In the world of real estate, the tools you can have by your side are endless. Credit cards fall into this category very easily. Because of the power that credit cards can bring real estate agents, we wanted to make sure that our internal experts combed through the long list available to you to find the very best options you can start using in your toolbox.
In this guide, we pick out the best personal and business credit cards for real estate agents that meet the following criteria:
- Low annual fees
- Competitive interest rates
- Rewards for business expenses
- Good credit limit
- Cash flow flexibility
Best Credit Cards for Real Estate Agents
- American Express Blue Business Plus
- Chase Freedom Flex
- Citi Double Cash
- Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature Flagship Rewards
- Home Depot Consumer Credit Card
- Citi Custom Cash Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards
- MyLowe’s Rewards
- Chase Ink Business Preferred
Best Credit Cards for Real Estate Agents Compared
| Best Business Credit Card for Real Estate Agents | American Express Blue Business Plus | APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months, then variable rate (18.49% to 26.49%) | Annual Fee: $0 | Rewards: 2x rewards on eligible business purchases | Intro Offer: 15,000 membership reward points | 5/5 |
| Best Cash Back Credit Card | Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card | APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months, then variable rate (20.49%–29.24%) | Annual Fee: $0 | Rewards: 5% cash back in quarterly bonus categories | Intro Offer: $200 bonus if you spend $500 in the first 3 months | 4.7/5 |
| Best for Flat-Rate Rewards and Balance Transfers | Citi Double Cash Credit Card | APR: 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then variable rate (19.24% to 29.24%) | Annual Fee: $0 | Rewards: 2% cash back on purchases | Intro Offer: $200 cash back if you spend $1,500 in the first 6 months | 4.5/5 |
| Best Credit Card for Current and Former Service Members | Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature Flagship Rewards | APR: 15.24% – 18.00% | Annual Fee: $49 | Rewards: 3X points on travel, 2X points on everything else | Intro Offer: 35,000 bonus points if you spend $3,500 within the first 90 days | 4.4/5 |
| Best For Beginner House Flippers | Home Depot Consumer Credit Card | APR: 29.99% | Annual Fee: $0 | Features: 6 months financing on purchases $299 or more | Intro Offer: n/a | 3.8/5 |
| Best Cash Back Credit Card for Fair Credit | Citi Custom Cash Credit Card | APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months, then variable rate (19.24% – 29.24%) | Annual Fee: $0 | Rewards: 5% cash back on your top eligible categories, 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases | Intro Offer: $200 cash back if you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months | 4.5/5 |
| Best Credit Card for Travel | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | APR: 19.99% – 29.99% | Annual Fee: $95 | Rewards: Unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, 5 miles per dollar on hotel and rental car bookings on Capital One Travel | Intro Offer: 75,000 bonus miles if you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months | 5/5 |
| Best for Experienced House Flippers | MyLowe’s Rewards | APR: 28.99% | Annual Fee: $0 | Features: 6 months financing on purchases $299 or more | Intro Offer: Free standard shipping for Silver Key members | 4.5/5 |
| Best Business Credit Card for Real Estate Agents | Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card | APR: 21.24%-26.24% | Annual Fee: $95 | Rewards: 3 Chase Ultimate Reward points for every $1 spent on the first $150,000 (qualifying categories), 1 point for every $1 spent on everything else | Intro Offer: 100,000 bonus points if you spend $8,000 within the first 3 months | 5/5 |
1.American Express Blue Business Plus
After considering dozens of options, the American Express Blue Business Plus credit card is our top overall pick for real estate professionals. It offers 0% introductory APR for the first 12 months, after which, you get a variable APR rate (18.49% – 26.49%.). Plus, you earn 15,000 American Express Membership Rewards points if you spend at least $3,000 on eligible purchases for the first three months.
The main reason why this card came out on top is how easy it is to earn points. You get twice the points on everyday eligible business purchases up to $50,000 per year. After you hit that max, you still get to earn points (without the multiplier).
