Where your down payment can come from

Lenders accept down payments from your own savings, investments, registered accounts including an FHSA and RRSP through the Home Buyers' Plan, gifts from immediate family, proceeds from selling another property, and in some cases funds from abroad with proper documentation.

What they will not accept without disclosure is borrowed money presented as savings. Unsecured borrowed down payments are restricted, especially on insured mortgages, and any loan payment affects your qualification.

Practical rule: keep 90 days of statements for every account you will draw from, avoid moving money between accounts unnecessarily, and document any large deposit at the time it happens rather than reconstructing it later.