Breaking News • January 16, 2026 • 2:00 PM ET
Bilt Adds Fee-Free Housing Option: Ankur Jain Responds to Community Feedback
Two days after launching Bilt Card 2.0, CEO Ankur Jain announces a simpler alternative for earning housing rewards. The new "Option 1" offers tiered multipliers up to 1.25X based on your spend-to-rent ratio—no Bilt Cash math required.
The Announcement
In an email to Bilt members, CEO Ankur Jain acknowledged feedback about the Bilt Cash mechanism and introduced a simpler alternative.
"I've also seen real and reasonable confusion about the new value proposition—especially around rent and mortgage points. That's on me, and we're fixing it."
The response: Option 1, a straightforward alternative where housing rewards scale with your spend-to-rent ratio—no Bilt Cash calculations required, and now up to 1.25X on housing payments.
Option 1: Simple Tiered
- •25% spend-to-rent: Earn 0.5X on housing
- •50% spend-to-rent: Earn 0.75X on housing
- •75% spend-to-rent: Earn 1.0X on housing
- •100%+ spend-to-rent: Earn 1.25X on housing
- •Below 25%: Minimum 250 points/month
- •No Bilt Cash: Housing points earned directly, no conversion
- •Track progress: See your tier progress clearly in the app each month
How Option 1 (Simple Tiered) Works
Example: If your rent is $2,000/month and you spend $2,000/month on the card (100% ratio), you earn 1.25X on housing = 2,500 points/month = 30,000 points/year on housing alone. At 2.2cpp, that's $660/year in value from housing rewards.
The key difference from Option 2: No Bilt Cash involvement. You don't earn Bilt Cash, you don't convert it—you simply hit a spending threshold and your housing multiplier is set. This is the "set it and forget it" approach many users requested.
Quick Calculator: Your Option 1 Housing Multiplier
See what housing multiplier you'd qualify for under Option 1. For a full comparison including Option 2 and split strategies, use our detailed calculator.
Option 1 vs Option 2: Which Should You Choose?
Option 1: Simple Tiered
- ✓Earn up to 1.25X on housing (25% more than Option 2)
- ✓Simple, predictable multipliers
- ✓No Bilt Cash math or conversions
- ✓Guaranteed 250 pts/mo minimum
Best for: Users who want simplicity and can hit ≥75% spend-to-rent ratio for full housing rewards.
Option 2: Bilt Cash
- ✓Earn 4% Bilt Cash on all purchases (in addition to base points)
- ✓Use Bilt Cash to increase housing points, or redeem for transfers, credits, experiences
- ✓"Choose your own reward" flexibility
- ⚠Max 1X on housing (vs 1.25X in Option 1)
Best for: Users who value Bilt Cash flexibility or want the "choose your own reward" mechanic.
Key Insight: The Math Matters
At first glance, Option 1's 1.25X seems strictly better than Option 2's 1X max. But the reality depends on your spending profile. Option 2 earns Bilt Cash on every purchase, which can be valuable if you have excess beyond housing needs.
Interesting finding: In some scenarios, a split strategy using Option 1 at just 25% ratio (0.5X housing) combined with a high-earning baseline card can outperform using Bilt exclusively with either option.
Run the numbers with our full calculatorKey Clarifications from Bilt
"You will never pay fees to earn points on rent or mortgage payments through the Bilt Card—no matter which value-added rewards option you select."
"We've removed the previous 100,000-point cap on housing payments." You can now earn unlimited points on housing with Option 1's 1.25X multiplier.
"You can change your selected Bilt value-added rewards option at any time. Changes take effect the following month."
"While everyday spend will not earn Bilt Cash [in Option 1], you will still get your annual or welcome Bilt Cash credits with the card."
Source: Bilt Newsroom FAQ
Why This Matters
- ✅Higher potential earnings: Option 1's 1.25X is 25% more than Option 2's 1X max on housing
- ✅Predictability: Know exactly what you'll earn based on your spending ratio
- ✅No conversion friction: Points earned directly without Bilt Cash intermediate step
- ✅Unlimited housing points: The 100K annual cap from Card 1.0 has been removed
- ✅Customer responsiveness: Bilt listened to feedback and acted within 48 hours
Things to Consider
- ⚠️Threshold requirements: Need 100% spend-to-rent ratio to hit the 1.25X multiplier
- ⚠️No Bilt Cash on spend: Option 1 doesn't earn Bilt Cash on everyday purchases (but you keep annual/welcome credits)
- ⚠️Below 25%: Only 250 pts/month—consider Option 2 if you're a light spender
- ⚠️BiltProtect required: Housing payments auto-pay within 24 hours (no credit line usage)
Recommendation by User Type
High Spenders
If you can hit 100%+ spend-to-rent ratio consistently, Option 1's 1.25X housing multiplier is strictly better than Option 2's 1X max. Simple math, more points.
Moderate Spenders
At 50-75% spend-to-rent ratio, the answer depends on how you value Bilt Cash flexibility. Option 1 may earn fewer housing points but Option 2's excess Bilt Cash might not be worth much.
Light Spenders
If you spend less than 25% of rent on the card, you might be better off using Bilt minimally for housing and a higher-earning card for everyday spend. Our calculator tests this.
Bottom Line
Ankur Jain's response shows Bilt is listening. Option 1 addresses the #1 complaint about Bilt 2.0—complexity—with a straightforward alternative that rewards card usage with predictable housing multipliers.
The best option depends entirely on your spending profile. High spenders benefit from Option 1's 1.25X potential. Those who value flexibility may prefer Option 2's Bilt Cash mechanics. And some users might find a split strategy—using Bilt for minimum housing requirements and another card for everyday spend—works best.
Don't guess. Use our calculator to see the exact numbers for your situation.
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Track Your Bilt Strategy
Whether you choose Option 1 or Option 2, IronChurn helps you track velocity rules, MSR deadlines, and optimize your card strategy.