How To Build a Rate Watch Funnel and Automation in 10 Minutes

Why a Rate Watch Funnel Matters

If you’re working with refinance leads, people who are already interested in lowering their rate or changing their mortgage structure, you’ve probably spent too many hours manually emailing or calling them each week. By creating a rate watch funnel, you put the follow-up on autopilot: leads submit their info, you update one number each week, and your system sends the rest. This approach transforms a tedious backend process into a hands-off engine that keeps you top of mind when rates drop.

Step 1: Create the Landing Page for Lead Capture

Start by building a simple landing page in your funnel tool.

• Name the funnel something like “RateWatchFunnel” and set the path to something easy, such as /rate-form-submission

• Use a one-column layout. Add your logo at the top (150px width works well).

• Add a headline that speaks directly to the pain point: “Want to know when rates drop?”

• Upload a short 30 to 45 second video that does three things: hook the viewer, identify the problem, and offer your solution (the rate watch form).

• Insert a form with fields like Full Name, Email, Phone Number, Current Rate, and Target Interest Rate.

• Add a testimonial or review section to build trust. Then publish the page and connect your domain.

Step 2: Build a Thank-You Page

After the form submission, route leads to a thank-you page that reinforces the next steps:

• Headline: “Thank you – You’re on the list.”

• Include a short message like: “Watch your inbox weekly for rate updates. If we hit your target rate, I’ll reach out or you can book a call or text me directly.”

• Adjust for mobile: center elements and increase font size (30px is a good starting point) so it reads cleanly on phones.

Step 3: Create the Automation Workflow

Here’s where the real power lies, automating weekly emails with updated interest-rate numbers so you don’t have to chase each lead manually.

• Trigger: When the “RateWatcher” form is submitted.

• Create a custom value called “Current Interest Rate” (for example, 6.25 percent). Update this value once a week, Monday or Tuesday works well.

• Email Subject: “Interest Rate Today” so the number appears at a glance in the subject line.

• Email Body: Address the lead by name. “Looks like rates are at [custom value]. If we hit your target rate, let’s chat. Text or call me at [your phone number] or book a call here.”

• Wait step: 7 days. Then loop back and check if they’ve booked an appointment.

• Smart check: Use a "Find Opportunity" action. If the lead has moved to the “Appointment Booked” stage in your pipeline, remove them from the weekly email loop. If not, continue sending weekly updates.

Step 4: Set Up Your Pipeline and Tracking

You need a pipeline in your CRM to track lead status and stop sending emails when appropriate.

• Create a “Refinance Pipeline” with stages like “Identified,” “Form Submitted,” “Appointment Booked,” and “Closed.”

• When a lead submits the form, tag them as “Form Submitted.” When they schedule a call, move them to “Appointment Booked.”

• Use the automation check described above to prevent leads who’ve already booked a call from getting stuck in the loop of weekly rate emails.

Tips to Optimize Your Funnel

• Brand your pages with your colors and logo so they feel professional and trustworthy.

• Use your own short video rather than generic stock, personal connection matters.

• Keep your emails short and actionable so the lead sees the rate number and knows what to do next.

• Pick one day each week to update your custom value for your interest rate so you stay consistent.

• Monitor your pipeline to ensure people who’ve converted don’t keep getting emails.

• Over time, you can build a custom API solution that automatically pulls rates rather than manually updating the value each week.

Final Thoughts

What starts as a simple one-form, one custom value, and one weekly email system quickly scales into a high-leverage machine. Rather than manually emailing dozens or hundreds of leads every week, you update one figure and your funnel does the heavy lifting. For mortgage professionals focused on refinance leads, this is a game changer in efficiency and consistency. If you build this now, you’ll free up time, stay top of mind, and be ready the moment rates move.