Answer

Borrowers who have saved cash at home and are able to demonstrate adequately the ability to do so are permitted to have this money included as an acceptable source of funds to close the mortgage. To include such funds in assessing the homebuyer's cash assets for closing, the money must be verified-whether deposited in a financial institution or held by the escrow/title company-and the borrower must provide satisfactory evidence of the ability to accumulate such savings. The asset verification process requires the borrower to explain in writing how such funds were accumulated and the amount of time taken to do so. The lender must determine the reasonableness of the accumulation of the funds based on the borrower's income stream, the time period during which the funds were saved, the borrower's spending habits, documented expenses and the borrower's history of using financial institutions. (All other factors being equal, individuals with checking and/or savings accounts are less likely to save money at home than an individual with no history of such accounts.)

Handbook 4155.1: 5.B.2.c-d