What happened
Frequent Miler reports that Bilt will lock new cardholders into Housing-Only Rewards from January 1, 2027, ending 4% Bilt Cash on all spend for anyone who becomes a cardholder on or after that date. Anyone who is already a cardholder or who opens a card before then can opt out and keep the 4% rate.
Housing-Only Rewards means skipping 4% Bilt Cash in order to earn points on housing payments at no extra cost. After opting out, a cardholder can still switch into Housing-Only Rewards later. Staying in Housing-Only Rewards cannot be reversed. Bilt Cash now expires one year after it is earned rather than on a calendar-year cutoff.
Frequent Miler notes it is unclear how long Bilt will keep 4% Bilt Cash for grandfathered accounts, or whether the option survives a product change or upgrade. Authorized user treatment is unspecified. The author intends to stay on 4% on the Palladium card and is weighing family applications before the cutoff.
Anyone who wants 4% Bilt Cash needs a Bilt card before 2027 and must opt out of Housing-Only Rewards while that choice is still available.
- Starts
- Jan 1, 2027
- Numbers
- 4%: Bilt Cash rate on all spend that new cardholders lose in 2027
- $50K: spend required for Bilt Platinum status
- 2.5 points per dollar: author's earnings toward Platinum via Point Accelerators and Rent Day
- $300: author's hotel savings using Bilt coupons and Bilt Cash
- 3X multiplier: Obsidian grocery earning rate
- $25K: annual grocery spend cap for Obsidian 3X
- Who qualifies
- Anyone who is a Bilt cardholder before January 1, 2027 can opt out of Housing-Only Rewards and keep 4% Bilt Cash; new cardholders from that date cannot.
- Takeaway
- If you have or can get a Bilt card before 2027, opt out of Housing-Only Rewards while you still can if you want 4% Bilt Cash, then switch back only if housing points look better.