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.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. 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 gift letter is a piece of legal, written correspondence explicitly stating that money received isn't expected to be repaid. However, when using gifts for a down payment, you should be aware of some mortgage gift rules for you and the donor. Buyers should check with their lender to understand specific requirements and restrictions. Demystify gift letters in NYC real estate.