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Should You Pay Your Mortgage With a Credit Card?

6 min read

Published September 9, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

You may be able to pay your mortgage with a credit card by using a third-party service or borrowing against your credit limit.
Using a credit card to pay your mortgage can help you maximize your rewards in some situations.
Making a mortgage payment with credit may leave you with higher debts, especially if you carry a credit card balance.

Whether you’re a little short on cash or hoping to earn rewards, you might want to use your credit card to cover an occasional mortgage payment. Paying your mortgage with a credit card is possible in some cases, but usually requires some extra steps. Plus, using one debt to pay another comes with some significant risks. Before you begin the process, you may want to consider whether the benefits outweigh the risks.

Can you pay your mortgage with a credit card?

Technically, you may be able to pay your mortgage with a credit card, but it takes some extra effort.

Each mortgage lender has specific rules and restrictions, but most won’t accept a direct credit card payment. That’s because using a form of unsecured debt—your credit card—to cover a form of secured debt—your mortgage loan—can lead to a precarious financial situation.

However, there are some workarounds that make paying a mortgage with a credit card possible, including third-party services that may charge a fee.

Should you use your credit card to make a mortgage payment?

Using your credit card to make mortgage payments is often risky, but it may make sense in some situations. Before using a card to pay your mortgage loan, compare the pros and cons.

Benefits of using a credit card for a mortgage payment

Paying your mortgage bill with a credit card might make sense for you if the following advantages outweigh the risks:

Avoid a late payment. Using your credit card to cover a mortgage payment might make sense if you don’t have the cash to pay the bill by the due date. For example, maybe you get paid on the 15th but your mortgage payment is due on the 10th. You could use your card to pay the mortgage bill on the 10th, then pay off your credit card bill on the 15th to avoid interest charges.
Earn credit card rewards. Depending on the payment method you use, paying your mortgage bill with a rewards credit card can help you earn cash back. Your mortgage may be one of your priciest monthly expenses, so it could earn significant rewards.
Take advantage of welcome promotions. Some credit card issuers may offer a welcome bonus—extra rewards—only for cardmembers who reach a certain spending threshold within a set timeframe after account opening. Because mortgage payments tend to be relatively big expenses, they could help you reach that spending minimum.

Did you know?

Discover^® automatically matches the rewards you’ve earned on your credit card at the end of your first year.¹ So, new cardmembers may enjoy a boost in their cash back or miles.

Learn More

Drawbacks of using your credit card for a mortgage payment

While a credit card can help you pay your mortgage in a pinch, it’s important to understand the potential risks and drawbacks.

Pay processing fees. Third-party services that allow you to pay your mortgage with a credit card often charge high processing fees. Fees may increase the overall amount you pay on your mortgage and offset any rewards you earn from the transaction. It’s a good idea to ensure your rewards rate is higher than the fee.
Owe more interest. Because a mortgage is a secured debt, mortgage loans typically have interest rates in the single digits. But a credit card is an unsecured debt, which is riskier for lenders. Credit card interest rates are often much higher. Unless you repay your credit card balance right away, you may end up owing significantly more interest if you pay with a card.
Increase your credit utilization ratio. Because mortgage payments tend to be expensive, they may take up a significant portion of your card’s credit limit, increasing your overall credit utilization. A high credit utilization ratio can seriously damage your credit score.
Risk accumulating more debt. Paying for one debt with another may leave you at risk of accruing challenging debt. Unless you immediately repay your credit card bill, mounting interest on both your mortgage and your credit card may get out of control quickly, potentially leading to missed payments, late fees, and a lower credit score.

How to pay your mortgage with a credit card

Depending on your credit card issuer and mortgage servicer, you may be able to pay your mortgage with a credit card by using a third-party service.

While the process may vary across providers, you typically pay the third-party a processing fee equal to a percentage of your mortgage payment every time you use the service. Then, after collecting your credit card payment, the service pays the mortgage lender on your behalf. For this process to work, your credit card company, mortgage company, and the payment service all have to be in alignment.

Other ways to use your credit card to pay your mortgage

If you don’t want to rely on a third party, you may be able to pay your mortgage with your credit card by borrowing cash against your credit limit.

A cash advance allows you to borrow cash against your credit limit at an ATM or bank, or via direct transfer online. You may be able to request a transfer of funds from your credit card account into a linked bank account so you can make online payments on your mortgage. But you might run into some limitations.

Typically, a cash advance is capped at a percentage of your total credit limit, which may not be enough to cover your mortgage bill. And cash advances can be pricey. Most credit card companies charge a cash advance fee and a high cash advance interest rate.

Alternatively, your credit card issuer may provide paper balance transfer checks. The checks transfer funds from your available credit, much like a cash advance. You may use a balance transfer check for your mortgage, but you’ll generally have to pay a high fee and interest rate.

Borrowing against your available credit may help you pay your mortgage in an emergency, but it’s often an expensive option and may not always earn rewards. Unless you manage the transaction responsibly, you may end up with more debt.

The bottom line

Using a credit card to pay for your mortgage may help you earn credit card rewards, but only if the reward rate outweighs the fees and you can avoid high interest by repaying your credit card balance in full by the due date. Otherwise, paying for your mortgage with your credit card may help if you’re in a tight spot, but it’s likely not the best recurring payment option. If you’re having trouble managing your mortgage, you may want to speak with your mortgage lender about renegotiating terms so you can get back on track.

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