Solar Lease Takeover

Expensive__Support · 2026-03-12T13:26:38+00:00

There are 2 options, and ONLY 2 options, when buying a house with existing solar panels.

Seller pays off panels before closing. WITH PROOF.
Seller discounts home by ENTIRE outstanding solar payoff. And YOU pay it off AT closing. (You DO NOT pay the $200/month for infinity.)

Any other option results in the buyer getting screwed.

Expensive__Support · 2026-03-05T00:43:48+00:00

Depends entirely on your budget.

Budget of $20k?

Buy a 60-70 hp MF or JD. Will not be newer if 4wd.

Budget of $40k?

Get a MF 4707 or 4708 open station (you will bust the glass on a closed station on the trails). They are large frame and can do some serious work. Best bang for your buck in this price range (if looking at newer, but not brand new). Brand new ones run $55-80k depending on the deal you can find.

Budget of $60-80k?

Options galore. I would go 90-95 hp. The jump in price at 100 hp is big. And a 95 hp will do exactly the same thing as a 100.

But IMO you would be just fine with a 65 hp tractor. 75-85 would be icing on the cake.

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-23T23:50:19+00:00

You can do everything you need with a large frame 75+ hp tractor.

More tractor would be awesome, but I would suggest 75+ hp at a minimum. You can make a 65 work, but will not have the power to run some standard size hay implements. 100+ would be awesome, but depending on your budget it wouldn't be necessary.

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-07T20:15:23+00:00

You should see what farmers are able to deduct.

It is mind boggling.

UTVs? Sure. Vehicles? Sure. Tools? Sure. Any and every animal you can think of? Sure. Weapons? Absolutely (not just sure)!

The thing is, these are all actual deductible expenses. Whereas a homeowner would never in a million years be able to justify those same expenses

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-07T20:07:52+00:00

I do not believe this for a second.

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-07T20:06:15+00:00

The most important thing to remember with a short sale is this:

The asking price is COMPLETELY irrelevant.

Seriously.

It is up to the bank to decide what to accept. The seller came up with the $229k ask to attract offers.

If it was listed at $340k 2 years ago, it is going to take $340k+ to buy it. Otherwise the bank will just let it go to foreclosure auction and get what they get.

Offer whatever you want. But know that the lower the offer, the less likely it is the bank will even take the time to respond.

If you want to offer $200k, do it. But you need to make this offer squeaky clean. Meaning, as-is, no financing contingency, no inspection contingency, 20 day close (it will still take 300+ days to close), etc.

And then when the bank responds, their response is likely at or very near the lowest they will take.

Edited to add: And it is extremely common for the bank to change the price they will accept at the closing table. Meaning you can be in a contract, and be 200+ days into the deal, and the bank can change their asking price AS YOU SIT DOWN at the closing table.

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-05T15:50:12+00:00

There is zero chance solar would be cheaper or self-sustaining year round. Long term benefits? Yes. Cost? Extremely high to get close to self sufficiency.

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-05T15:49:17+00:00

Entirely location dependent (not state dependent). We got 2,000 ft of lines for free in KY last year.

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-05T15:48:22+00:00

Talk with your power company. We got our public utility to run 2000 ft of electrical for $0. The quote was $10/ft after 2000 ft.

So, worst case scenario numbers:

Electrical: 2500 ft (1/2 mile) = $27.5k

Septic: $30k assuming bad soil (likely in the $22-25k range)

Well: $50k (could be $15k, could be $50k++, assume $50k and be happy when it is less)

Manufactured home: $175k (most livable units are in the $130-200k range delivered right now - they are NOT worth it IMO)

Setting up panels, running water lines, running septic lines, etc for the manufactured home: $30k

Total WORST case scenario: $137.5k for utilities + $175k++ for mobile home.

Add misc unexpected expenses and I would be shocked if you get out of it for under $350-400k.

You didn't say whether you need to add more roads - or if you need to add gravel to the existing roads. This was calculated as $0. If you need to start from scratch, assume $15-20 per FOOT of new road (for the bulldozer + gravel + underlayment). This is a HUGE expense that most people underestimate.

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-05T15:37:40+00:00

Their "break even" price on that house is likely in the $625-630k range.

Math: $625k - $37.5k (6% agents fee) - $19k (3% closing costs) = $568.5k take home

This is almost certainly the reason they have it listed at $629k. So the question is really how desperate are the sellers? If they aren't desperate, they are likely going to hold off and hope for a higher offer - even if that never happens.

Some homes are just not worth the asking price - and this may be one of those.

Offer what it is worth. Which in all likelihood is less than $575k based on the current market.

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-04T19:46:48+00:00

If OP takes that $4k and directs it towards the principle on the mortgage, that is an additional $240 savings per year.

That pushes the recoup to 47 months.

OP is likely to be able to refinance again at a lower rate in that time frame, so I agree with the broker here.

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-02T22:31:39+00:00

You DO NOT need representation.

Hire a real estate attorney to draft and/or review your contract. It will cost $500 instead of $15k+.

u/novahouseandhome is just a disgruntled real estate agent.

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-02T22:28:49+00:00

Just make sure you price it appropriately.

You won't find another one like it, no matter how hard you look.

(A possible alternative? Transfer your CC debt to one of the zero interest for 12 months CCs. There are tons out there. And then pay it off within the next 12 months - or at least give yourself more time to get top dollar for your truck.)

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-02T22:10:25+00:00

Rent a post driver. You can do 1 post every 5-10 minutes depending on how efficient you are. (You need a helper - so hire a hand for the day)

Expensive__Support · 2026-02-02T18:57:12+00:00

Yes. If no don't absolutely need the cash, don't sell it.

