The short answer here is “yes.” Whether it’s a stack of wedding cash or a housewarming gift from Grandpa Joe, you can use cash gifts as a down payment. But (there’s always a but), your lender will make sure any significant gifts are indeed gifts, not loans, so they’ll want to verify any large deposits. Your lender will need a “gift letter” from the donor that includes their name, address, phone number, and relationship; dollar amount of the gift and the date it was transferred; a statement that they don’t expect repayment; their signature; and the address of the property you’re buying.