The letter must explain who is gifting the money, where the donor's funds are coming from and the relationship between the donor and the recipient. A gift letter for a mortgage is a legal, written statement your lender may require if you're gifted cash to buy a home.A short letter like this sample gift letter will cover all of the requirements your lender needs. What is a gift letter? A gift letter is a document that certifies the funds you're receiving for your down payment are a gift, not a loan. A gift letter for a mortgage shows your lender that you don't need to repay gift money toward your down payment. A mortgage gift letter is a simple but essential document that assures lenders the funds you received are a gift, with no repayment expected. Use these stepbystep instructions for accepting a cash downpayment gift on a home, including a readytouse mortgage gift letter template. Here's a sample gift letter you can use to prove that the money is truly meant as an outright gift, with no expectation of repayment. Understand what a gift letter is, why you need it for a mortgage, and how to write one effectively to get your home purchase approved.