The down payment is the largest obstacle when buying a home. First-time homebuyers struggle the most, because they don’t have equity in a home to sell. All money they put down comes from their own liquid assets.
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What if you don’t have the liquid assets? Can you get a gift from a friend? Technically the rules state that only family, your employer, or a charitable organization may provide gift funds. There are exceptions to the rule, though.
Proving the Friendship
Accepting money from a friend is different from accepting money from a family member or employer. What if the friend demands repayment? You may end up in a financially difficult situation. Will you default on your mortgage as a result? These are the issues lenders have with friends supplying gift funds.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t accept gift funds from a friend. You will need to prove the friendship though. Family is easy to prove, whether a blood or marriage relationship. Friendship is a bit harder.
Lenders want to know how long you have known the friend and the depth of your friendship. Lenders want to know the friend is ‘close.’ Just how you prove this will vary by lender.
Proving the Gift Funds
No matter how you prove the friendship, you must prove the gift funds and their origination. You need a gift letter from the donor. Also, the donor must prove the origination of the funds. Just like you would have to do to use your own funds, lenders need to know there isn’t a loan lurking somewhere deep in the trenches here.
Let’s start with the gift letter. The donor must write a simple letter that states the amount of the gift, the reason/address of the property, and the date. The donor must also state that the funds are a gift and not a loan. They must state that no repayment is expected. This one sentence makes or breaks a gift letter.
Next, donors must provide proof of the funds. Are the funds in his/her bank account? The lender may source the funds with their income. If there are large deposits on the donor’s bank statements recently, the lender may ask about them. Basically, the lender needs to know if they are a loan from anywhere else.
If the donor sold a car, stocks, or any other asset, he or she must provide the bill of sale or any other proof of the sale. The lender needs solid proof that the funds aren’t a loan. Any funds the donor can’t prove may not be able to be gifted.
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What is the Maximum Amount you Can Gift?
Lenders typically allow 100% of the down payment to be a gift. Certain loan programs, like the FHA loan for borrowers with credit scores lower than 580 have different rules. The FHA requires the borrower to come up with at least 3.5% of the purchase price for the down payment. The remaining 6.5% may come from gift funds, though.
Aside from lender/loan restrictions, the IRS limits how much one person can gift you too. As of 2019, the IRS allows gifts of up to $15,000 without tax implications. If you receive any more than $15,000 from one person, you and the donor may have to report it at tax time.
Should a Friend Provide Gift Funds?
Before you accept gift funds, think about what it means. You shouldn’t be repaying the money, but how does the friend feel? Will the friend expect equity in the home? Will the friend expect to be on the title of the home? Working out these questions, no matter how difficult they may be to ask, is important.
You may even want to consult with your attorney before accepting gift funds. Make sure everything is on the up and up before you accept anything. Your lender isn’t the only person you have to face – you’ll face your friend for a much longer time in the future. Know his or her expectations before accepting the funds.
Gift funds are a great way to become a homeowner when you don’t have the money for a down payment. Many loan programs allow them, but exercise caution when accepting them. If they are from a friend, work out the fine details to avoid any issues in the future.