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What’s your largest monthly expense? For many, it’s a home mortgage payment. As a result, you might try to pay your mortgage with a credit card to earn extra rewards like this credit card gives you points for paying rent. After all, this can be an easy way to consistently earn bonus points. However, you must first verify that your mortgage servicer accepts credit card payments.
And if you want to earn points on paying rent on an apartment, consider the Bilt World Elite Mastercard®. You can pay rent and earn points (up to 100,000 per calendar year) on your apartment without the transaction fee. Plus, even if your property only accepts checks, you may pay through the Bilt Rewards app. Bilt will then send a check on your behalf. Even better, you can redeem your points for next month’s rent. You can also use the Bilt World Elite Mastercard points to put towards a down payment on a home.
Learn more: Bilt World Elite Mastercard®
Can You Pay Your Mortgage With a Credit Card?
Yes, you can pay your mortgage with a credit card but expect to pay a fee. Credit card mortgage payments are an easy way to earn the best credit card offers. Your mortgage lender might let you make credit card payments directly to your mortgage.
However, not everyone works with credit cards. Wells Fargo, for example, doesn’t accept credit card payments.
Fortunately, there are some ways to get around this. One workaround is to use a third-party payment app like Plastiq, though plan to pay a processing fee. This fee is typically around 2.5% of the payment total.
Your purchase rewards will need to be worth more than the processing fees to make paying by credit card worth it. If this may be something of interest to you, these are some of the cards you should consider first to pay your mortgage.
Best Credit Cards to Pay Your Mortgage
Below is a quick list of the best credit cards to pay your mortgage:
Use The Rocket Visa Card to Pay Your Mortgage
The Rocket Visa Signature® Card is a credit card from Rocket Mortgage, one of the largest online mortgage lenders. It’s a good card option for people who plan to get a home loan through Rocket or already have one they service.
The Rocket Vias card earns Rocket Rewards that can be redeemed towards mortgage-related costs or cash back. It’s part of the Rocket Companies rewards program to help make homeownership more affordable.
Some of the Rocket Visa’s best features include:
- Earn 5x points on all purchases
- Points are worth up to 5% on redemptions
- Multiple redemption options
- No annual fee for existing Rocket Mortgage customers
- Up to $750 in cell phone protection (subject to a $50 deductible)
- Up to $10,000 in purchase protection
- It’s a metal credit card
You will pay a $95 annual fee unless you have an active Rocket Mortgage loan. This fee is waived once you are approved for an eligible mortgage until you pay it off. To the delight of world travelers, there is no foreign transaction fee. Consider applying for the Rocket Visa Signature® Card if:
- You are getting a home loan from Rocket Mortgage or already have a qualifying loan from this lender.
- You can waive the $95 annual fee.
The Rocket Visa Signature® Card is a good option for people who are getting a home loan through Rocket Mortgage or already have one they service. It earns generous rewards on all purchases, and the points can be redeemed towards mortgage-related costs or cash back.
Jump Right In Rocket Visa Signature® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with a variety of perks that make redeeming points extra valuable. Your points can be worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
Your points can be worth a lot more by transferring them at a 1:1 ratio to an airline or hotel partner. Some of the most flexible partners include:
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways
- Emirates
- United Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- World of Hyatt
Frequent flyer miles tend to be most valuable when redeemed for first-class award flights. Your points can easily be worth up to 6 cents when redeemed for first-class or business-class seats. Emirates and Singapore Airlines have some of the best premium cabin options.
One award route to consider first is flying in the Singapore Suites class from New York to Frankfurt. One-way award space can be found for 86,000 miles plus fees and taxes.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns unlimited:
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Anniversary Hotel Credit)
- 3x points on dining (including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out)
- 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target®, Walmart®, and wholesale clubs)
- Also 3x points on select streaming services
- 2x points on all other travel purchases
- 1x point per $1 spent on all non-bonus purchases
There is a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit. It comes in the form of a statement credit that will automatically be applied to your account when your card is used for hotel accommodation purchases made through Chase Travel℠. Plus, on each account anniversary, you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
New Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
The Sapphire Preferred also has a reasonable $95 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the most exciting flat-rate travel rewards credit card. Its signup bonus is worth pursuing when paying your mortgage. This bonus can also be easier to earn.
