Blog >> How To Earn Points On A Mortgage: Introducing Mesa

How To Earn Points On A Mortgage: Introducing Mesa

By Kevin Zanes / November 18, 2024
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What if your mortgage payments could earn you the same kind of travel rewards as your groceries or travel? With the Mesa Homeowners Card, that is no longer just a dream. This groundbreaking credit card is changing the game for homeowners by offering points and perks for the expenses that matter most — your home. As the first premium card designed exclusively for homeowners, the Mesa Homeowners Card makes it easier to earn rewards on mortgage payments, home maintenance, and everyday essentials — all with no annual fee. Whether you are paying property taxes, upgrading your kitchen, or just fueling up your car, Mesa turns these routine home expenses into valuable points.

Let’s explore how the Mesa Homeowners Card works and why it might be the perfect addition to your wallet.

What Is The Mesa Homeowners Card

Mesa Homeowners Credit Card

Credit. Mesa. Mesa Homeowners Credit Card.

The Mesa Homeowners Card is a groundbreaking credit card designed specifically for homeowners. Created by Austin-based fintech Mesa, it fills a unique gap in the rewards card market by offering points for mortgage payments and home-related expenses — something no other card does at this scale. Unlike traditional premium cards that focus on travel and dining, the Mesa card rewards the everyday costs of owning and maintaining a home. From HOA fees and utilities to home improvement projects and decor, the card turns routine spending into valuable rewards.

“Mesa’s mission is to make homeownership more affordable and rewarding. The Mesa Homeowners Card is an important step in that journey,” said Kelley Halpin, CEO of Mesa. “Our card gives value back to the homeowner for every dollar they spend on their home — including their mortgage payments.”

Best of all, it is a no-annual-fee card, meaning you can earn these rewards without worrying about upfront costs. Whether you are a current homeowner or preparing for your first house, the Mesa Homeowners Card could be a powerful tool for saving money and earning perks on your homeownership journey.

Note: In order to earn points for mortgage payments, you will have to link the bank account associated with your mortgage payment in the Mesa App. The payment is not made on the Mesa Homeowners Card to earn points. 

Key Features And Benefits

The Mesa Homeowners Card offers a robust set of features aimed at helping homeowners save money while earning rewards. Here is a brief look at the proposed reward structure:

  • 1X Mesa Points on monthly Mortgage payments (up to 100,000 points per year).
  • 2X Mesa Points on everyday essentials, including Groceries, Gas, and EV Charging.
  • 3X Mesa Points on Home-Related purchases (i.e. home improvement, decor, maintenance, utilities, HOA fees, and property taxes)
  • 1X Mesa Points on All Other purchases.

Mesa Point Redemption Options

The goal is to make Mesa Points versatile, with proposed redemption options including:

  • Statement Credits
  • Gift Cards
  • Travel Bookings (Mesa Travel Portal)
  • Mortgage Payments
  • New Loan Closing Costs
  • Airline And Hotel Transfer Partners

Exclusive Benefits For Homeowners

Mesa Provides Exclusive Benefits For Homeowners

Credit. Mesa. Mesa Provides Exclusive Benefits For Homeowners.

Through strategic partnerships across key homeownership categories, the Mesa Homeowners Card will offer benefits worth over $800 in value, without an annual membership fee. Cardmembers will have access to:

  • Big-Box Retailer Memberships (i.e. Sam’s Club or Costco)
  • Home Maintenance Credits (Thumbtack)
  • Pet Care Credits (Wag!)
  • Select Home Improvement Credits
  • Visa Signature Benefits

“Premium credit cards have traditionally catered to urban travelers with benefits centered around travel and dining, like TSA PreCheck and lounge access. But there is a major gap for programs designed for the homeowner, whose spending habits and lifestyles have changed,” said Tina Moore, Head of Commercial at Mesa. “Homeowners are investing in their homes, managing weekly grocery shopping, and caring for their pets and kids, so we’ve reimagined premium benefits tailored to this lifestyle. By offering benefits such as big-box memberships and home improvement credits, we bring differentiated value to our members while helping our brand partners reach homeowners — some of the most valuable consumers.”

