Financing
Three ways to pay.
Cash, loan, or lease. Each one has a best case. We quote all three in the same sitting and tell you straight which one wins for your home.
Takes 30 seconds · No spam · No door-knock unless you ask.
Your options
Pick the path that fits.
Cash
Own it outright, day one
Pay for the system up front. No financing fees, no interest, and the highest lifetime savings of the three. It adds resale value to your home from the start.
- Highest lifetime savings
- No interest or financing fees
- Own the system on day one
- Adds resale value
Best for: Cash on hand, max ROI
Loan
$0 down, own it over time
Most homeowners go this way. Nothing down, and the monthly payment usually comes in under your current utility bill. Pay it off any time with no penalty, and the system is yours once it's paid.
- $0 down
- Payment typically $80–250/mo
- Usually less than your current bill
- Pay off any time, no penalty
Best for: Save without the upfront cost
Lease / PPA
$0 down, fully hands-off
Offered through our partners Sunrun and Palmetto LightReach. They own and maintain the system; we design and install it. You pay a locked-in rate, usually 20–30% below the utility's, with no repair or maintenance cost to you.
- $0 down, $0 maintenance, $0 repairs
- Rate locked 20–30% below the utility
- Production guarantee — credited if it underproduces
- Transfers to the next homeowner
Best for: Hands-off savings, no debt
Compare
The three, side by side.
| Cash | Loan | Lease / PPA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Full system price | $0 | $0 |
| Monthly payment | $0 | $80–250 typical | Locked-in per-kWh or flat |
| Own the system | Yes | Yes, after payoff | No — Sunrun / LightReach owns |
| Maintenance | 25-yr warranty included | 25-yr warranty included | Fully included by the provider |
| Lifetime savings | Highest of the three | Strong, plus ownership | Steady locked-in rate |
| Best for | Cash on hand, max ROI | Save without upfront cost | Hands-off, no debt |
FAQ
Straight answers.
What credit score do I need?+
Most solar lenders look for a 650 FICO or higher. Leases and PPAs usually need 600+, and some lenders go lower. We work with several finance partners, so we can match you to the right one.
Does this touch my mortgage?+
Cash isn't on your mortgage. A solar loan is separate from it, and a lease or PPA is a service agreement — also separate. One exception: a HELOC is a fourth option some homeowners use, and that one does affect your mortgage equity.
What if I sell my home?+
A loan can be paid off at the sale, transferred to the buyer, or folded into the sale price. A lease or PPA assigns to the new owner. And owned solar typically raises your resale value.
Which one should I pick?+
We quote all three in the same sitting and tell you which wins for your house. The bar never moves — the payment has to beat the bill it replaces, or we say so.
The next step is free
One design. Three ways to pay.
Drop your ZIP. We design your system once, then quote cash, loan, and lease side by side — the real monthly number on each. Keep them free, either way.
Takes 30 seconds · No spam · No door-knock unless you ask.
20 install slots open each month. Lock your number before this month's fill.
The Pencil Promise
If solar doesn't beat your bill, we say so and walk. Every quote is the full monthly number, in writing, before you sign anything.
Either way, you keep The 25-Year Power Playbook — free, and yours whatever you decide.