Earning points on mortgage payments has always felt like the holy grail for points & miles lovers and rewards enthusiasts. With mortgages being the single biggest expense for most households, turning those payments into travel points sounds almost too good to be true. Thanks to the new Mesa Homeowners Card, that dream is now a reality for homeowners looking to make their biggest bill a source of free travel and perks.

Let’s walk through how the Mesa Homeowners Card works, where it fits in your credit card lineup, its perks and drawbacks, and who can get the most value out of this unique product. If you’re looking for the right rewards/travel credit card for you, check out our list of current best offers.

Table of Contents

• What Makes the Mesa Homeowners Card Different?
• How the Mesa Homeowners Card Works
• How to Redeem Mesa Points
• Who Benefits Most from the Mesa Homeowners Card?
• Drawbacks and What to Watch Out For
• How to Get Started with Mesa
• Final Verdict: Is Mesa Worth It?

What Makes the Mesa Homeowners Card Different?

The Mesa Homeowners Card is the first of its kind that allows you to earn points on mortgage payments without using convoluted workarounds. While many have searched for ways to turn rent or mortgage into rewards, Mesa streamlines the process—no more chasing down third-party services or gift card loops. It’s a true credit card (not a debit or bill-pay app), has no annual fee, and is built specifically with the modern homeowner in mind.

Being able to earn points on your mortgage isn’t the only trick up Mesa’s sleeve. It offers bonus categories that fit a homeowner’s everyday expenses, practical statement credits, and access to a growing set of transfer partners for travel redemption.

How the Mesa Homeowners Card Works

• $0 Annual Fee & $0 Foreign Transaction Fees: There are no recurring costs to worry about.
• Application Process: You’ll apply just like you would for any other credit card and it will show up on your credit report.
• Eligibility for Points on Mortgage Payments: There’s a $1,000 minimum monthly spend required on the card to make your mortgage payment eligible for points. The card securely links to your existing mortgage via Plaid, so you don’t need to change your payment process. Once set up, you earn points on the full monthly payment (including escrow).
• Primary Residence Only: Points are limited to your main home, one per cardholder.
• No Signup Bonus (for now): Mesa occasionally runs promos, but as of writing there is no large signup bonus. However, using a referral link gets both you and the referrer 5,000 bonus Mesa points.

Earning Categories: Where the Points Add Up

Here’s the full breakdown of the Mesa Homeowners Card earning structure:

So let’s put this in perspective: If you pay $3,000 a month for your mortgage (including escrow), that’s 3,000 points every month just for that bill. Cover your daycare, electric bill, or even some home improvement purchases with the card—and you’ll earn 3x points on top of the baseline.

Statement Credits & Built-In Perks

Mesa packs in a set of homeowner-friendly credits, making it easier to justify putting at least $1,000 on the card every month. Here’s what’s included annually:

• $120 Lowe’s Credit ($30 per quarter): Use on anything in-store or online for your home projects.
• $200 Thumbtack Credit ($25 per job): Find cleaners, handymen, or maintenance help.
• $120 Wag Credit ($10 per month): Pet sitting and dog walking.
• $120 Farmer’s Dog Credit ($10 per month): Subscription pet food.
• $100 Armadillo Home Warranty Credit (one-time): Use on a new or renewed policy.
• $100 Cozy Earth Gift Card (one-time): Premium bedding/linens and pajamas.
• $65 Big Box Membership Credit (one-time): Applies to warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam’s.

If you actually use these, you’ll routinely get well over $500 in value—even without factoring in the value of the points themselves.

How to Redeem Mesa Points

Let’s look at your options for turning points into value, plus all current transfer partners.

Redemption Options

• Statement Credits: Redeem for about 0.5 cents per point. Use only if you have no other option—it’s subpar compared to travel uses.
• Travel Portal: Redeem for about 1 cent per point. Book flights, hotels, or car rentals similar to how you can with Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Travel.
• Gift Cards: Mesa will offer a selection of retailer gift cards at various point values.
• Transfer Partners: The most exciting option to get the most value out of your points

Current Transfer Partners

The clear standout is Finnair, because its Avios currency can be moved to several major airline partners, opening up more redemption options than you might expect from the initial list.

Who Benefits Most from the Mesa Homeowners Card?

This card isn’t for everyone. Here’s who stands to gain the most:

• Homeowners with High Mortgage Payments: The higher your monthly bill, the bigger your reward payout.
• Parents with Daycare Bills: Since daycare charges score 3x and kids are expensive you’ll likely hit the $1,000 required spend for mortgage points easily.
• People Paying Big on Utilities or Home Repairs: Again, the 3x category fast-tracks the monthly spend hurdle.
• Pet Owners: Regular credits for Wag and Farmer’s Dog mean you’re getting $240 a year if you use both.
• DIYers and Home Improvers: The Lowe’s and Thumbtack credits add significant annual value.

If you already have premium grocery or gas cards like Amex Gold or Citi Strata, it might not be your “everything” card. But if you’re paying daycare out of pocket or you regularly use Thumbtack, it’s possible to make Mesa your primary for home-based expenses, then collect easy mortgage payment points.

Drawbacks and What to Watch Out For

• No Purchase Protections: At launch, Mesa doesn’t offer much in the way of purchase security, trip insurance, or extended warranty benefits.
• Limited Transfer Partners: Unlike Chase or Amex, Mesa’s list is still growing. You’ll want to review the latest options before relying solely on these points for dream trips.
• No Signup Bonus (Currently): Most top travel cards offer a hefty first-year bonus. Mesa’s initial 50,000 point offer ended; right now the only bonus is via referral links.
• Main Home Only: Investors with multiple properties can only register a single mortgage for points at this time.
• Not Ideal for Big Category Spenders: Those optimizing dollars in grocery stores, restaurants, or travel probably won’t move all their spend here.

How to Get Started with Mesa

Final Verdict: Is Mesa Worth It?

The Mesa Homeowners Card changes the game for anyone who’s wanted to earn points on mortgage payments. While transfer partners are still growing, just being able to earn travel rewards for your biggest bill sets Mesa apart. Layer on solid statement credits for home and pet expenses, 3X on categories that most families actually use, and no annual fee—you’ve got a compelling offer for the right homeowner.

If you have children in daycare, pay high utility bills, or splurge often on home improvement, the Mesa card is hard to ignore. And even if you just want to collect points on your mortgage every month, this is the only card that lets you do it with zero friction.

Don’t expect it to fully replace your Chase or Amex, but for dedicated homeowners, it’s one of the most innovative ways to boost your rewards totals year after year. As more transfer partners come online and the program matures, its value will only increase.

Want to get started? Head over to mesamember.com. As always, make sure this fits into your broader points and miles strategy. And for more in depth strategies for using credit card rewards for travel check out our weekly Points & Miles Podcast as well as sign up for our newsletter!

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