Every once in a while, a program comes along that sounds almost too good to be true.

Earn points on rent.
Earn points on your mortgage.
No fee.

That’s exactly why Bilt gets so much attention.

But like most things in personal finance, the headline is only part of the story.

This post walks through what Bilt actually is, how it works today, and — most importantly — who it makes sense for in real life.

No hype.
No pressure.
Just clarity.

---

What Is Bilt?

Bilt is a rewards program that allows you to earn transferable points on housing payments — including rent and personal mortgages — without charging a processing fee.

Instead of your landlord or mortgage company needing to accept credit cards, Bilt sends payments through ACH, similar to how your checking account works.

That’s the key difference.

Because of this structure, Bilt can be used for:

• Apartment rent
• Personal home mortgages
• College or off-campus housing for children
• Multiple housing payments under one account

It does not work for commercial or investment properties.

---

Why Housing Matters So Much

For most families, housing is the single largest monthly expense.

Often:

$2,000–$4,000 per month
$24,000–$48,000 per year

And traditionally, that entire amount earns nothing.

Bilt exists to change that.

But earning points on housing today requires understanding how the system works — because it’s not automatic.

---

The Big Change: How Bilt Works Now

With the current Bilt structure, you still can:

• Pay rent or mortgage with no fee

But earning points on that payment now depends on how you choose to earn rewards each month.

You select one earning structure at a time, and your choice applies to the following month.

There are two paths.

---

Option 1: The Tiered Points Structure

This option ties how many points you earn on housing to how much everyday spending you put on your Bilt card.

The idea is simple:

The more normal spending you route through Bilt, the more points you unlock on your housing payment.

Here’s how it works.

If your monthly housing payment is $3,000:

• Spend 25% of that amount ($750) on Bilt
→ Earn 0.5 points per dollar on housing

• Spend 50% ($1,500)
→ Earn 0.75 points per dollar

• Spend 75% ($2,250)
→ Earn 1 point per dollar

• Spend 100% or more ($3,000+)
→ Earn 1.25 points per dollar

If you do not reach the first tier, you still earn a small baseline amount — but the meaningful value comes from hitting a tier naturally.

This structure rewards consistency, not perfection.

---

Option 2: The Bilt Cash Structure

With this option, you earn Bilt Cash on everyday purchases instead of earning toward spending tiers.

That Bilt Cash can then be used in different ways — including converting it into points on your housing payment.

Here’s the conversion:

$30 in Bilt Cash allows you to earn points on $1,000 of housing.

So for a $3,000 mortgage, you’d need $90 in Bilt Cash to earn 3,000 points.

This is an important distinction.

You are not earning points for free — you are choosing to trade one type of reward for another.

That choice can make sense, but it should be intentional.

---

What Bilt Cash Can Also Be Used For

Bilt Cash doesn’t have to be converted into points.

It can also be used for:

• Travel within the Bilt ecosystem
• Fitness classes
• Experiences
• Status-related perks

Because of this, using Bilt Cash to earn points has an opportunity cost.

You’re choosing where your rewards go — not gaining extra rewards.

---

What About Paying a Fee?

There is also an option to pay a processing fee in order to earn points on housing.

For most families, this does not make financial sense.

A 3% fee on a $3,000 mortgage is $90 per month — often more than the value of the points earned.

This option is generally only useful in very specific situations and is not how most families use Bilt.

---

Where Bilt Actually Shines: Transfer Partners

Bilt points are most valuable when transferred to travel partners.

This is where the program stands out.

Some of Bilt’s strongest partners include:

• World of Hyatt
• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
• Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles

When used intentionally, these programs can stretch points significantly further than simple redemptions.

This is especially helpful for families who prefer hotel stays or who plan larger trips less frequently.

---

Transfer Bonuses: One of Bilt’s Biggest Strengths

One of the most unique features of Bilt is how often it offers transfer bonuses.

These are temporary promotions that increase the value of your points when transferring.

For example:

• 25% bonus
• 50% bonus
• Occasionally much higher

This means the same number of points can go significantly further — without earning more or spending more.

Patience is key here.

You don’t need to transfer points immediately.
You wait until the math is in your favor.

---

Bilt Status (And Why It Matters)

Bilt includes a status system that unlocks additional benefits over time.

Higher status levels can provide:

• Better transfer bonus opportunities
• Special monthly promotions
• Exclusive redemption options

This doesn’t require constant travel.

It rewards long-term participation — which works well for families who earn points slowly and redeem intentionally.

---

Who Bilt Is a Good Fit For

Bilt tends to work well for families who:

• Have large housing expenses
• Want points from bills they already pay
• Are comfortable learning transfer partners
• Travel occasionally but meaningfully
• Prefer flexibility over simplicity

It works especially well as a long-term foundational card.

---

When Bilt May Not Be the Right Fit

Bilt may not make sense if:

• Your budget is tight month to month
• You would need to pay fees to earn points
• You prefer very simple redemptions
• You don’t plan to use transfer partners

There is nothing wrong with that.

Not every program fits every season of life.

---

Final Thoughts

Bilt is not magic.

It’s not free money.
It’s not effortless.
And it’s not required to travel well.

But for families already paying large housing costs, it can be a useful tool — especially when paired with patience and realistic expectations.

The real question isn’t:

“Can I earn points on this?”

It’s:

“Does this help my family right now?”

And that answer is allowed to change.