If anything, IMHO, the gift rules should be relaxed so that "borrowers" could get whatever help they needed to in order to have 10% or 20% down.  

Use Giftcardgranny.com to compare reseller gift card prices.

We find some of our best deals this way.When they give you a referral unit, make sure to 'thank them' with a $50-$100 gift card from a restaurant they like.

And sometimes little old ladies need to be pushed to tap the resources they have like the kids and grandkids who they have been gifting forever or getting a roommate. 

If my mortgage/taxes/insurance is 2000 a month, part of those things are complete write offs on my taxes, so whatever number that is gifted to me before the government can take it.

If they do it well thank them and send them a gift card at Christmas time or something.

HER realtor gifted her with $250 to clean her fireplace during escrow.

I am fortunate enough to have a relative give me a substancial lump sum as a gift.

I think a gift card to a local restaurant or a spa day (if female) is a nice gesture.It's really sweet of you to think to do this.

Originally posted by Taz:...and since the lender DOES CARE where your down payment comes from, they will want your partners on the note too.My broker has said that they can accept a gift letter from a partner, and just have my name on the note, and both our names on the property title.