Questions buyers actually ask
Short answers. The linked sources on the gift-letter pages are the documents we read. This page is not a substitute for your loan officer.
What does a mortgage gift letter have to say?
For a conventional loan sold to Fannie Mae, Selling Guide B3-4.3-04 says the donor’s letter must state the actual or maximum amount, say that no repayment is expected, and give the donor’s name, address, phone number, and relationship to the borrower. FHA’s Handbook 4000.1, in the August 13, 2025 issuance, also requires the borrower’s signature and date. Your lender can ask for its own form on top of that.
Can I call it a gift if I will pay the money back?
No. If the money has to be repaid, it is a loan. This site will not draft a gift letter for that. Tell your loan officer the real terms. A false statement to a lender can be a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. §1014.
Do you keep a copy of the letter?
No. The draft is returned to your browser and kept in this tab’s session storage so you can preview it. The server does not store the letter text. Clearing the tab clears the draft.
Will you take my Social Security number or full account number?
No. The form rejects Social Security numbers and long account numbers. An optional last 4 of the donor account is the only account detail the gift letter form accepts.
What is a letter of explanation?
It is a short factual note an underwriter asks for when a deposit, a credit inquiry, a gap in work, or another item on the file needs a source, a date, or a reason. It is not a gift letter. A gift that has already landed in your account often needs both.
Can the letter leave out where a deposit came from?
No. The draft uses only the facts you type, and it will refuse a request to hide or relabel the source. If you do not know a fact, leave it for your loan officer instead of guessing.
Are you affiliated with Fannie Mae, FHA, VA, or a lender?
No. Mortgage Gift Letter is not Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, FHA, VA, Nationwide, RBC, or any lender or broker. Notes on this site are summaries of public pages, with the source linked. They are not an official form.
Is this financial, legal, or mortgage advice?
No. We format a letter from facts you supply. We are not your loan officer, lawyer, or broker. Your lender’s requirements and forms take priority. Ask which format they accept before you rely on a draft.
What do I get before I pay?
A watermarked preview with the second half hidden, plus the blank templates on each page. Copy and download of the finished letter, as PDF and Word, unlock after purchase. Single letter is $4.99. Unlimited letters for one loan, for 30 days in this browser, is $9.99. If checkout is not connected, the button says coming soon.
Do UK and Canadian lenders use the same letter?
No. Requirements vary by lender. The UK page summarizes Nationwide’s published gifted-deposit page. The Canada page summarizes what RBC has published on its own site. Neither is a national form.