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Buying a house with solar panels installed.....

Posted on 5/31/15 at 8:18 pm
Posted by Lombardi44
Member since Feb 2010
372 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 8:18 pm
Are they an asset or a liability?

Seller believes that the panels are an "added" value. I disagree and do not want to assume his lease. I have countered with a request that he pay off the lease or reduce the price an equal amount.

Homeowners Insurance won't cover "leased" equipment, but not sure on that.

Anybody here have any experience buying a house with a solar lease?
Posted by Tuscaloosa
11x Award Winning SECRant user
Member since Dec 2011
46669 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 8:20 pm to
Don't you get a fairly substantial tax break for stuff like that?
Posted by TDsngumbo
Alpha Silverfox
Member since Oct 2011
41718 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 8:20 pm to
I think solar panels are a good thing but if they're leased, the seller absolutely needs to cover the remaining portion of the lease.
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
56105 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 8:20 pm to
kind of like a swimming pool, IMO...one perspective buyer may love it, while the next is only thinking about the cost to fill it with dirt...
Posted by Bucktail1
Member since Feb 2015
3195 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 8:21 pm to
I wouldn't pay a dime over $100/sq ft... Apparently that's top of the line in NO now.
Posted by 4LSU2
Member since Dec 2009
37346 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 8:24 pm to
You need to consider potential roof leaks due to the panels, provided they're mounted to the roof.

I would ask for a warranty on the equipment for a period of more than 12 months if they won't decrease the selling price. I don't like the idea of solar panels on a house. I'd much more prefer a geothermal HVAC system.
Posted by CoachChappy
Member since May 2013
32594 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 8:24 pm to
I have solar on my house. They are worth it. With the tax credits though, he is probably 5k out of pocket on the system. They will pay for themselves in 5 years.
Posted by Tigerpaw123
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2007
17279 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 8:32 pm to
How old are the shingles and what happens when they need to be replaced?

In my mind they would be a liability and an eye sore, I would want them removed at sellers expense
Posted by soccerfüt
Location: A Series of Tubes
Member since May 2013
65880 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 8:55 pm to
quote:

Buying a house with solar panels installed.....
Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.....

Good luck but I would not do that at this time.

Maybe in twenty years they will be more standardized and proven.
Posted by Champagne
Already Conquered USA.
Member since Oct 2007
48490 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 9:13 pm to
Owning the solar panels may turn out to be a good deal, but, LEASING solar panels is a losing proposition.
Posted by I B Freeman
Member since Oct 2009
27843 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 9:17 pm to
Know those things have a life of only about 15 years. They fall off quick.

Don't count on tax credits to replace them.

I would deduct the cost of replacement now.
Posted by Doby
Lafayette
Member since Sep 2014
1726 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 9:22 pm to
Tesla Powerwall battery for solar panels. You move off the grid. The battery harnesses solar power instead of sending it back to the electrical company. You basically don't have to pay any electrical bills.

Your welcome.
Posted by Jimbeaux28
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2007
4051 posts
Posted on 5/31/15 at 10:22 pm to
The last thing I would want on my roof during a hurricane is solar panels.

I can imagine those things coming off, pulling a good chunk of your roof with it.
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