Looking for a new card after starting mortgage

[NeoQuintessence]

My wife and I are almost done closing on a house, and as we have some additional categories I'd like to maximize, I'm trying to figure out when it would be best to try for a new card.  Obviously, the mortgage process put in at least 1 hard pull, and I do have 6 other hard pulls in the last 12 months, and a couple more in the year before that.  Overall new accounts are 3/6, 4/12, 5/24.  And does the mortgage (besides the pull) factor much into the lender's decision as long as it is paid on time and positively impacts the FICO scores?

With all that being said, I'm looking at the SoFi card as I can do that first year for 3% as we will have a lot of miscellaneous expenses, so having a general card like that will be nice (we have accounts with them if that helps.) 

I've also been looking into the Elan Max Cash card for some bills and/or the entertainment category.  I already have the US Bank Cash+ card.

Thanks for any insight.

[CYBERSAM]

Not knowing what cards you already have and what categories you are looking for is hard to make recommendations.

However general spends you may want to look for a decent gas card, groceries card and perhaps a wholesale club card to maximize your reward spending! Unless you plan to travel much or do some upgrades to the house, then look for cards for that categories!

[_ptatohed]

I agree.  Mortgage aside, what cards do you currently have and what missing benefits are you trying to fill with new card(s)?  Are you willing to use more than one card?  

[NeoQuintessence]

My current strategy I'm trying to make use of my wife for card slots as much as possible and double up on good ones.

Citi Custom Cash (currently using to pay $500 to trip each month)

Citi Custom Cash (wife) (Entertainment)

Citi Double Cash (General)

Citi Rewards+ (small purchases plus I have the 1 year promo for dining, but I will bump it back to Custom Cash after)

Citi Costco (sometimes use for gas or travel)

Chase Freedom Flex (rotating)

Discover (rotating)

Chase Freedom Unlimited (just for the SUB)

US Bank Cash+ (Utilities and TV)

Wife also has USB

And some store cards like Amazon and Best Buy

I'm trying to plan for when the dining promo runs out on Rewards+ and I'd like to maximize gas at 5% at least and have somewhere for entertainment to go. Eventually I'd like CSP when we have time to travel. 

[_ptatohed]

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@NeoQuintessence wrote:

My current strategy I'm trying to make use of my wife for card slots as much as possible and double up on good ones.

Citi Custom Cash (currently using to pay $500 to trip each month)

Citi Custom Cash (wife) (Entertainment)

Citi Double Cash (General)

Citi Rewards+ (small purchases plus I have the 1 year promo for dining, but I will bump it back to Custom Cash after)

Citi Costco (sometimes use for gas or travel)

Chase Freedom Flex (rotating)

Discover (rotating)

Chase Freedom Unlimited (just for the SUB)

US Bank Cash+ (Utilities and TV)

Wife also has USB

And some store cards like Amazon and Best Buy

I'm trying to plan for when the dining promo runs out on Rewards+ and I'd like to maximize gas at 5% at least and have somewhere for entertainment to go. Eventually I'd like CSP when we have time to travel. 

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That's a dang good arsenal right there.  Good for you.  You aren't lacking much.  You can look at the AAA Daily Advantage or Travel Advantage Cards for 5% grocery or gas and 3% in other cat's.  As for entertainment, I don't think the citi CC has that as a category, do they?  I'd change your wife's CC to Dining when your R+ 5x runs out.  You can Consider a SavorOne Rewards for 3% on entertainment and a good selection of other 3% cat's (+ $200 SUB).  Of course your rotators will get you 5% throughout the year depending on the quarter.  

[NeoQuintessence]

Thanks.

I actually had my eye on the AAA cards, one for each of us, but I forgot to mention we have the grocery promo through one of the Freedoms, so I wanted to wait until next year to get a grocery card.  Definitely could consider the gas one a bit earlier though like you mentioned. 

And to answer your question: yes, Custom Cash has a live entertainment category, but once the promos end for dining and groceries on the other cards, we will need to use Custom for those two. It's why I was considering Elan for that. I just don't know if my recent accounts or inquiries would be too much for them. And if so, would SoFi be not as picky especially since we have a banking relationship.

[Gollum]

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@NeoQuintessence wrote:

My wife and I are almost done closing on a house, and as we have some additional categories I'd like to maximize, I'm trying to figure out when it would be best to try for a new card.  Obviously, the mortgage process put in at least 1 hard pull, and I do have 6 other hard pulls in the last 12 months, and a couple more in the year before that.  Overall new accounts are 3/6, 4/12, 5/24.  And does the mortgage (besides the pull) factor much into the lender's decision as long as it is paid on time and positively impacts the FICO scores?

With all that being said, I'm looking at the SoFi card as I can do that first year for 3% as we will have a lot of miscellaneous expenses, so having a general card like that will be nice (we have accounts with them if that helps.) 

I've also been looking into the Elan Max Cash card for some bills and/or the entertainment category.  I already have the US Bank Cash+ card.

Thanks for any insight.

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I suggest waiting to apply for new credit until after the mortgage loan closes.

[NeoQuintessence]

Yeah, I definitely plan on waiting a bit. I think it should close later this week; just waiting on some paperwork on their end, and then I'll see which one I feel best about. 

[MoneyBurns]

Alliant Visa Signature maybe? 

You just have to have a checking and the only thing needed is $1k daily balance monthly and a deposit (ACH outside, deposit mobile, atm deposits all count).

You get 2.5% on all spending up to 10k per billing cycle. 

[NeoQuintessence]

That's definitely something to consider, especially if I do SoFi and then the 3% runs out.