Quick answer: Fannie Mae calls a single deposit large when it tops 50% of your monthly qualifying pay, so $7,500 if you qualify on $15,000 a month. On a $750,000 Arvada 80002 home with $150,000 down at 7.24%, an unexplained $10,000 deposit is subtracted from the funds you can use.
By Katerina Veteskova, Colorado real estate broker license FA.100082955, eXp Realty, LLC
Arvada buyers often move savings around in the months before they buy. Those moves are fine, but a lender will ask about any deposit that is big relative to your pay.
The example is a $750,000 purchase in the 80002 zipcode with $150,000 down and a $600,000 30-year fixed loan.
What is a large deposit on an Arvada mortgage application?
One deposit bigger than half of your monthly qualifying pay.
The Fannie Mae rules on depository accounts define a large deposit as a single deposit that exceeds 50% of total monthly qualifying pay for the loan. Lenders review it when they use your bank statements, which typically cover the most recent two months.
Where is the line at $15,000 a month?
At $7,500 for any one deposit.
A $6,000 transfer from a friend repaying a loan would fall under the line. A $10,000 deposit from selling a car would be over it. If part of a deposit is documented, only the unsourced part is measured against the 50% test.
What does the lender do with an unsourced deposit?
It subtracts the unsourced amount from your usable funds.
On a purchase, if the money is needed for the down payment, closing costs or reserves, the lender must document that it comes from an acceptable source. Fannie Mae accepts items such as your written explanation, proof that you sold an asset, or a wedding invitation to support gift money. If the source cannot be shown, the lender reduces your verified funds by that amount.
Arvada listings from $700K while you line up bank statements
Email me new Arvada listings from $700,000 as they come on the market, so I can get my bank statements in order before I write an offer.
What does that look like with $160,000 in the bank?
An unexplained $10,000 deposit leaves $150,000 to work with.
That still covers the 20% down payment of $150,000, but nothing is left for closing costs or reserves. Document the car sale with the bill of sale and the buyer's payment, and the full $160,000 counts.
Which deposits do not need an explanation?
Ones whose source is clear on the statement.
Fannie Mae lists payroll direct deposits, Social Security payments, IRS or state tax refunds and transfers between verified accounts as sources a lender can identify from the statement itself. Cash deposits and transfers from accounts the lender has not seen are the ones that draw questions.
What is the monthly payment on the $600,000 loan?
About $4,089 in principal and interest at 7.24%.
The 7.24% figure is Freddie Mac's 30-year fixed average as of October 29, 2026. Taxes, insurance and any HOA dues add to it. The payment figure is my own arithmetic, shown for illustration only.
Should you move money now or wait until after you apply?
Move it early and keep a record of every move.
Move funds well before applying if:
- Your down payment is spread across several accounts the lender would need to verify anyway
- You are selling a car, stock or other asset and can keep the sale paperwork
- You will have at least two full statements showing the money settled
Hold off and talk to your lender first if:
- The money is cash you have kept at home
- A gift is coming and the gift letter is not ready
- You plan to borrow any part of the down payment
Is $750,000 a realistic price in Arvada 80002?
It is above the zipcode median, at the upper end of that market.
Redfin put the 80002 median sale price at about $577K for the three months ending September 2026, with homes selling after about 38 days at 99.8% of list. Listings at this budget are in the Arvada homes from $700K, Arvada 80002 homes from $700K and Arvada $700K to $1M searches, with larger homes in Arvada homes from $1.2M.
Where else can a $750,000 budget go near Arvada?
To the south, compare Wheat Ridge homes from $700K, Wheat Ridge 80033 homes from $700K and Wheat Ridge $700K to $1M.
To the north, see Westminster homes from $700K and Westminster 80031 homes from $700K, or west to Golden homes from $700K. If you want more choices, Front Range $700K to $1M covers the wider metro.
Broker view: "I tell buyers to stop shuffling money once they start looking, or at least to save a note on every transfer. A two-line explanation written today is easier than digging for it during underwriting." - Katerina Veteskova, eXp Realty, LLC
What this guide does not cover: gift letter rules, business account rules, virtual currency deposits, reserve requirements, closing cost amounts, FHA, VA and jumbo rules, property tax, homeowners insurance and HOA or metro district amounts. This is not financial advice, and your lender decides which funds it can use.
Sources: Freddie Mac PMMS, with a 7.24% 30-year fixed average as of October 29, 2026. Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-4.2-02 on depository accounts and large deposits, checked November 4, 2026. Redfin 80002 market data for the three months ending September 2026. Deposit and payment examples are my own, for illustration only.
Getting ready to buy in Arvada near $750,000? Call or text 720-646-4685, or request a tour.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a large deposit for a mortgage?
Fannie Mae defines it as a single deposit that exceeds 50% of your total monthly qualifying pay for the loan.
What happens if I cannot document a large deposit?
On a purchase, the unsourced amount is subtracted from your verified funds, and the lender confirms the rest still covers your down payment, closing costs and reserves.
Do paychecks and tax refunds count as large deposits?
If the source is clear on the statement, such as payroll direct deposit, Social Security, an IRS or state tax refund, or a transfer between verified accounts, the lender can identify it from the statement itself.
How many months of bank statements will I need?
Fannie Mae says bank statements typically cover the most recent two months when used to verify funds.
Katerina Veteskova is a Colorado real estate broker (license FA.100082955) with eXp Realty, LLC. Call or text 720-646-4685, or request a tour.