Sample Gift Letter

Your bank needs a written letter to prove that the money gifted is in fact a gift, not a loan.

If a relative or friend will giving you gift money to help make a down payment on or purchase a house, your bank and lender will require some type of written documentation that the money is in fact a gift, not a loan.

Here's a sample gift letter you can use for this purpose. Before finalizing the letter, check with your lender to make sure that it includes all required information, such as evidence of the donor’s ability to provide these gift funds.

Sample Gift Letter

Date:

To: [name and address of bank or lender]

I/We [name of gift-giver(s)] intend to make a GIFT of $ [dollar amount of gift] to [name(s) of recipient(s)] , my/our [relationship, such as daughter] , to be applied toward the purchase of property located at: [address of the house you’re buying, if known] .

There is no repayment expected or implied in this gift, either in the form of cash or by future services, and no lien will be filed by me/us against the property.

The SOURCE of this GIFT is: [the account the gift is coming from] .

Signature of Donor(s):

Print or Type Name of Donor(s):

Address of Donor(s): Street, City, State, Zip:

Telephone Number of Donor(s):

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