One more benefit is the American Express card’s Expanded Buying Power feature, which every successful real estate agent needs for maximum cash flow flexibility. With this card, you can spend beyond your credit limit based on your payment history, credit record, and other financial factors.
Furthermore, you can connect your business credit card to Quickbooks for easy financial management and track your expenses with the American Express app. You’ll also get purchase protection notifications if the app notices irregular spending or due dates coming up.
The American Express Blue Business credit card is also one of the best credit cards with EIN only.
Pros:
- No annual fees
- 0% intro APR for the first year
- 2x rewards on every eligible purchase
- Expanded buying power
- Financial management tools
Cons:
- No cash advance
- 2x reward points capped at $50,000 per year
2.Chase Freedom Flex
It’s no secret that real estate agents spend a significant amount of money on things that others might not consider business expenses, such as gas and food. However, since agents travel around a lot to meet clients and do showings, those auxiliary expenses are still considered business costs.
The Chase Freedom Flex credit card offers 5% cash back in quarterly bonus categories, such as gas stations, grocery stores (except Target and Walmart), and certain online merchants up to $1,500 in total purchases every quarter.
You can also gain:
- 5% on travel expenses made through Chase Travel
- 3% on dining and takeout
- 3% on drugstore purchases
- 1% on all other purchases
These cash back rewards do not expire, meaning you can spend them at any time or if you want, save them for big rewards later on.
Plus, there’s no annual fee and you get 0% APR for the first 15 months. If you’re just starting out in the real estate industry, this credit card may be easier to qualify for compared to business credit cards. Additionally, you can use it as both a personal and business credit card as long as you can keep track of business expenses.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for the first 15 months
- Up to 5% cash back
- No expiry for cash back rewards
- $200 bonus if you spend $500 in the first three months
Cons:
- You need a higher-tier Chase card to qualify for Chase Travel points
- Some cash back limits in certain categories
3.Citi Double Cash
If tracking rotating cash back categories is too much of a hassle, go for the Citi Double Cash Credit Card. This card lets you earn 1% unlimited cash back on any purchase plus 1% additional cash back when you pay–no limits or categories involved.
You earn cash back in the form of ThankYou points where 1 point = $1. If you get this card today, you can earn up to 5% cash back on travel expenses (hotels, car rentals, attractions, etc.) up to the end of 2024.
You can redeem these points through direct deposit in any checking or savings account or via check with a minimum redemption of $5. Alternatively, you can redeem your points as a statement credit to get a lower balance on your next bill.
There’s also a welcome gift of $200 if you spend at least $1,500 on purchases within the first 6 months of opening your account. Plus, the intro APR for balance transfers is 0% for the first 18 months. However, you must make balance transfers within 4 months of opening your credit account.
Overall, we recommend this credit card for real estate professionals who need to make balance transfers from other cards and want to take advantage of the 0% APR. However, do note that the intro APR does not apply to purchases.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- No categories or caps on cash back
- $200 cash back if you spend $1,500 on purchases
- Multiple ways to redeem cash back points
- Up to 5% cash back for travel expenses until 12/31/2024
Cons:
- No intro APR for purchases
- 3% foreign transaction fee
4.Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature Flagship Rewards
Real estate is one of the most popular careers for former service members transitioning to civilian life. It can also be a lucrative side business for members still on active duty.
Whether you’re a former or active service member, having a credit union credit card can be an invaluable tool for your real estate business. Fortunately, the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature credit card makes this easy.
With this card, you can earn 3x points on travel and 2x points on everything else. These rewards are relatively easy to earn in day-to-day real estate operations, such as traveling to meet clients and hosting open houses.
You’ll also get 35,000 bonus points, which equates to a $350 value if you spend $3,500 within the first 90 days. Another perk is you can receive a statement credit of up to $100 for Priority Pass or TSA Pre-Check. Moreover, this card has no balance transfer fees, foreign transaction fees, or cash advance fees, unlike most credit cards.