What Are The Drawbacks

While the Mesa Homeowners Card offers impressive perks, it is not without its limitations. Here are a few potential drawbacks to consider:

  • Uncertainty About Point Value: Mesa has yet to provide details about the value of its points or potential transfer partners. While redemption options like gift cards and mortgage payments are useful, the lack of clarity around point valuations makes it difficult to compare the Mesa rewards program to similar programs like BILT Rewards or established programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards.
  • Mortgage Payment Processing: Although the card allows you to earn points on mortgage payments, it remains unclear how these transactions are processed. Since many lenders do not accept direct credit card payments for mortgages, Mesa may need to act as an intermediary by cutting a check or initiating an ACH payment. This additional step could add complexity to what should be a seamless process.
  • Limited Appeal Beyond Homeowners: While the rewards of the card are perfectly tailored to homeowners, renters or those without significant home-related expenses may find the rewards structure less appealing. If your spending does not heavily focus on mortgage payments, utilities, or home improvement, a general travel or cash-back card might offer better value.

How To Get The Mesa Homeowners Card

Mesa Membership App

Credit. Mesa. Mesa Membership App.

The Mesa Homeowners Card is currently available through a waitlist process. To join:

  1. Download the Mesa Membership App from the App Store.
  2. Complete the signup process to secure your spot on the waitlist.

Mesa plans to notify applicants as it expands card availability, so signing up early may improve your chances of getting approved.

What Is The Mesa Mortgage Marketplace

Mesa Mortgage Marketplace

Credit. Mesa. Mesa Mortgage Marketplace.

In addition to the Mesa Homeowners Card, Mesa offers another innovative product designed to help homeowners save on one of their largest financial commitments: their mortgage. The Mesa Mortgage Marketplace is a platform where prospective homebuyers or current homeowners looking to refinance can compare loan offers from multiple lenders in one place.

While this concept is not entirely new (think the Zillow Mortgage Marketplace), Mesa ups the ante by rewarding borrowers with 1% back in Mesa Points on their loan amount. Here is how the Mesa Mortgage Marketplace Works:

  1. Compare Loan Offers: The Mesa Mortgage Marketplace connects users with mortgage lenders and brokers, allowing them to shop for competitive rates and terms.
  2. Earn Rewards On New Loans: When you close a loan through the platform, you earn 1 point for every $1 of the loan amount. For example, a $400,000 mortgage would net you 400,000 Mesa Points.
  3. Flexible Redemptions: These points can be reinvested into your home as statement credits, applied toward closing costs, or redeemed for other perks like travel or gift cards.

Why This Matters For Homeowners

For most homeowners, a mortgage is their single largest financial transaction. By offering rewards for simply closing a loan, Mesa adds an entirely new layer of value to this process. Mesa also aims to provide a smoother borrowing experience by partnering with vetted lenders. While Mesa itself is not a mortgage lender or broker, it earns revenue by facilitating these connections, ensuring its recommendations align with the needs of a homeowner.

The Mesa Mortgage Marketplace is an excellent complement to the Mesa Homeowners Card, creating a full-circle approach to making homeownership more rewarding.

Final Thoughts

The Mesa Homeowners Card offers a fresh take on rewards cards by targeting homeowners — a group that has long been overlooked in the credit card space. With the ability to earn points on mortgage payments, home improvements, and everyday essentials, it is a smart option for anyone looking to make their home-related expenses more rewarding. Its no-annual-fee structure and exclusive homeowner-focused benefits, like home maintenance credits and big-box store memberships, further enhance its appeal. While the card is not without its limitations — such as uncertainty around point valuations and the mechanics of mortgage payments — it still stands out as a compelling choice for homeowners who want to maximize their spending.

If you are ready to turn your biggest expenses into meaningful rewards, joining the waitlist for the Mesa Homeowners Card could be the first step toward making your homeownership journey more affordable… and rewarding.