In today’s market, more and more home buyers are getting assistance with their down payment in the form of gift funds from friends and family. According to a recent study, in 2023, 39% of home buyers who financed their home with a mortgage loan used gifted funds as at least one source for their down payment, up nine percentage points from 2018. While it’s great to have help, there are rules around financial gifts that you need to know in order to smoothly navigate the process.
What is a down payment gift?
Down payment money is considered a “gift” when people, usually friends or family, financially contribute money that will help the home buyer pay for a down payment on a home. there is generally no limit on how much a borrower is allowed to receive as a gift
Who is eligible to Gift you down payment money?
Depending on the loan type, gifts can come from the buyer’s relative, employer, or close friend with a “clearly defined and documented” interest in the borrower, or a charitable organization, governmental agency, or a public entity that has a program providing home ownership assistance for low and moderate-income families or first-time home buyers. However, donations for down payments cannot come from people who are directly affiliated with the home buying transaction which includes builders, developers, or real estate agents.
What are the rules for mortgage down payments?
For Fannie Mae backed loans, a minimum borrower contribution from the borrower’s own funds is not required. This means that 100% of the money that is needed to make up the down payment can come from a gift. On the other hand, with FHA loans, the borrower is required to provide a minimum personal cash investment of at least 3.5% for the down payment. regardless of the loan type, gift funds must be a “bona fide gift,” and not a loan that requires repayment.
While there is no limit to how much money you can accept as a gift for a home down payment, when you’re going through the mortgage loan application process, you’ll need to make sure that you have proper documentation of the gift money in the form of a letter, with specific requirements outlined by your lender, from the donor of the funds. this is required to show your letter that you don’t owe someone a large sum of money that you won’t be able to pay back on top of your monthly mortgage payment.
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Real Estate Matters in Charleston SC - Gena Glaze 