For years, I’d debated whether residential solar would make sense for my home. The math never quite clicked, and I refused to go into debt by signing a $30,000 contract or leasing agreement with a door-to-door solar sales company. It wasn’t until the end of 2025 that the market finally forced my hand.
The combination of a steady, upcoming increase in electricity rates, the impending January 1, 2026, expiration of federal tax rebate incentives, and battery tech actually improving in recent years made a far-off “maybe one day” dream into an achievable DIY project. The announcement that a new hyper-scale data center was going in a few towns over made the decision to finally jump in a no-brainer.
Many of my tinkering projects are driven by curiosity. I like to see if I can accomplish a goal without paying as much as expected, and I’m admittedly motivated by the feeling of getting away with an unexpected hack. Channeling a little ingenuity and effort feels like an arrogant middle finger at being told what I have to buy, and nowhere was that feeling more satisfying than in this solar project. If you’ve been thinking similarly about making the leap to solar power, I know how intimidating it can be. But in my experience, the squeeze was well worth the juice I got in return.
I got solar this year and am selling. The cost has directly increased the value of my home.
What’s the ratio?
I dont know. Im up money monthly and my realtor said it adds more than it costs.
I’ve got some bad news for you…
Go on?
Real estate agents are like used car salesmen, they tell you what you want to hear.
Monthly payments are a wool pull, a trick the finance people use to obscure the real numbers.
-3925 + 2722 = 30% loss
If there was a positive return, it’d be cheaper for a buyer to buy without and add it themselves.
Its cheaper for people to build a house themselves but they dont because there is value in the works being completed previously and being in turn key condition.
I didn’t get financing and my numbers showed a 7 year pay back. My capital investment was savings, which immediately reduced my monthly from 250 to zero.
I dont know what a wool pull is but minimising monthly costs has been hugely positive.
The only way solar adds value is one of three ways:
I’m in a real estate family and I’ve seen solar ruin deals, lose sellers lots of money.
How does solar ruin deals. Buyer can’t afford monthly payment. How does it lose sellers lots of money, they can’t find a buyer so they will be forced to pay it off.
Sounds like a local problem in a developing country.
In Belgium it adds tons of value that people are happy to pay since they will pay less on their electricity bill. And because a lot have EVs, it will lower their driving bill as well.
I am not understanding them at all
This is in the US. So,e solar companies take advantage of people, ruining the benefit. Like I said, if it’s paid off or lowers your bill it’s beneficial. If it’s not then it’s a problem
I dont even understand where you are coming from. My bills are basically gone, my initial cost was low and it is most definitely a selling point.
I cant imagine a deal being broken by solar unless the person buying is an idiot ignorant of science and finance or should otherwise not be buying a house anyway.
Just had one where the solar lease was $350 a month. Much more then your normal electrical bill and increases 3.5% a year. 100k to payoff. This is rough estimate but it was a real issue.
Which is why you don’t lease solar systems. In the USA the solar installation field is filled with predatory businesses that will “lease” you a system you’ll never see a financial benefit from – they’ll make a ton of money though.
Find a company that will sell you a system at a reasonable price or DIY.
Preach, some people, especially elderly get taken advantage of
I dont understand the structure here, are people leasing the solar equipment? Can I guess where you are from?
Yes, 20 year lease, CA. Solar city or sun run can’t remember as I didn’t deal with it directly, multiple Tesla batteries for no real reason
I dont even know what to say, that is insane. What world do americans live in that they let themselves get ridden like this.
I got a decent residential array and battery that has so far provided 70% minimum each day in fucking Irelanf and I paid in full €8k.
Needs more info but maybe you lease the panels until they are paid off completely? If you default on payments they come and take the solar panels back??
Maybe they meant loan and not lease.
It was a 20 year lease and only 5 years in. After lease they come get the equipment or you sign a new lease for new equipment or you just buy the next time
Why do you speak of monthly payments?
Our solar was pay upfront
It’s a lease. You lease for a long period of time. Lots of people in the states can’t afford the up front cost