To complete a gift of equity, the home's seller must get an official appraisal. A gift of equity is the sale of a residence to a family member or someone with whom the seller has a close relationship.A gift of equity occurs when the home seller agrees on a price significantly lower than the home's appraised value. A gift of equity is a real estate purchase and sale transaction, usually between relatives. In this article we'll go over everything you need to know about how to buy a home from family with a gift of equity and zero down payment. A gift of equity, which represents a portion of the seller's equity in the property, is transferred to the buyer as a credit in the home purchase transaction.