For a limited time, new Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, plus they’ll receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit their first cardholder year. Earning the entire bonus is equal to $1,000 in travel!
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns 2x miles on all purchases. So, anything and everything you purchase on your card will earn double miles. However, if you want to earn a few more miles on travel, good news—earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
The annual fee is $95.
Southwest Airlines Credit Cards
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you fly Southwest Airlines often, you should strongly consider getting a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit card. Consumer cards include the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card.
New Southwest Airlines (consumer) credit cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The bonus can be a great way for you to start accumulating points to visit destinations like Hawaii with you and a loved one.
British Airways Visa Signature Card
The British Airways Visa Signature® Card might not appear like a utilitarian miles credit card at first glance. But Avios has flexible redemption options for domestic and international travel.
For example, domestic American Airlines and Alaska Airlines flights start at 7,500 Avios each way. You can also fly to Hawaii from the U.S. West Coast for 25,000 miles roundtrip. Of course, you can book award flights to Europe on British Airways or another Avios partner.
Cardholders earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL. Cardholders also earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. Plus, earn 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Plus, new British Airways Visa Signature® Card cardholders can get 10% off British Airways flights starting in the United States when they book through the website provided in the welcome materials.
Additionally, every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, and you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
New British Airways Visa Signature® Card cardholders can earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
This card has a $95 annual fee but doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.
Does Applying for a Credit Card Hurt Chances of a Mortgage Approval?
A common quandary that many prospective homebuyers face is whether or not to apply for a new credit card while still awaiting mortgage approval. It is crucial to carefully consider the potential consequences of such an application on the mortgage approval process.
One may wonder: does submitting a credit card application negatively affect the likelihood of obtaining mortgage approval?
What The Mortgage Application Process Looks Like
It takes longer to get a home mortgage approval than almost any other type of loan. For example, when you apply for a credit card, it’s an instant decision. In most cases, you know if you’re approved right away. Even for car loans and personal loans, the decision process might take a few days at most.
These are the six basic steps of the mortgage application process. Before you submit an offer to buy a house, it’s a really good idea to get a mortgage pre-approval. Without it, the agent or home seller may not entertain your offer.
Once they accept your buy offer, you must submit an official loan application. From the day you submit the application to signing the closing documents, it can take 30 days. Consider this period a “credit blackout.” Avoid anything that involves a hard credit inquiry (i.e. a “credit check.”).
Here are the common steps:
- Get Mortgage Pre-Approval (Agents and Sellers are more likely to accept your offer)
- The Seller and Agent accept your buy offer
- Submit an official home mortgage application
- The bank checks your credit report to start the underwriting process
- Shortly before closing, the bank checks your credit report a second time to make sure nothing has changed
- You sign the loan closing documents and the application process is complete
Once you sign the mortgage approval closing documents, you can begin applying for new credit cards. Because your credit score will dip for a few months immediately until you establish a payment history, you may wish to wait at least three months after closing to apply for a new credit card.
Only Apply for One New Credit Product at Once
The home mortgage application process takes about 30 days for most people. It takes so long because the bank must appraise the house you’re buying. Also, the underwriters must make sure you are a “safe” borrower.
During this time, don’t apply for any other type of credit. That includes credit cards, car loans, personal loans, or refinancing your student loans. Don’t dispute anything on your credit report either. All of these actions affect your credit score.
The bank will check your credit report again a few days before you sign the closing documents. They do this to make sure you don’t mislead them.
Any major change in your report can require the bank to restart the underwriting process. This delays the approval decision. It can even jeopardize your approval odds.
It is best to wait until the ink dries on the closing documents to do these activities:
- Apply for a new credit card or store charge card
- Signup for home internet
- Start utility services
- Begin a new cable TV or satellite TV contract
- Apply for any other new or refinance loan
- Cancel unused credit cards
All of the above activities can require a credit check. It’s better to be “safe than sorry” when applying for a home loan. New credit applications add an element of uncertainty to the underwriting process. Banks don’t like uncertainty.
