Solar Panel Lease Selling House: Selling a House with Leased Solar Panels
What is a Solar Lease?
A solar lease is a contract in which a company purchases and installs a solar system on your roof, and you pay them monthly for the electricity you use.
Solar leases are an attractive option for those who want the environmental benefits that come along with solar energy but do not want the large cash outlay that may come with purchasing a solar system outright.
When you lease a system, you sign a contract – often 20 years – with a company that purchases and installs a system on your roof. You then pay them monthly for the electricity you use, and they sell any extra energy back to the utility company. Solar lease contracts typically have a fixed monthly payment, meaning you know what your payments will be for the duration of the contract.
Solar panel leases can be a good option for those who want to go solar but are not sure they will stay in their homes long enough to make an investment worthwhile. They can also be a good option for those who want to go solar but are not sure they can afford the upfront cost.
When you sell a house with leased systems, you need to be aware that the buyer will assume the lease and continue to pay it for the duration of its term.
A solar leasing company will typically require that you use a real estate agent when selling your house, so they can make sure the contract is written correctly.
When selling a home with leased systems, remember that if your solar company has an early termination clause, it will likely be triggered by a sale. So you may want to take the solar panel systems off-line before selling your house so that they can be reactivated when the new owners move in.
What to Expect When Selling a Home with Solar Panels?
If a homeowner is considering selling their home, they should be aware of what to expect when listing with solar panels.
The panels are leased to the homeowner, not owned. When a home is listed for sale with solar panels, the listing agent should be aware that they are selling a home with leased solar panels and that the panels are not included in the sale.
When listing a home with solar panels, it is important to disclose whether or not they will be leased or sold and if they have been paid off.
If a homeowner is selling their home with leased solar panels, the following should be disclosed to potential buyers:
- The amount of the monthly lease payment.
- Whether or not the home will have a new owner assume the solar panel lease payments, or if they will be terminated and removed.
If a homeowner is selling their home with a leased solar system, they should be prepared to provide the following:
- The name and contact information for the leasing company.
- The amount of time left on the lease.
- The amount of time that the homeowner has left on their lease.
- Whether or not there is an early termination fee.
How to Avoid the Complications of Selling a House with Solar Panels
The easiest way to avoid the complications of selling a house with solar panels is by having an experienced Realtor use their expertise and knowledge to guide you through the process. You should expect the following steps:
1. Your Realtor will begin by inspecting your house and solar panels to gather information about their condition, state of repair, and value. If they are in need of repair, you may be responsible for paying for them.
2. Your Realtor will then use the information gathered to estimate your solar panels’ value and advise you on whether or not you should remove them from your house before selling.
3. If the solar panels are worth a significant amount of money, and they can be removed without damaging the house or lowering its value, your Realtor will suggest that you remove them and sell them separately.
4. If the solar panels are not worth enough money to be removed, or if removing them would significantly affect a buyer’s view of the house, you will be advised to leave them in place.
5. If you decide to sell your home with leased solar panels, your Realtor will negotiate the sale price of the home as if they were not there. The buyer will then be responsible for the remaining lease payments.
6. If you decide to sell your home with leased solar panels, you will be responsible for getting permission from the buyer’s Realtor before removing them or selling them separately.
7. If you decide to sell your house with leased solar panels, you will be advised that the buyer’s Realtor may recommend a higher selling price for the home because of its green features.
Decide whether to transfer or buy out your solar lease
If you are considering whether or not to transfer the solar lease with your home, it is important that you weigh all of your options. There are many factors to consider, but the most important thing is that you understand exactly what a solar lease entails.
Transferring or buying out your solar lease is a decision you must make based on your own circumstances.
Transfer your solar lease to eliminate extra costs when selling
When you sell your home, you may want to transfer your solar lease. This will eliminate the extra costs of paying for the lease and will help you get the most value for your home.
To transfer your solar lease, you will need to coordinate with all parties involved in the transaction – your real estate broker, solar company, buyer, and mortgage lender. It’s a good idea to have all of these parties in the same room when you discuss the solar lease transfer.
