Short answer：The highest rebate does not necessarily produce the cheapest mortgage. Compare rates, charges, payment timing, clawbacks and the expected holding period together.
Put incentives on a timeline
Record when a rebate arrives, qualifying conditions and whether prepayment or refinancing triggers recovery. Money not received before completion should not be treated as available deposit funding.
Compare on equal terms
Hold balance, repayment method and term constant. Add interest and charges over the intended holding period, then deduct rebates that can actually be retained. Test earlier sale or refinancing instead of comparing headline percentages alone.
Before deciding
- Request a dated written offer
- Check clawback provisions
- Confirm additional service or account requirements
Sources and method
Sources support the specific rules described. Checklists and hypothetical calculations are editorial explanations, not measured market results or individual approvals.
Revision：Removed unsupported experience, case outcomes and statistics; corrected the topic-specific rules and limitations described above.
Scope：General information only, not personalised legal, tax, immigration, admissions or investment advice.