Solar Panels Home Resale Value is one of the biggest questions Long Island homeowners ask before going solar. If you put solar panels on your roof today, will you get that money back when you sell your home later?
The answer is yes, in most cases. Homes with solar panels sell for more money than homes without them. Recent data shows solar homes sell for close to 6.9% more on average. On Long Island, where electric bills are already high, that difference can matter even more to buyers.
What the Numbers Show
You don’t have to take this on faith. There’s real data behind it.
A 2025 study by SolarReviews looked at home sales across the country. It found that homes with solar panels sold for about 6.9% more than similar homes without solar. On a typical home, that adds up to around $25,000 in extra value.
This is a big jump from an earlier Zillow study in 2019, which found solar homes sold for about 4.1% more.
Quick tip: Not every solar system helps at resale. Owned systems almost always raise your home’s value. Leased systems often don’t, because the buyer has to agree to take over your lease payments.
Owned vs Leased Solar: Why It Makes a Big Difference
This is the most important thing to understand about solar and resale value.
System Type | Effect on Resale | What Buyers Deal With |
Owned (bought outright or paid off) | Raises value, sells faster | Simple, no extra steps |
Leased or PPA | Often no increase, can slow the sale | Buyer must qualify to take over payments |
A study of over 5,000 California home sales found that homes with owned solar sold for 5% to 10% more. Leased systems didn’t show the same boost. If you’re planning to sell someday, paying off your solar loan first is one of the easiest ways to protect your home’s value.
This difference alone can shift Solar Panels Home Resale Value by thousands of dollars depending on which system you have
Why This Matters Even More on Long Island
Long Island has some of the highest electric rates in the country. That’s exactly why solar homes here tend to stand out.
Buyers can do the math fast. A lower electric bill means real savings starting from day one, not a future promise. That makes a home with solar more attractive than a similar home still paying full price for electricity every month.
Because electric bills here are already high, Solar Panels Home Resale Value tends to run even stronger on Long Island than the national average.
What Buyers Want to Know Before They Buy
Before offering more money for a solar home, most buyers ask:
- Is the system owned or leased?
- How old is it, and how much warranty is left?
- What’s the average monthly electric bill with solar?
- Was it installed and permitted the right way?
- Are there maintenance records available?
If you can answer these clearly, with paperwork to back it up, you’ll get the full value your solar system deserves at closing.
Answering these questions clearly helps you protect the full Solar Panels Home Resale Value at closing.
What About Property Taxes?
A higher home value sometimes means higher property taxes. But New York offers a solar property tax exemption in most areas. That means the extra value from your solar system usually isn’t taxed the way a home addition would be. It’s still smart to check with your local town to confirm.
Four Ways to Protect Your Home’s Solar Value
- Pay off your solar loan before you list, if you can. A paid-off system is the easiest sell.
- Keep your paperwork. Save the installation permit, warranty details, and yearly savings reports.
- Show real numbers in your listing. Say something like “saves $120 a month” instead of vague claims.
- Work with an appraiser who understands solar. Not every appraiser knows how to value it correctly.
You might also like: How Long Do Solar Panels Last? | Solar Battery Storage Long Island | Best Solar Companies in Long Island NY | Solar Panel Maintenance: What Long Island Homeowners Should Know
Frequently Asked Questions
Does solar increase home value on Long Island?
How much value do solar panels add?
Do leased solar panels hurt a home sale?
Should I pay off my solar loan before selling?
Will solar raise my property taxes in New York?
How long do solar panels last?
Do I have to tell buyers about my solar system when I sell?
Ready to Add Value to Your Home?
Solar panels are one of the clearest ways to add real value to your Long Island home, especially with electric rates as high as they are here. Want to know how much value solar could add to your home? Contact SolarO Power for a free consultation or check out our residential solar services.
Solar Panels Home Resale Value is one of the clearest financial reasons to go solar on Long Island today.
