Bilt 2.0: Why We Chose the Bilt Obsidian Card ($95) and How to Earn Points on Your Mortgage or Rent Points Really Work

Bilt 2.0 changed the game for homeowners. For the first time, you can earn transferable points on your mortgage payment — without paying fees, without hacks, and without juggling multiple high‑annual‑fee cards.

We chose the Bilt Obsidian Card ($95/year) because we’re trying to manage the number of premium cards we carry, but still want a reliable way to earn points on our mortgage. Here’s exactly how it works — and how much you need to spend each month to unlock those mortgage points.

How Bilt Cash Works (Explained Simply)

This is the part most people find confusing, so here’s the simplest way to understand it:

Every dollar you spend earns 4% back in Bilt Cash. Every $1 in Bilt Cash unlocks 100 Bilt Points toward your mortgage.

This creates a clean ratio:

For every $75 you spend, you unlock points on $100 of rent or mortgage.

That’s the core of Bilt 2.0.

How Much You Need to Spend to Earn Points on Your Rent or Mortgage

If your rent or mortgage is $1,000 per month

You need $10 in Bilt Cash to unlock 1,000 Bilt Points.

Using the new ratio:

$1,000 mortgage → $750 monthly spend

If your rent or mortgage is $3,000 per month

You need $30 in Bilt Cash to unlock 3,000 Bilt Points.

Using the same ratio:

$3,000 mortgage → $2,250 monthly spend

Why We Chose the Bilt Obsidian ($95)

We wanted a low annual fee card that still unlocks mortgage earning. Obsidian gives:

3X dining OR grocery (You have to pick one)
2X travel
1X everywhere else
4% Bilt Cash on all spend
$100 annual hotel credit
Full travel protections
No‑fee rent payments
Rent or Mortgage earning unlocked through monthly spend

Please use our referral link https://www.bilt.com/card?invite=4U3H6A6Y

Travel Partners: Why Bilt Points Are Worth It

One of the biggest reasons Obsidian makes sense is the strength of Bilt’s transfer partners. If you’re earning points on your rent or mortgage, you want those points to be valuable — and Bilt delivers.

Hyatt remains one of the best hotel transfer partners in the industry, with consistently high redemption value and outsized award nights. Atmos/Alaska is another standout, offering excellent value on international business and first‑class flights, especially on partners like Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas.

These partners make Bilt points competitive with Chase, Amex, and Citi, and in many cases, even better for premium travel redemptions.

Bottom Line

Bilt 2.0 is more structured than the original card, but the Obsidian makes rent or mortgage earning simple:

$1,000 mortgage → $750 monthly spend
$3,000 mortgage → $2,250 monthly spend
Bilt Cash = 4% of spend, converted into mortgage points
Strong transfer partners like Hyatt and Atmos/Alaska make the points genuinely valuable
Obsidian keeps fees low while still unlocking mortgage rewards