The Big Change: The Homeowner Credit Is Gone
This used to be a simple question. Buyers got the 30% federal tax credit, so buying almost always won. Then the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ended the homeowner credit (Section 25D) on December 31, 2025.
Now the math is closer — and the answer depends on your situation. Let us walk through it honestly.
What Buying Means Now
When you buy — cash or loan — you own the system. You get all the power, all the net metering credits, and all the long-term savings.
What you do not get anymore is a federal tax credit. Systems placed in service after December 31, 2025 get 0%. You still get Florida's breaks: no 6% sales tax on equipment and no added property tax (F.S. 196.182).
Typical payback for a bought system in Orlando: 7 to 10 years, with 15-plus years of nearly free power after that. See our payback guide for the full math.
What Leasing Means Now
When you lease (or sign a PPA), a solar company owns the panels on your roof. You pay them monthly — less than your old electric bill, in most cases.
Here is the key: the company claims the Section 48E commercial clean electricity credit — the one federal solar credit that still exists. Because the company owns the system, the credit goes to them, not you. That credit helps them offer you a lower monthly rate than they otherwise could.
You do not claim any tax credit with a lease. You could not claim the old homeowner credit either — only the system owner claims credits, and that is the company.
Side-by-Side Comparison
- Up-front cost: buying costs $14,000-$21,000 (or a loan); leasing is usually $0 down.
- Monthly bills: buying can erase most of your electric bill; leasing replaces it with a smaller lease payment.
- Total 25-year savings: buying wins by a wide margin — you keep everything your roof produces.
- Tax credits: neither of you gets the dead 30% credit; the leasing company gets the 48E commercial credit.
- Maintenance: yours when you buy (though there is little to do); the company's when you lease.
- Selling your home: owned panels help the sale; a lease must be transferred and the buyer must qualify — see our selling guide.
- Payment increases: buying has none after payoff; many leases raise your payment yearly — check the escalation clause.
When Leasing Makes Sense
- You want lower bills with no money down and no debt.
- You do not itemize or would not benefit much from ownership anyway.
- You plan to move in a few years and do not want a long payback.
- You like the idea of the company handling all maintenance.
When Buying Makes Sense
- You want the maximum long-term savings.
- You have cash or qualify for a good solar loan.
- You plan to stay in the home for 10-plus years.
- You want the simplest possible home sale down the road.
The Lease Sales Pitch — Decoded
Some lease salespeople now say things like we pass the federal tax credit to you through lower payments.
There is a grain of truth — the company's 48E credit does help fund your rate. But be clear on what it is not: you are not getting a tax credit. You are getting a monthly rate that is lower than it would be without the company's credit. Those are very different things.
Also watch for the escalation clause. A lease that starts 20% below your utility bill but rises 3% a year can catch up to — and pass — utility rates over a 25-year term. Ask for the year-25 payment in writing.
Our Honest Take
Buying still wins for most homeowners who can afford it. The savings gap over 25 years is large. But leasing is a legitimate choice if you want solar with no money down — just understand you are trading long-term savings for short-term convenience.
Which Fits Your Home?
Fill out our contact form and we will price both options for your specific roof and usage — side by side, with the real numbers.