You can redeem Amex Rewards points for Home Depot GCs in addition to restaurants, Barnes&Noble, etc.
There are a number of promotional ways to accrue points faster like purchasing Linens&Things gift cards gets you 5x points.
Chase Freedom sounds pretty good (as NetPanther suggested):
* Receive $50 after you make your first purchase
* Earn 3% Cash Back in your top 3 everyday spending categories
* Earn 1% Cash Back for every $1 you spend on all other purchases
* Receive an extra $50 each time you save and redeem $200 in rewards
I don't know if Home Depot/Lowes would be considered "everyday spending" though. I like the last bullet point though.