As much as you want the peace of mind of knowing you’ll have electricity, water, and a working tv when you move in, wait until the mortgage closes. You’ll be glad you did.
Don’t Apply for a New Credit Card Right Before You Buy a Home
Do you still need to apply for a home mortgage? Depending on how soon you plan on buying a house, you might be able to apply for a new credit card.
At a minimum, apply for a home mortgage at least three months after you apply for a new credit card. Ideally, wait six months. This waiting period gives your credit score time to rebound from the recent inquiry. Plus, you have time to show a consistent payment history.
But, if you are going to apply for a mortgage in a week or two, it’s better to wait until the mortgage closes to apply for a credit card. If you don’t have a strong credit profile, a card application this recent can jeopardize your approval odds. Or, it can cause you to pay a higher interest rate.
Remember, having the highest credit score possible when you apply offers these two benefits:
- Higher loan approval odds
- Get the lowest interest rate available
Apply For New Credit Cards After a Mortgage Approval
If you’re currently applying for a mortgage (or will soon), wait until the mortgage closes.
At this point, you’re approved for the mortgage. The application process for new credit cards is simpler.
The day after you close on the mortgage approval, you can begin applying for new credit cards. For the highest approval odds, you might choose one of the easiest credit cards. After all, your credit score will be lower because of the mortgage application credit checks.
But, you might not get approved for select premium credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve. If you want a credit card that requires excellent credit, you may need to wait at least three months for your score to rebound. To get a more accurate idea, you should check your FICO score to monitor your credit score progress. Once your score is within the good credit score range again, you can apply.
Even if your score is already in the required range for the credit card you want, you may still wish to wait three months to apply. This lets the credit card company see you have an on-time payment history. Waiting boosts your approval odds. Plus, it might mean a higher credit limit too.
If you’re still in doubt if you can apply for a credit card after getting approved for a mortgage, you can pre-qualify with most credit card companies too.
Summary on Does Applying for a Credit Card Hurt Your Chances of a Mortgage Approval?
No matter what, don’t apply for a new credit card if you have a pending mortgage application. You can also take it a step further by not applying for a new credit card less than three months before you are hoping for a mortgage approval. Once you sign the mortgage approval closing documents, you can apply for most new credit cards without penalty.
Using a credit card to pay your mortgage is a possibility. However, you may need to use a third-party payment app to submit payment, as most lenders prefer you use a checking account to keep fees low. Using a credit card can be well worth it when you can earn a valuable signup bonus or get above-average redemption values.
FAQs
Do I pay my mortgage with a credit card?
Some mortgage lenders and servicing companies let you pay your mortgage with a credit card. However, your bank might require you to make a cash advance (which doesn’t earn purchase rewards or a signup bonus) if you wish to pay your mortgage with a credit card. You also pay interest charges on cash advances.
Another option is to use a third-party payment app like Plastiq. In most cases, you will need to pay processing fees between 2.5% and 3% of the payment amount.
Can you pay mortgages with a Visa credit card?
It’s possible to pay your mortgage with a Visa credit card. However, your lender or the credit card issuing bank may not let you charge mortgage payments to your credit card. They may even consider it a cash advance that doesn’t earn reward points and requires you to pay interest.
One of the best Visa credit cards for paying your mortgage is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
If your lender or credit card provider doesn’t let you pay directly with a credit card, you will need to use a third-party payment app. Whether you pay directly or use an external app, plan on paying a processing fee between 2.5% and 3%.
What bills can be paid with a credit card?
Almost any recurring bill can be paid by credit card, including:
- Insurance
- Cell phone
- Internet
- Streaming services
- Charitable donations
- Property taxes
- Income taxes
- Utilities (i.e., electric, gas, or water bill)
- Rent
- Mortgage payments
Depending on the bill, you may be charged the processing fee. This is most common when making loan payments or paying bills to government agencies. The average processing fee is between 2.5% and 3%. Merchants are most likely to accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover for payment.
Johnny Jet has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Johnny Jet and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
