10/09/2026
Your parents are gifting you $100,000 for your down payment?
That is incredible. Now please don’t accidentally make it a problem.
Save this 👇
1️⃣ Tell your lender before anything moves.
Don’t transfer the money first. Your lender guides the timing, the account, and the documentation.
2️⃣ You’ll need a gift letter.
Use your lender’s form. It usually includes:
Donor’s name, address, and phone
Your relationship
Gift amount and transfer date
A statement that it’s a true gift and doesn’t need to be paid back
3️⃣ The paper trail matters.
You may need the donor’s bank statement, proof the funds left their account, and proof they landed in yours or escrow.
Cash 👉 no
Mystery deposits 👉 also no
“It’s from my dad” 👉 underwriting still needs proof
4️⃣ Move the money exactly how your lender says.
Your account or straight to escrow. Timing matters. Don’t guess.
5️⃣ Check your loan program rules.
Some allow the entire down payment to be gifted. Others require some of your own money.
6️⃣ Don’t forget reserves.
You may still need money left after closing.
7️⃣ Protect the wire.
Scammers target closing funds with fake title company emails. Confirm wiring instructions by phone, using a number you already know.
8️⃣ Tax note: ask a CPA.
You usually don’t pay tax on a gift you receive. In 2026, each parent can give $19,000 per person before filing a gift tax return. Above that, most families still owe $0 thanks to the lifetime exemption.
If it has to be paid back, it’s not a gift. It’s a loan, and your lender needs to know.
Mistakes that slow everything down:
Moving money before talking to your lender
Using cash
Sending money through random apps
No clean paper trail
Waiting until right before closing
Share this with someone whose family is helping them buy a home 🏡
Questions? DM us.
General info, not tax, legal, or lending advice.
