
Borrower asks "Are rates up or down?" | Glance at trend indicators for a quick, accurate answer |
Comparing your quote to market | See if your offered rate is competitive with national averages |
Working on HELOCs | Reference the US Prime Rate without switching screens |
Discussing ARM products | Use SOFR Index Rate as a conversation reference point |
Quick Reference
Open Deal Details → Scroll to Market Pulse section → View rates by loan type → Check color-coded daily movement
Tips for Success
Use for context, not quoting—Market Pulse shows averages, not the specific rate you can offer a borrower
Check trend indicators before client calls—knowing whether rates moved up or down helps set expectations
Reference Prime Rate for HELOC conversations—borrowers often ask how their HELOC rate is determined
Remember the one-day lag—data reflects yesterday's locks, so pair this with current pricing engine data for active deals
Related Topics
Locking a Rate in Deal Details
Understanding Pricing Engine Results
HELOC Product Setup and Pricing