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.
To answer these:
Increase in house value due to solar system is likely making this moot.
Small “balcony solar” system work fine for renters.
See 2. and for larger systems 1.
Very unlikely to see a major market unheaval in the next 10 years that would make things cheaper. The real price improvement happend in the last 10 years, and the price difference between LiFePO4 batteries and Sodium-Ion ones will not be large enough for it to matter in anything but grid scale systems.
#1 absolutely is not accurate. My last house had a $40k solar system installed and it maybe raised my home value by $10k per my appraiser. I still thought it was fine because I had intended to live there forever. I ended up moving four years later :(
Sounds like you paid 40k for a system that’s worth around 10k. That absolutely happens with some companies that do the full installation, but it is a total rip off.
The system was worth more than $10k (it was the largest allowed by law), but a good chunk of the cost was definitely the installation and 20 years full warranty. Luckily I was able to transfer that to the new owner. I have been specifically told that essentially all improvements you can do to a home won’t reflect the their cost in the sell value for the most part. You’re lucky to get 25% in most cases, solar is actually better than most things because it is fairly universally desired. Some things do better than other regionally, e.g. in ground pools can get most of their value in FL apparently as long as you don’t go overboard on costs.
Yeah that warranty…
Anyways, solar is a bit unique in that regard, as it isn’t just an general improvement, but actively pays for itself. Heatpumps also fall in that category. Most people realize that if they get such a system for cheap that is actually a discount on the home price and adjust their expectations accordingly. Of course I agree with you that it likely isn’t going to increase the value beyond what it cost to install.
I don’t think you do agree with me. I was saying it wouldn’t increase the value anywhere near what it cost to install unless you essentially did it yourself to keep the cost ultra-low (which wasn’t legally allowed in my area to begin with). Many of the laws regarding solar in much of the US have been made specifically to make solar less attractive, sometimes these laws were directly by the incumbent power companies (In our case it was Duke Energy).
The warranty was actually fine in my case, they came out and replaced/installed a bad panel and they had to replace the inverter when it died at no cost. The warranty was for 20 years when the panels should continue functioning longer, but that’s no longer my benefit. My power usage was really high, even at what I paid, after the rebate it was going to pay for itself in 8 years.
Respectfully, you are trying to generalize real estate based on your local market. That simply doesn’t work. See my other comment on balcony solar for a clear example. Your 4th point is pure speculation with no argument backing it.
I’m not saying solar isn’t viable. Just using my experience in mortgage financing to add more context to the conversation.
edit: Balcony strata isn’t legal in many places. In Canada our electric code requires everything be connected to the breaker box so that electricians can work safely knowing there is no current in the building.
Strata’s also often require panels on railings be mounted flush, facing sideways instead of angled upwards.
Sure, if balcony solar isn’t legal in your place, that is an issue, but more and more places make it legal recently.
As for the realestate market, sure there are conservative realtors that currently undervalue solar systems, but people aren’t stupid. If it makes economic sense to have them in the first place, then most buyers will also make the same calculation and be willing to pay extra, because in the end they will save money compared to a house without solar.
Legalizing it would mean aligning it with the electrical code and running it through the breaker box which introduces prohibitive installation costs. It’s a safety issue, not just politics.
Again respectfully, you are applying reasoning to real estate that simply does play out that way. Look up the first 3 rules of real estate. There is no substance for me to refute what you are saying because it is fundamentally anecdotal conjecture.
I gotta walk away from this convo bro. The biggest flaw with economic theory in general is that it assumes people make rational decisions. Like its a widely acknowledged flaw.
I’m not saying they won’t. I’m saying that the context where that happens doesn’t align with many peoples financial situation and local real estate markets.
again, I’m pro solar. I am just using my experience in mortgage finance to provide some context to this converstaion.
Seemingly, the more rational voice in this subthread/convo, could you lend some insight on “balcony” solar solutions that don’t require a balcony? 😅
FWIW, I have a couple S-facing windows (PacNW) that are curtained 99% of the time, so I’m fine with panels blocking them. No idea yet of that’s when helpful here, though.
It is possible to install the panels flat onto a wall, but then east or west facing is slightly better as the angle of the sun is lower (same for solar fencing).
The problem with such a setup is mainly that if you are not at the ground floor attaching a panel to the wall higher up is not easy, and drilling the necessary anchors into the wall is likely prohibited if you are only renting.
That said, some balcon less buildings still have a kind of metal fencing in front of full height windows, and you can attach smaller panels to those relatively easily.
There are also super thin panels (meant to install on camping vans etc.) you could in theory glue to your windows, but that would be rather permanent and maybe not such a good idea.
Yeah, ground floor and no windows (or access) to E/W sun. 🥲 Ah, well, maybe the next place I can barely afford. Who knows? 🙃
I’ve seen some saddle mounts for solar panels that don’t require any destructive anchoring, so you could just throw it on the windowsill and let it go. You can always plug the gaps on the window if needed
Regarding 1, perhaps you are the one trying to generalize your local market to everywhere else?
See:
Arizona, USA:
Soak up the sun: Impact of solar energy systems on residential home values in Arizona
California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Oregon - USA:
Solar at High Noon: Solar Home Premiums in a Rapidly Maturing Market:
Southport, Australia:
House price premium associated with residential solar photovoltaics and the effect from feed-in tariffs: A case study of Southport in Queensland, Australia
Germany:
Estimating the impact of energy efficiency on housing prices in Germany: Does regional disparity matter?
Italy:
The Market Price Premium for Residential PV Plants
UK:
Returns to solar panels in the housing market: A meta learner approach
So to do an accurate property value assesment (what you’re doing) you’d need to provide at least 5 examples from each of those regions, only including comparable properties. In other words you need to isolate that it was the solar panels and not a litany of other potential factors.
I’m not saying solar doesn’t improve property value.
I’m saying you cannot take one example and apply it to an entire market. Which you just did x6.
Exactly, and all studies take that into account and use the same hedonic price models which most appraisals rely on.
Apologies for not providing links to some of those locked papers, as Anna’s Archive is down right now, otherwise you could also dive further into their methodologies
Which is not the case with these studies, as explained above, so once again, perhaps you are the one trying to generalize your local market to everywhere else?
if a panel is plugged into the existing house circuits, shutting off the main breaker will shut off the current.
Any electrician carries a current tester at all times.
don’t buy this bullshit. has no effect on value, and likely has a negative impact as many DIY systems are hacks.
Appreciate your passion and input but try to remain as constructive and kind as possible as calling another person’s informed opinions “bullshit” may not be appreciated. Thanks.
Today a DIY system usually means a fully integrated system from a single Chinese supplier: hybrid inverter, BMS and batteries together. That is no hack, and no major difference (other than price) from what a professional company installs.
Having such a system absolutely raises the price of the house sold. Maybe not a full cost recovery, but enough to not make it a total loss if you end up selling before the usual return of investment period.