Buying a home is an exciting time. It can represent a major step in your funds and a new chapter in your life. Although the home buying process is not easy, you must be prepared to offer proof of funds along with several other documents.
But what does proof of funds mean? Today we will take a closer look at the process of providing proof of funds and what it means.
What is proof of funds?
You may have heard the term “proof of financing for a mortgage” and wondered what it was.
You might know that you have the funds available, but a seller cannot just take your word for it that you can afford a purchase. Unfortunately, a seller must confirm that you have the funds available.
A mortgage preapproval letter may be helpful, but vendors will generally also want proof of funds. The goal here is to ensure the buyer has the means to pay the down payment and any associated closing costs.
If you do not have enough cash readily available for a home purchase, it is not a major inconvenience to show proof of funds. Unlike applying for loans, you simply need to present the proof that you can afford the upfront costs of your property purchase.
Proof of your grant must be provided up front to make most property purchases possible.
Why do sellers ask for proof of funds?
The real estate buying process is long and involves a huge volume of documentation. When a property buyer accepts an offer from a seller, this is only the beginning of the process. Afterward, it may take several weeks of documentation before the sale is finalized.
The long application process requires us that the vendor devote a lot of time and effort after agreeing to your offer for home ownership. That’s why they want to make sure that you are financially prepared before starting the procurement process.
Otherwise, they could miss out on another sale to a wealthy buyer who is ready to pay the asking price. In that event, delays in escrow could harm the sale of the house.
Fortunately, obtaining your proof of payment is not a difficult task.
What type of funds are acceptable?
When buying a home, there are two options for financing. You can either pay the entire cost in cash up front or secure a mortgage from a lender by making a down payment.
The gift cards that can be used for every type of purchase are different. Let’s take a look below.
Cash buyer
A cash buyer is a buyer who pays with cash they have in hand rather than taking out a mortgage to purchase real estate. The buyer is not looking for an extended loan to purchase the real estate. They intend to make the entire payment with the funds they have available.
To be a cash buyer, you must have access to the money available in a ready manner. Thus, the funds should be accessible in an easily accessible account, such as your checking or savings account.
If a cash shortage is noted (no liquid assets), then you are not considered a cash buyer.
Examples of second-hand property sellers include those who are selling off mutual funds, borrowing funds from a loved one, liquidating funds in an investment account, or waiting for probate court to distribute their inheritance.
Although these examples demonstrate that the funds have reached the customer, the funds are not available at the time of the sale. For that reason, it is important to supply your funding source to the seller in the form of a proof of funds letter.
Down payment with financing buyer
If you don’t have the cash to buy a vehicle outright, that doesn’t mean you do not have to pay for your purchase. You will still have to lay out a down payment and other costs that can easily add up to thousands of dollars.
It is just as important for the supplier to provide proof of payment as it is for you to provide proof of funding.
The funds you intend to use for the down payment, closing costs, and repairs should be available. Bank accounts with sufficient cash on hand are what the lender wants.
If you have physical cash available, it may be difficult to show exactly how much you have saved in a coffee can. Suppliers are searching for itemized checking or savings account statements.
How you should obtain a proof of funds letter
To get a proof of funds letter, contact a bank representative for assistance. They can help you draft these letters, so you do not have to do your own.
Example of proof of funds letter
A proof of funds letter (POF letter) will include bank statements full of important data, including recent transactions, deposits, and more.
The shipper requires valid documentation and information, so having a “proof of funds for mortgage” letter speeds up the procedure for everyone involved.
When writing a proof of funds letter, it should include these things:
If you also want to apply for a mortgage, then you will find that the financial assistance, or financial fact-checking, is similar. In some instances, the seller will arrange for the loan officer to review your credit history with the lender and the real estate agent of the buyer.
However, it is not unlikely that the salesperson will ask for their own copy of a proof of funds letter. You should be able to confirm your funds a second time for the dealer if you have already talked with a loan officer.
Proof of funds letter template
Here is a great example of a funds letter.
To the seller and seller’s agent:
We can confirm that you have These funds can be confirmed to be of non-criminal origin. If you require further proof of the funds listed, please contact us at the contact information above.
The best, your signature.
Please call the listed numbers or email the listed addresses.
As you can see, these sentences are a great way to simplify the message. Depending on your level of access at a particular bank, you may need to add some information to be complete enough to qualify for the funds.
You won’t find any wasted words in this very clear black and white text. The goal is to determine if you have enough funds.
Use these tips to get a proof of funds letter!
When buying a house, the process can be a joyous one. But you will likely have to complete a surprising amount of paperwork.
Although you could go about the paperwork by remaining an all-cash buyer for the full home, you will have to show evidence of funds.
As you are making your way through the home-buying process, make sure you utilize our resources. We will be happy to help you navigate the difficulties you will encounter along the way. And since you are reading, see our additional articles about building and alternative options to using a retirement account to purchase a home!