However, you do have to be a member of the credit union and have very good to excellent credit to qualify.
Pros:
- 3x rewards on travel and 2x rewards on everything else
- No fees for balance transfers, foreign transactions, or cash advances
- No expiry for rewards
- Travel insurance
- Flexible redemption options
Cons:
- Annual fee
- High credit requirements
- Must be a member or customer
- No intro APR
5.Home Depot Consumer Credit Card
House flipping can be a profitable business alongside being a real estate agent. However, it requires a lot of time, effort, elbow grease, and, of course, capital. Luckily, you can get a credit account in one of the biggest home improvement retailers in the country.
The Home Depot Consumer Credit Card lets you finance purchases over $299 for up to six months, which should help improve your cash flow as you flesh out your house-flipping project. If you have unused materials, you have up to a year to make returns, which is four times longer compared to when you’re a regular customer.
You’ll also have purchase protection for unauthorized purchases: there’s zero liability for unauthorized charges, which will come in handy if you have other people on your team handling your card. At the same time, you can add authorized users through the Citi app (this card is a tie-in with Citibank) to ensure that only trusted people can use your card at Home Depot.
Your credit limit will depend on your current creditworthiness, similar to other credit cards. You can check if you pre-qualify on the Home Depot website, and this won’t affect your credit score whatsoever. If you would like a credit increase, you can easily do so by contacting customer service.
Pros:
- 6 months deferred payments on big purchases
- No annual fee
- Zero liability on any unauthorized purchase
- 1 year to make returns
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- Relatively high variable APR
- No cash back rewards
6.Citi Custom Cash Card
Want a good cash back reward but only have a “fair” credit score? Don’t worry–you may qualify for the Citi Custom Cash Card.
This credit card lets you earn up to 5% cash back on your top eligible spending categories. These include restaurants, gas stations, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment, as well as select travel, transit, and streaming services. You don’t have to sign up for these bonus categories–they automatically change depending on what you spend the most on.
Additionally, you can receive 1% cash back on every other purchase.
All that said, this card is an excellent option for real estate agents looking for a daily spending card and want to maximize their reward points. Plus, you only need a credit score of at least 630 to qualify, a huge benefit if you’re still recovering from a recent loan or hard pull on your credit report.
Other perks include a 0% APR for the first 15 months and a relatively low variable APR afterward. There’s also a 20,000-point bonus when you sign up, which you can redeem for a $200 cash back.
Plus, like the Citi Double Cash credit card, you can redeem your rewards as ThankYou points.
Pros
- No annual fee
- 0% APR for the first 15 months
- $200 sign-up bonus
- No rotating bonus categories
Cons
- Relatively low rate outside bonus categories
- Only one Citi Custom Cash card per person
7.Capital One Venture Rewards
If your real estate business requires you to travel frequently, why not maximize your travel purchases with a high-reward credit card? Our top pick for this category is the Capital One Venture Rewards card, which lets you earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars you book through Capital One Travel–all unlimited.
Apart from these high-yield rewards, you’ll also get a generous bonus of 75,000 miles if you spend at least $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months. Pro tip: Sign up for this top NerdWallet credit card just before a major purchase.
You can redeem your miles through Capital One Travel at 1 cent per mile or through a statement credit. You also have the option of transferring your miles to over 15 of Capital One’s partner airlines and hotels.
Pros:
- High rewards rate
- Flexible redemption options
- Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck
- Travel accident insurance and rental car coverage
- No foreign transaction fees
- 75,000 bonus miles if you meet the minimum spend
Cons:
- $95 annual fee
- Requires good to excellent credit score
8.MyLowe’s Rewards
Every real estate agent-slash-house flipper needs a reliable credit card from a home improvement retailer. If the Home Depot card is not for you, consider MyLowe’s Rewards instead.