The first step is to negotiate with your current solar company about transferring your lease. Your solar company will want to make sure that you are going to a reputable buyer who is committed to the lease.
The next step is for your real estate broker and mortgage lender to contact the solar company to verify the transfer.
The solar company will then contact your current homeowner’s association if there is one, and notify them of the proposed change in ownership. This notification process varies by HOA.
The final step is to get your HOA approval for the transfer, which can be a little tricky since you are selling the house with leased solar panels. The HOA will want some assurance that the new owner will continue to pay for the solar lease.
Buy out your solar lease to add value to your home
When you buy out your solar lease, you are essentially purchasing the solar panels that have been installed on your property. This can be a good option if you want to take advantage of the benefits of owning solar panels but don’t want to deal with the hassle of maintaining them.
To decide if buying out your lease is worth it, compare the purchase offer to the estimated value of having owned solar panels. You can also consult with your real estate broker to get an idea of how much solar panels add value to your home. Keep in mind that selling and negotiating the purchase is a lot simpler without the complication of an attached solar lease.
Owned solar panels can add value to your home, and the extra profit from the sale can cover your buy-out costs.
Hire a top real estate agent to sell the benefits of solar home
The benefits of solar home are that it offers peace of mind and a long-term investment. A top real estate broker will know how to sell the advantages of solar in your area, while also knowing the best time to sell your home.
You will want to work with a top real estate broker when selling your home. This professional can help you price your home correctly, market it in a way that showcases the solar benefits, and communicate the details of solar to buyers. Having an agent who is well-versed in these areas can make or break a sale.
Difference between solar panels that are loaned vs leased
Leased solar panels are typically leased from a solar company, while loaned solar panels are those that the homeowner borrows from a bank or other lender in order to finance their installation. The homeowner then takes on the responsibility of paying off their loan over a certain period of time.
It is important to note that leased solar panels are typically owned by the company who installed them, while loaned solar panels are owned by the person who took out a loan to pay for them.
A big difference between these two types of solar panel ownership is that if you lease your panels, you are not responsible for any repairs or maintenance. This is because the company that owns them will take care of all these things and even handle any issues that may arise with your local utility company.
However, if you have loaned panels installed on your home, then you will be responsible for any repairs or maintenance that is needed. This can include replacing broken parts or even dealing with the local utility company if any issues arise.
The other big difference between leasing and owning solar panels is that if you own them, the government will pay for a portion of your installation costs through their Solar Investment Tax Credit program. This can save you thousands of dollars on your installation, and it will also give you a tax break for the next 25 years or so.
This is a great incentive to go with solar panels in general, and it’s something you might not be able to take advantage of if you lease your system.
Owned Solar Panels
Solar panels can be a great investment for your home, but there are some things you should consider before making the switch. Owning solar panels is more expensive upfront than leasing them, and you will also be responsible for any maintenance or repairs that need to be done. However, you will eventually see a return on your investment and will be able to use the energy generated from the solar panels to power your home.
Leased Solar Panels
Leased solar panels are a payment plan for homeowners who want to invest in renewable energy but cannot afford the initial cost.
A leased solar panel system is typically split into three parts: the solar panels, installation of the system, and maintenance. The homeowner pays a monthly fee for these three things while they are leased to them.
The monthly fee is usually between $40 and $70 depending on the amount of electricity that the panels produce.
The monthly payment is usually less than what they would pay their utility company for electricity. This is because the panels produce more electricity than what they use. Homeowners pay for this service over a 20-year period, which makes it easier for them to afford the panels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to leased solar panels when you move?
Usually, this means that the buyer of a solar lease would be responsible for paying off the remainder of the financial responsibility if the panels were to stay. If these panels were to stay, then this means that the leaseholder would have to continue its duty and use its solar panels.
What should the seller do before selling a home with leased solar?
Before selling a home with leased solar, it is important to perform an inspection of the roof and any other areas that may be impacted by having solar panels. The seller must also ensure they are not in violation of the terms of their solar lease agreement.
Can you have leased solar panels removed?
Most loans for homes with leased solar panels require that certain conditions be met, including compliance with the contract, having a reputable and approved and insured installation, and removing the panels without penalty for FIT payment failures.