Core Insights - A small group of credit cards that offered rewards on mortgage payments began to disappear in late 2025, indicating challenges in making mortgage rewards profitable [1][2]. Group 1: Company Actions - Mesa discontinued its Mesa Homeowners Visa Signature Preferred Card in December, while Rocket Mortgage phased out its Rocket Visa Signature Card earlier [2]. - These actions reflect the difficulties faced by companies in sustaining profitable mortgage reward programs [2]. Group 2: Card Features and Appeal - Mesa's card allowed homeowners to earn points on verified mortgage payments after meeting a spending threshold, along with over $800 in annual credits for brands like Costco and Lowe's, all with no annual fee [3]. - Rocket's card provided rewards that were most beneficial when applied toward down payments or closing costs with Rocket Mortgage [4]. Group 3: Industry Challenges - The profitability issue stems from transaction fees associated with processing mortgage payments via credit cards, which range from 1.5% to 3.5% across the industry [4]. - Some offers were deemed "too generous" to sustain long-term, impacting both card issuers and homeowners [5]. Group 4: Market Context - The median U.S. mortgage payment for households that moved in 2024 is approximately $2,225, which is often higher than combined spending on groceries, utilities, and insurance [6]. - Annually, this results in nearly $27,000 in mortgage payments without any rewards attached [6].