Gifted equity requirements The letter should be signed by the buyer and the seller. Funds must also be properly documented through financial records. So, be prepared to provide copies of your recent bank statements, your donor's recent bank statements, and copies of cashier's checks.
Gift of Equity The gift represents a portion of the seller's equity in the property, and is transferred to the buyer as a credit in the transaction.
Gifts of equity, like other gifts, aren't taxable to the recipient. The seller might have to file a gift return. They're allowed to give $15,000 per person each year without having to file a gift return. So, if the gift of equity they gave you is less than $30,000, they don't have to file the return.
If your parents sell you their home for $100,000 and it's worth $300,000, their gift of equity equals $200,000, the difference between what they're selling the home for and how much it is actually worth. A gift of equity is valuable.
If the property is a principal residence, it might be exempt from capital gains tax. Keep in mind that there is no gift tax in Canada. However, other tax implications like capital gains tax still stand. Also, inheritance as a form of transfer might have implications for estate taxes.
In all situations, the gift/inheritance is deemed to be a sale for fair market value. If the property has always met the criteria for primary residence, there's zero tax.
Yes, if you have a mortgage on the property your lender will need to consent to any other parties becoming legal owners. They will require the incoming party to become a party to the mortgage as well.
The seller must obtain an official home appraisal to ascertain fair market value and also sign a gift letter that describes the buyer-seller relationship and states that the equity is a gift the buyer is not obligated to repay. The buyer must follow the typical process for buying a home.