When someone offers to help you make a down payment on a house, your lender will require a gift letter for a mortgage. Here's what it includes.If you go through a bank they will provide the gift letter form to you to get completed. If someone provides a handwritten letter it is filed away. A down payment can be hard to come by. One option is to be gifted the money, but this has certain requirements, such as a gift letter. Demystify gift letters in NYC real estate. Understand how to document a gift from family or friends for a smoother property transaction. Are you borrowing money from your parents for your home purchase down payment? A gift letter for a mortgage shows your lender that you don't need to repay gift money toward your down payment.