

In fact, the seller is not allowed to give a cash down payment gift. It requires them to agree on a below-market purchase price in order to “gift” their equity to the buyer for a down payment.Ī cash down payment gift, on the other hand, does not involve the seller. What’s the difference? A gift of equity involves the home seller. This article is about a gift of equity rather than a cash down payment gift. Keep in mind that if you use a mortgage to cover the rest of the purchase price, you’ll have to follow your lender’s rules regarding gifts of equity.

And, by lowering the loan amount, it could remove private mortgage insurance (PMI) or lower the buyer’s monthly mortgage payments. It can help buyers who aren’t able to save for a down payment on their own. This creates a $100,000 gift of equity - equivalent to making a $100,000 (25%) down payment on the home.Ī gift of equity has many benefits. The home is worth $400,000, but your parents agree to sell it to you for $300,000. This leaves an equity cushion in the home, which acts as the buyer’s down payment.įor example, say you’re buying a home from your parents. When a seller gives a gift of equity, they agree to sell their home for less than it’s worth.

Here’s what you need to know to make this arrangement work. Gifts of equity typically happen when the seller has a personal connection to the buyer and wants to help them out for instance, when a parent sells a house to their child. The difference between the property value and the sale price is the “gift.” This helps cover the buyer’s down payment. Decem8 min read What is a gift of equity?Ī gift of equity occurs when the home seller agrees on a price significantly lower than the home’s appraised value.
