Jump to a section
Imagine this: You’re touring your dream home. It checks every box. It’s in a perfect location with just enough bedrooms and bathrooms, it has all updated appliances. The only downside is that the electric bill is $600 and you know for a fact it’s about to go up because the power company just announced a 10% rate increase.
Right next door, an identical home is for sale. Not just a similar house. It’s 100% identical. Same asking price, same taxes. Everything is exactly the same. Except they don’t buy electricity from the grid because the solar panels on the roof produce all the energy they need. The solar payment is $250 and that payment is locked in forever.
Which house would you buy?
You’d think the decision would be obvious. The truth is, some people believe solar could introduce hidden costs but in reality, the opposite is usually true.
Why Solar Panels Make Buyers Hesitate
Most buyers have never owned a home with solar panels before. When people encounter something unfamiliar during a major financial decision, hesitation is a natural response. Solar panels are visible, semi-permanent, and the benefits are often poorly explained during the buying process.
Buyers often worry that solar might complicate the transaction. They assume it will introduce legal issues, transfer problems, or surprise obligations while closing. These concerns are understandable, but they are rarely rooted in how modern solar upgrades actually work.
Another common fear is that solar panels are “someone else’s project” being passed on to the next owner. Buyers wonder if they are inheriting a system that is outdated, poorly designed, or close to failing. So without clear information, the assumption is that solar is a liability instead of an asset.
In reality, most of these concerns disappear once buyers understand exactly how solar agreements work, how the panels are warranted, and how energy costs work over time. The issue is not solar itself. The issue is a lack of education.
Remember: Solar Panels Are Not a Short Term Upgrade
One of the biggest misconceptions buyers have is that solar panels only last 10 years. This myth has persisted for years and continues to influence buying decisions today. In reality, modern solar panels are engineered for long-term performance.
Most solar systems come with 25-year manufacturer warranties. These warranties guarantee both production levels and functionality. Even after 25 years, panels are still expected to produce 80-90% of their original output.
Because solar systems have no moving parts, there’s very little wear and tear compared to traditional equipment. Unlike furnaces, air conditioners, or water heaters, solar panels do not rely on motors, compressors, or internal friction to operate.
For someone buying a home, this matters because longevity translates into predictability. A system designed to produce power for several decades provides peace of mind, not uncertainty. And that stability becomes more valuable as energy costs continue to rise.
How Do Solar Panels Affect Monthly Housing Costs?
Every homeowner knows that housing costs extend well beyond the mortgage. Electricity is one of the largest recurring expenses tied to owning a home. Unlike a fixed mortgage payment, electric bills increase over time and are subject to factors that are outside your control.
When a home has solar panels, a portion or all of that electricity is produced on site. This reduces reliance on the utility company and stabilizes energy costs. Instead of buying electricity at whatever rate the utility sets, homeowners generate their own power at a predictable cost.
In most cases, solar payments are significantly lower than the electric bills they replace. That means the homeowner’s total monthly housing costs can actually be lower with solar than without it. Over time, that gap widens as utility rates continue to rise.
For buyers comparing homes, it’s just as important to consider electricity costs as it does to consider heating costs. A home without solar comes with an expense that increases every year. While a home with solar comes with an energy cost that is controlled, predictable, and often lower from day one.
Solar Power vs Renting Electricity
When people buy a home, they do it with the expectation that their payments are building toward something. Each mortgage payment increases ownership and moves them closer to a point where housing costs decrease. This is one of the primary financial motivations behind homeownership.
Electricity does not work that way. No matter how long someone pays an electric bill, they never build ownership or equity. The payment does not reduce future costs. In fact, it leads to higher costs over time.
Solar solves that problem. Instead of paying an electric company indefinitely, homeowners redirect that same money toward producing their own power. Over time, that payment goes towards lowering your long term costs and eventually, it eliminates the expense altogether.
