Virtual Economist is the mortgage industry's first and only AI and machine learning-powered, on-demand forecasting tool for mortgage capital markets leaders, bringing together public economic data and Optimal Blue's proprietary lock volume data to deliver real-time, data-driven, unbiased insights that help teams move from market uncertainty to informed action.
Unlike static projections, Virtual Economist delivers forecasts that can be explored, explained and stress-tested as conditions change, helping users plan for how to grow their business in a variety of macroeconomic environments.
The combination of Optimal Blue's proprietary data and advanced machine learning is what makes this possible at a level traditional forecasting approaches cannot match. Optimal Blue's Product, Pricing, and Eligibility (PPE) engine powers 35% of all mortgages locked nationwide and facilitates more than $1.1 trillion in loan transactions annually. Forecasts are also subject to independent third-party validation, supporting confidence in the underlying methodology.
From analyst cycle to instant scenario analysis
Virtual Economist makes institutional-grade forecasting accessible through a conversational interface. Using voice or text with a personalized economist avatar, users can receive instant, visually rich responses to questions, and explore what-if scenarios in a conversational manner, such as:
What happens to our volume outlook if the Fed cuts rates by more than expected?
How does a mild recession reshape our production strategy for the back half of the year?
Scenario modeling that once required a dedicated analyst support and lengthy planning cycles can now happen in minutes. Just as importantly, the results are presented in a way that makes complex market data accessible and actionable, from the capital markets desk to the boardroom.
For capital markets teams, better forecasting provides additional insight for evaluating the right growth strategy with greater confidence, particularly during periods of rapid rate movement. For executives responsible for staffing, strategic planning, and investor reporting, continuously updated forecasts provide a stronger foundation for decisions across the organization.
"Mortgage executives have been making high-stakes decisions with forecasting tools that were never built for the speed or complexity of today's market. Virtual Economist changes that. It puts institutional-grade forecasting capability directly into the hands of mortgage decision-makers, backed by data no one else in the industry has access to. Moving this to general availability means Optimal Blue clients can now evaluate and model potential market outcomes with a level of market intelligence that simply did not exist before.”
– Erin Wester, chief product officer, Optimal Blue
Validated by the market
Virtual Economist was unveiled at the 2026 Optimal Blue Summit and refined through a beta program with select clients before becoming generally available. Feedback from beta participants demonstrated the value of bringing institutional-grade forecasting to mortgage leaders without the analyst overhead or lengthy planning cycles.
That early validation has now extended beyond Optimal Blue's client base. Virtual Economist was recently named a finalist in the 2026 Finovate Awards, one of fintech's premier innovation programs recognizing companies advancing financial technology across lending, banking and financial services.
Virtual Economist is now available to all Optimal Blue® PPE and CompassEdge clients at no additional cost. To learn more, visit the Virtual Economist page, where you'll find a demonstration video, a detailed look at the forecasting methodology, and additional resources explaining how the platform helps mortgage leaders turn market uncertainty into informed action.
