Gift of Equity

What Is a Gift of Equity?

A gift of equity involves the sale of a residence to a family member, or someone with whom the seller has a close relationship, at a price below the current market value. The difference between the actual sales price and the market value of the home is the actual gift of equity. Most lenders allow the equity to be used toward a down payment.

How a Gift of Equity Works

Gift of equity derives its name from the fact that the sales price is so much lower than the real market price of the home. The transfer counts as a gift due to the difference in value, but no physical money changes hands. A common gift of equity occurs when parents wish to sell their home to a child for a favorable price.

Most lenders allow the gift to count as, or towards, a down payment on the home. The residence may be either a primary residence or a second home.

Gifts of equity help the buyer reduce or eliminate down payment requirements, making it easier for the recipient to secure a home mortgage.

Gift of Equity Pros and Cons

Families or interested parties can use a gift of equity instead of going through a real estate company that would charge a commission on the sale. The parents would name a price that they agreed on and “sell” the house to their children for that amount, even though the house could be worth more on the open market.

Gifts of equity do not avoid closing costs or other necessary expenses when transferring the title of the property. A gift of equity could also trigger a gift tax.

The gift will impact the property's cost basis causing capital gains to be higher when the recipient sells the home in the future. A gift of equity will also affect the local real estate market by recording a sale of a property at below market value.

A gift of equity can also help the new owner avoid the expense of private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Requirements for a Gift of Equity

A gift of equity requires a gift of equity letter, which is a letter stating the facts of the sale and is signed by both the seller and the buyer. Along with the letter, other considerations must be met:

At closing, a second letter will note the gift of equity.

Special Considerations

A gift of equity can have tax consequences for both the giver and the receiver of the gift. The home's value can impact the asset's cost basis for the new homeowner and have capital gains implications for the seller. Also, if not executed properly, a gift of equity could trigger a gift tax. The sellers must follow IRS guidelines for gifts. A couple can gift up to $30,000 and a person $15,000 to an individual per year without being subject to a gift tax.

Additionally, a considerable sale can affect the local real estate market. If a house sells for considerably less than others with comparable features, it may negatively impact other home sales in that price point or area. However, it may be possible for the transaction to be done privately or off-market to avoid that complication.

Example of a Gift of Equity

A lender can consider the gift of equity as all or part of the cash payment required to qualify for a mortgage. For example, say a bank requires 20% down (the standard amount needed in most conventional loans, to avoid mortgage insurance). The gift of equity the seller makes equals 10% of the home's value. The buyer now only needs to make a down payment of 10% of the property's price tag.

In the case of a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, a gift of equity is allowed from a family member to cover a minimum 3.5% down payment, as long as the home is their primary residence.