For aspiring home buyers, this reframes the conversation. Solar isn’t adding to your budget. It is a shift from renting electricity to owning your own mini power plant. That distinction becomes more important the longer someone plans to live in the home.
What Happens When a Home with Solar is Sold?
Buyers often ask what happens to the solar system when a home changes hands. The answer depends on how the system was installed and owned, but in most cases, the transition is straightforward.
Fully owned (host owned) solar systems are transferred with the property, just like a roof or HVAC system. There is no separate agreement to assume and no new approval process required. The system becomes part of the home itself.
If a system is leased, the discounted electricity cost is transferred to the new homeowner with no down payment. They just pick up where the old homeowner left off. Regardless of how the system is owned, warranties also transfer to the new owner. Manufacturer warranties on panels and inverters always remain intact after a sale. That means buyers receive the same long term protections as the original homeowner.
From a transactional standpoint, solar rarely complicates a sale when it is properly installed and owned. In many cases, it simplifies buyer decision making by removing uncertainty around future energy costs.
Does Solar Increase Home Value?
Studies consistently show that homes with solar panels often sell for more than comparable homes without them. Buyers are willing to pay a premium for predictable operating costs and long term savings. This is especially true in areas with high electricity rates. That’s because solar dramatically reduces a home’s future operating expenses, much like energy efficient windows or updated insulation, but solar is replacing an electric bill which means a day one ROI.
As electricity prices rise, so does the perceived value of solar. That’s why Zillow has reported that homes with solar not only sell faster, but for considerably more than homes without. In areas like New York, it’s common for homes with solar panels to sell for 4% more. That means an extra $16,000 on a $400,000 home.
A system that offsets some if not all of a home’s energy needs is far more attractive to a potential buyer. Especially when paired with battery backup technology. Just like a generator, batteries will keep the lights on even when the grid shuts down. The solar panels charge the battery, and when the grid shuts down, the battery automatically starts backing up your essential items.
Key Questions to Ask When Buying a Solar Home
Buying a home with solar is hardly ever a bad choice. But it’s important to ask a few questions if you are looking at buying a home with solar panels.
- Is the company who installed the panels still in business?
As long as the system was installed by a company who is still in business it will be easy to have the panels serviced in the event that they require some maintenance.
- How much energy are the panels producing compared to the current homeowner’s usage?
This helps you understand if you will still need to buy some energy from the power company. If it’s not 100% that isn’t a deal breaker. It’s better to get some savings from solar than none at all.
- Are the panels owned or leased?
There’s no wrong answer here. But it’s important to know whether or not there will be a payment involved for the panels when you move in.
Final Thoughts
Buying a house with solar panels isn’t risky. It’s an opportunity to stabilize costs, reduce recurring monthly expenses, and gain control over a major household expense. Once the misconceptions are stripped away, solar becomes less about technology and more about basic financial logic.
Think back to the two identical homes. One comes with a rising electric bill. The other provides energy at a predictable cost. Over time, that difference compounds and quietly shifts thousands of dollars in favor of the homeowner with solar.
Solar becomes a benefit, not a burden, when it is properly owned, designed, and, most importantly, when it’s properly explained. In markets like New York with high electricity prices, that stability carries tremendous value.
Every home and every system is different. Roof layout, system size, production history, and utility rules all matter. But when buyers evaluate solar with the same level of care they apply to any other major component of a home, the picture usually becomes very clear.
How To Know If Solar Makes Sense For Your Home
No two homes are the same. That’s why a solar system should be designed around the property it’s installed on. Your roof layout, sun exposure, household usage, and future plans all play a role in determining how much value solar can provide. The only way to know how it works for your situation is to look at the numbers specific to your home.
At Empire Solar, we design solar systems from the ground up based on real usage and real conditions. We show homeowners exactly how many panels make sense, how much energy their roof can produce, and what that means for their long-term costs.
If you’re considering solar for your home, it costs nothing to see what the math looks like. We’ll build a free savings plan that shows how your home would perform with solar and what kind of savings are realistically on the table.
