If you’re lucky enough to get down-payment help under the tree this year (or generous enough to give it), be sure you know the rules around gift funds. It’s not as simple as handing over a wad of cash with a note that says “Happy Holidays! Here’s a little something for your new house.”
Down payment gift funds must meet certain requirements or the gift giver and recipient face trouble down the down. From writing a gift letter to rules around repaying gift money, here are basic facts homebuyers and donors should know.
WHO CAN GIFT A HOUSE DOWN PAYMENT?
It might seem odd that there are restrictions around who can give someone cash for a down payment. After all, cash is cash, right? Not necessarily. Cash can come with strings attached, which might affect the borrower’s ability to repay the mortgage.
Lenders want to protect themselves against default by making sure the gift money is what it appears to be (e.g. a gift, not a loan) and the borrower can afford the mortgage. If the borrower gets a down-payment loan from a co-worker and calls it a “gift,” their debt-to-income ratio rises, which can affect their ability to repay their mortgage. So, to protect themselves, the GSEs that back mortgages and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have created rules for donor eligibility.