Gift Letter | How to use a gift to buy a home

In this article, I'll show you the best way to prove that your gift is from an acceptable donor so that everything goes smoothly with your home purchase.

You can download the gift letter for a mortgage template and use it when buying a home.

What is a gift when buying a home?

A gift for home purchasing is a financial contribution from a family member, close friend, or an organization offering down payment assistance. You can use gift funds to cover a portion or all of the down payment and closing costs of buying a home. 

A gift is a great way to help cover the costs of homeownership, especially if you're struggling to save enough money for a down payment. 

However, lenders have strict rules for gifts. Avoid problems with the mortgage approval process. Provide clear, complete, and accurate documents, including a gift letter, bank statements, and wire transfer confirmations.

Who can give you a gift to buy a house?

The following donors can give you money to help with the down payment and closing costs: 

1. A relative, such as a spouse, child/dependent, or an individual related by blood, marriage, adoption, or legal guardianship
2. Someone with a close personal relationship, like an unmarried partner or anyone co-signing your mortgage
3. An unrelated friend, defined as a former relative, a relative of a domestic partner, or a godparent
4. An organization offering down payment assistance, such as a charitable organization, government agency, or your employer or labor union

Questions about gift funds? Schedule a few minutes to talk to a mortgage expert. Ask questions, get straight answers, and find out how to start on your home loan. 

When are gifts to homebuyers unacceptable?

Gifts are unacceptable in the following situations.

A gift cannot be a loan. 

For funds to be considered a gift, there must be no expected or implied repayment to the donor. If the gift giver expects the homebuyer to repay the funds in the future, it's a loan, not a true gift, and may not be acceptable for mortgage purposes.

The donor may not have a financial interest in the property. 

If the donor is the property seller, the real estate agent, or has any other financial interest in the transaction, the lender may deem the gift funds unacceptable. Lenders consider gifts from these sources as inducements to purchase that may inflate the property's sale price.

• Can the seller pay the homebuyer's closing costs?

You can't use gift funds to buy an investment property. 

Using a gift for an investment property can be more complicated because the purpose of an investment property differs from that of a primary residence. When you buy an investment property, you typically seek to generate income rather than provide housing for yourself or your family. The donor would have a financial interest in the investment property, raising questions about the true nature of the gift.

You must document the source of the gift funds. 

Gifts are only acceptable if you can adequately verify the source. Cash gifts are typically unacceptable. Lenders require transparency to ensure the funds are legitimate. 

How to document a gift when buying a home

To document gift funds for a mortgage, the lender will require a gift letter and proof that the donor transferred the gift funds to you.

Gift letter

A mortgage gift letter summarizes the donor's gift to the home buyer. It includes the following information:

• The donor's name, relationship to the homebuyer, and contact information.
• The gift amount.
• A statement confirming that the gift is not a loan.

Download the following gift letter template. Then, complete, e-sign, and send it to the lender. 

Transferring gift funds

In addition to the signed gift letter, the lender requires proof that the donor transferred the money to your account. Provide clear and complete copies of the following documents to verify the transfer:

• The donor's bank statement showing the transfer of gift funds from the donor's account to your account
• The donor's cashier's check or wire transfer
• Your bank statement or bank transaction history showing that you received the gift funds 

How to use a gift to buy a home, step-by-step guide

Using a gift to buy a home involves several steps to ensure the process goes smoothly. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Before you start house shopping, get pre-approved for the mortgage to know how much you can afford to spend on a home. Use a local mortgage lender to verify your financial information so you feel confident about buying a home.
2. Next, talk to a mortgage expert to determine if the gift is eligible and what documents the lender needs to approve it. Mortgage lenders require documentation proving the gift is truly a gift, not a loan you need to repay. The documents typically include a gift letter from the donor and proof that the donor transferred the gift funds to you.
3. When you're under contract, provide the documents to the lender. Your donor will send the gift letter to the lender, with a bank statement and a transfer confirmation. After that, send the lender a copy of your bank statement proving you received the gift.

Can the donor transfer gift funds at closing?

The donor can transfer gift funds at closing when you buy the house by wiring the money directly to the closing agent. This is often the easiest way to document the transfer of gift funds from the donor to the buyer.

Follow these steps when transferring gift funds at closing: 

1. Provide the lender with a copy of the gift letter and the donor's bank statement verifying the source.
2. Wire the gift funds to the title company, or settlement agent handling your closing.
3. The settlement agent applies the gift funds to your purchase and provides the lender with the necessary documents.

Transferring gift funds directly to the closing agent is simple and requires fewer documents. Feel free to schedule some time with us so you can ask your questions. Rely on our staff of certified mortgage underwriters to guide you along the path to homeownership, making sure everything goes smoothly.

Can the donor borrow money and give it to the buyer?

Donors may borrow gift funds.

However, the person giving you the gift must prove that the money didn't come from the seller or someone with a financial interest in selling the house to you. Donors should have documents showing where they got the money. You can use the gift funds if the donor proves it's from an acceptable source, and you're not responsible for repaying the debt. 

Buying a home starts with a mortgage pre-approval. You can get yours today to take advantage of every opportunity to buy the perfect home. 

Can you use a gift to pay off debts to qualify for the mortgage? 

You can use gift funds to pay off debts to qualify for a mortgage when the gift is from an acceptable source, like a family member. Paying off higher-interest-rate credit card debt is sometimes the best way to use gift funds. 

How to document wedding gifts and graduation gifts

You can use wedding, graduation, and similar gifts from unrelated persons towards the down payment on a house. First, deposit the gift funds to your bank account within 90 days of the marriage license or graduation date. Then, provide the lender with the following documents:

• Your marriage license or certificate
• A letter explaining the source of the deposits into your bank account
• Your diploma, transcripts with your graduation date

• Marriage or Mortgage: Navigating Home Ownership and Wedding Planning

See the actual rate and monthly payment upfront on our website. Then, feel confident about buying a home because you know what to expect. 

Do mortgage lenders accept gifts from a different country?

Mortgage lenders typically accept gifts from a different country. However, you'll need to take additional steps to document the gift funds.  

The gift can't be a loan; it must be from an acceptable donor, and you must provide the lender with the standard documents, such as a gift letter and proof that the donor transferred the money to you. 

In addition, follow these steps when documenting a gift from a different country: 

• Transfer the fund to a U.S. financial institution.
• Convert the currency to U.S. dollars. Exchange rates fluctuate, affecting the funds available for the down payment or closing costs.
• Convert all foreign-origin documents to English, such as wire transfer confirmations and documents confirming the relationship between the donor and the homebuyer.

Clear and transparent documentation of the gift transaction is crucial to demonstrate to the lender that the funds are legitimate gifts, not loans.

Rules for mortgage gift funds

The rules for gift funds may vary based on the specific loan program and the lender's requirements. Check with your lender for more information. Meanwhile, on the following websites, you can find gift fund requirements for conventional, FHA, and VA loans. 

• Conventional loans Fannie Mae
• Conventinal Freddie Mac
• FHA loan
• VA loan

You can feel confident about making an offer to buy a home. Getting a verified mortgage pre-approval letter signed by one of our underwriters enhances your negotiating power, especially when competing with other buyers.

Feel free to ask a question or leave a comment below.