Like the Home Depot credit card, you can defer payments on $299+ purchases for up to 6 months. Apart from that, you’ll also get to save 5% on eligible purchases or orders if you use your Lowe’s credit card at the counter or online. However, take note that this discount cannot be combined with other promos.
Plus, credit card holders can earn 1.25x points because they automatically qualify for the Silver Key status. You can redeem these rewards as cash for a rate of 1000 points = $5 MyLowe’s Money. Silver Key members also receive free standard shipping on select transactions and free member gifts.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- 1.25x points that can be converted to MyLowe’s Money
- Free standard shipping and member gifts
Cons:
- No intro APR
- Points expire after 12 months of no new points earned
- Limited ways to redeem points
9.Chase Ink Business Preferred
Using a high-limit, high-reward business credit card like Chase Ink Business Preferred is the best way to buy real estate with business credit. It’s also the best business credit card for any real estate agent or real estate broker that needs to make both daily and big purchases on a line of credit.
With this card, you can earn 3 Chase Ultimate Reward points for every $1 spent on the first $150,000 you spend on eligible business and travel categories for each account anniversary year. Plus, you’ll get 1 point for every $1 spent on any other eligible purchase.
In addition to these high reward rates, the welcome offer for new cardholders is a 100,000-point bonus if you spend $8,000 in the first 3 months. Other perks include purchase protection, extended warranty, and travel cancellation insurance.
Pros:
- High rewards rate
- Generous welcome offer
- Unlimited cash back on all purchases outside of travel and business card categories
- Flexible redemption options on preferred rewards
- Free employee cards
Cons:
- $95 annual fee
- No intro APR
How Credit Suite Can Help You Build Business Credit
The career of a real estate agent is much like running a small business. You have overhead expenses to pay, such as listing agent fees and advertising costs, and certain business expenses you make while dealing with clients. That said, having business credit can make a world of difference.
The Credit Suite Business Credit Builder can help you build your business credit through a well-researched, field-tested process. With this program, you can gain access to various types of credit, such as vendor credit, vehicle financing, retail credit, and more–all of which can help you run a better business and make a higher real estate commission.
If you’re a house flipper or real estate investor, Credit Suite can also help you select the best mortgage lenders, such as Rocket Mortgage and New American Funding, or personal loans for real estate expenses.
FAQs
Should a real estate agent have a business credit card?
It’s not a must-have, but having a business credit card can help you build your business’ credit over time, which will come with unique perks like higher credit limits and better flexibility compared to personal credit cards.
Plus, business credit cards often come with higher cash back rewards compared to a personal card or debit card, which can help you save on regular purchases like travel and food.
Moreover, the golden rule of thumb in business is to keep your business and personal finance accounts. Even if you buy gas or food with your business credit card, you can easily keep track of how much you spend on business costs as long as you keep these expenses separate from your personal card. In the long run, you will need business credit to pay for realtor-related expenses, such as realtor fees and continuing education from the National Association of Realtors.
What is the best credit card for credit building?
We recommend the Chase Freedom Flex credit card to start building good personal credit. It offers great cash back rates and flexible reward redemption options without much complexity. Plus, the 0% intro APR will be extremely helpful if you’re just starting out as a real estate agent or if you’re a first-time credit card holder.
On the other hand, the American Express Blue Business Credit Card is our top pick among business credit cards for real estate agents. This card offers the best flexibility and APR rates that will make it easier for you to build your business credit score. We recommend using this American Express card in conjunction with the Credit Suite Business Credit Builder program to maximize every purchase.
What should I consider when choosing a credit card?
First, choose a card with a relatively low variable APR–better if it has a 0% intro APR for at least 12 months. If you want to take advantage of cash back rewards, select a business credit card that offers the best cash back program based on the categories you spend the most on (e.g., travel, business, etc.)
Lastly, take note of the fees, such as the annual fees, cash advance fees, and balance transfer fees. Ideally, these fees should be super low–if not zero. If you’re not sure which credit card to pick, talk to your financial advisor.
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