[UPDATE: Some offers mentioned below have expired and/or are no longer available on our site. You can view the current offers from our partners in our credit card marketplace. DISCLOSURE: Cards from our partners are mentioned below.]
Buying a home is one of life’s biggest financial events and someone with a new mortgage may primarily be focused on how they’ll afford their new mortgage payment. But it takes more than a mortgage to make a home, with additional expenses such as furniture, remodeling projects and other needs adding to the overall cost.
You may be wondering how you’ll afford all these costs on top of a mortgage payment. Credit cards with low intro APR offers and cash back rewards can help.
Here are six credit cards worth considering if you’re a new homeowner (or will be soon).
1. Citi Simplicity
Rewards: None
Signup Bonus: None
Annual Fee:
Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 5% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): , then
Why We Picked It: This card offers an extremely long intro 0% APR (12 months 0% APR for purchases and 21 months for balance transfers). (Full Disclosure: Citibank advertises on Credit.com, but that results in no preferential editorial treatment.)
For Your New Home: With 0% APR for 21 months on purchases and balance transfers, you’ll have nearly two years to make purchases or pay off a balance interest-free. That’s a long time to furnish your home or pay off a remodeling project.
Drawbacks: There are no rewards.
2. Blue Cash Preferred by American Express
Rewards: 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in yearly spending at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and 1% cash back on everything else
Welcome Offer: $250 statement credit when you spend $1,000 in the first three months
Annual Fee: $95
Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 3% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): , then
Why We Picked It: New homeowners have many ways to earn great cash back rates on purchases.
For Your New Home: The card earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and 1% cash back everywhere else. That means you can earn big cash back rewards as you stock your fridge and fill up your gas tank for all those shopping trips.
Drawbacks: There’s a $95 annual fee
3. Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Card
Rewards: 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Signup Bonus: $200 bonus cash back when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee:
Balance Transfer Fee: Introductory fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 12 months. After that, up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then
Why We Picked It: Wells Fargo borrowers can put their cash back directly toward their mortgage.
For Your New Home: You’ll earn a solid 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Plus, if your mortgage lender is Wells Fargo, you can redeem your cash back as a credit to your mortgage principal. You’ll also get 12 months of interest-free purchases and on qualifying balance transfers.
Drawbacks: Some competitors offer stronger cash back rates.
4. Chase Freedom Unlimited
Rewards: 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Signup Bonus: $150 bonus cash back when you spend $500 in the first three months, a $25 bonus when you add an authorized user and make a purchase within the first three months
Annual Fee: $0
Balance Transfer Fee: 3% of the transfer amount, minimum of $5.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 0% for 15 months, then
Why We Picked It: A solid cash back rate and a long intro 0% APR period make this card a contender.
For Your New Home: You’ll earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make. Plus, you’ll get 15 months of interest-free purchases and balance transfers.
Drawbacks: There are higher cash back rates out there.
5. Citi Double Cash
Rewards: Earn 2% cash back: 1% cash back on purchases and an additional 1% upon payment
Signup Bonus: None
Annual Fee: $0
Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 3% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 0% for 18 months, then 15.24% – 25.24% (variable) ongoing APR.
Why We Picked It: You’ll earn a great cash back rate on all purchases with a strong incentive to pay them off quickly.
For Your New Home: With 1% cash back on all purchases and an additional 1% upon payment, you’ll be motivated to pay off your home expenses. Plus, you’ll have 15 months of interest-free purchases and balance transfers.
Drawbacks: You won’t earn your full cash back until you pay your bills.
6. Home Depot Consumer Credit Card
Rewards: None
Signup Bonus: None
Annual Fee: None
Balance Transfer Fee: N/A
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 0% intro APR for qualifying purchase types, then variable 21.99% to 26.99%
Why We Picked It: This card can help fund your DIY remodel and repair projects.
For Your New Home: Home Depot purchases of $299 and up get six months with no interest. Home Depot also offers 0% financing promotions for up to 24 months on many different purchase types, including appliances, windows and roofing. Cardholders also get access to special discounts and a year of hassle-free returns.
Drawbacks: If you don’t shop at Home Depot, this card isn’t right for you.
Choosing a Card for Your New Home Expenses
There are two primary ways credit cards can help with home expenses: cash back and 0% intro APR offers. New homeowners should look closely at these policies when evaluating a credit card.
If your priority is cash back, you’ll want to choose a card that rewards the way you’ll be spending on your new home. For instance, if you’ll be entertaining a lot, you may want a credit card that offers special cash back rates on groceries. If you’ll be ordering a lot of gadgets and appliances online, you’ll want a card for online purchases. If you tend to spread your purchases around, you may want a card with a good, flat cash back rate on all purchase types.
Intro 0% APR periods are helpful because you can avoid interest for a predetermined amount of time. If you have a lot of upcoming purchases, you won’t have to worry about paying interest for a while. If your new home expenses have already contributed to a high credit card balance, you can get some relief by transferring that balance to a card with a 0% intro APR offer. When choosing a card, look for one that gives you enough time to pay off your balance transfer or make most of your initial home purchases interest-free.
What Credit is Required to Get a Card for New Home Expenses?
Cards with cash back and strong balance transfer offers usually require good to excellent credit. To increase your chances of approval, you should know your credit score before you apply. You can check two of your credit scores for free at Credit.com.
At publishing time, the Citi Simplicity, Blue Cash Preferred by American Express, Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa, Chase Freedom Unlimited and Citi Double Cash credit cards are offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply and ultimately sign up for this card. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment. This content is not provided by the card issuer(s). Any opinions expressed are those of Credit.com alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer(s).
Note: It’s important to remember that prices for products and services frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms cited in this article may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with the company directly.
Image: courtneyk