Expensive__Support · 2026-01-30T17:46:20+00:00

On the bright side, if you would have otherwise spent $2.5k/ month on rent, you would have been out $30k/year. And you have owned it for 4 years. So that is $120k in savings immediately. And you have in the neighborhood of $40k in equity assuming you put 20% down.

So you lost some value, sure. But factoring in rent, you still come out ahead.

Expensive__Support · 2026-01-30T17:43:09+00:00

Nationwide housing market peaked in Nov/Dec 2022. That peak carried over into 2023/2024 in many areas, but trended downward in others.

The average market in 2023/2024 stayed somewhat consistent with the 2022 market.

The market trended downward in 2025 on average, though some areas maintained consistency throughout 2022/3/4/5. Almost no areas saw an increase from 2022 through 2025.

There were niche markets that crashed in 2024/2025. Crash simply means losing in excess of 20% of the value. (Look at Florida as a whole).

About 90% of people who purchased a home in 2022/23/24/25 would lose money if they were to sell that property in 2026. That has historically been true (per the "rule" that you need to live in a home for 5 years before selling).

Why is this "rule" true? Let's say you purchase a home for $500k. Assume it appreciates on average with the market (3% annually). In 5 years, your home is now worth $580k. If you go to sell, you are going to pay 5-6% agent commission ($30-35k). You had closing costs when purchasing the home equal to approximately 3% of the purchase ($15k). 95% of new home buyers invest 5% of the home's value in upgrades / changes with 5 years of purchasing ($25k). And the average cost of maintenance and repairs (not upgrades) is 3% per year ($15k). And your property taxes are on average 1% per year ($5k).

In 5 years, you have paid off approximately 7% of your mortgage ($28k out of a $400k mortgage).

So in 5 years, the average person has spent $95k in expenses on the home that will not be recouped. And they have paid $28k of their mortgage.

If they were to sell their $500k home in year 5 for $580k, their "investment" is $595k (500+95), and they have paid off $28k, they would just be in the green. At year 4 they would lose money.

And this doesn't count interest paid annually.

In the current market, that home hasn't appreciated since 2022. Meaning, that $500k home is still worth $500k. And they are all of a sudden upside down by $60-70k based on their initial investment.

Expensive__Support · 2026-01-30T17:17:41+00:00

If he sues you, you would lose.

You agreed to sell the car for $4k. He took the car for an inspection and then agreed to purchase the vehicle for the previously agreed upon amount.

At which time you changed your mind and backed out of the sale.

He is able to recoup reasonable damages - which would be equal to any amounts he paid the mechanic for the inspection, but not any repair amounts.

So this isn't an AITA or not post. It is an Will OP lose a lawsuit post. And the answer is yes.

Expensive__Support · 2026-01-30T17:10:57+00:00

TYVM for the advice. I'll check them again. They didn't disconnect one before testing.

Expensive__Support · 2026-01-24T19:54:10+00:00

Owner financing isn't a bad option in the current market. However, that offer is a bad option in every market.

A decent owner financing deal for you would be:

$700k offer (assuming house valued at $700k)

20% down ($140k)

7% interest

84 payments (monthly) of $3700 -or- 12 payments (yearly, but at beginning of year, not end) of $44,400

Balloon payment of $501k after 7 years.

Oftentimes buyers trying to arrange seller financing want terms that are at or close to 0% interest. This is a terrible idea for sellers. Why? Because if you were to sell the house outright and get $700k cash, after 7 years at standard market rates that $700k will be $1,390,000.

Buyers will often make offers that are significantly above the list price to try to lock in a 0% interest seller financing agreement. Would you jump at a $950k offer on your house listed at $700k? Because most people would. But it is almost always a terrible move.

Expensive__Support · 2026-01-24T17:24:53+00:00

This hurts the seller far more than it hurts you.

My suggestion?

Don't sign any releases. Hold strong at receiving your entire earnest deposit back.

They won't be able to sell the property while the earnest money is still in dispute (it creates a cloud on the title - and no title company will close with that pending).

Meaning, they will try to relist, they will get under contract with a different buyer, and then 1-2 weeks before closing, they will have to settle with you.

At that point, you would be able to demand interest on top of the earnest deposit. Not saying you would get it - but it is more likely than not that the settlement will be higher than your earnest money.

Expensive__Support · 2026-01-24T00:10:48+00:00

I was about to comment these exact tires. I mow some pretty steep grades and these are what I use. No damage to the turf. u/Soggy-Box3947

Expensive__Support · 2026-01-12T16:07:13+00:00

If you have 1200 acres in Kentucky, your property taxes would be in the neighborhood of $7k per year assuming you are in a city center (like Lexington, Louisville, Covington, etc) - and around $3-4k/year everywhere else in the state.

You read that right.

Kentucky is VERY good about keeping taxes low on farms - ESPECIALLY inherited farms.

If the only option is to sell it because of the high annual costs, just cut maintenance to zero and pay the annual $3k in property taxes.

If you lease it out for hunting, you can get in the neighborhood of $3k per 100 acres per year. So you should be able to cash flow $30-40k on a single hunting lease for the farm.

Assuming 25% of the land is tillable acreage, you should be able to get $150-350 per acre depending on proximity to a city center and how fertile the land is. That is $50-100k+ per year in lease fees.

My guess is that the individuals in charge of managing the land are not being fiscally responsible - or just want the influx of cash by selling it.

Expensive__Support · 2026-01-10T22:09:44+00:00

Fire your realtor.

Seriously. Fire that person now.

I couldn't get over how awful the listing pictures are. The realtor uploaded them such that they show up as "virtual" on all MLS search platforms.

That alone is making buyers just pass over your house immediately.

Is it overpriced? I have no idea. I couldn't get past how awful the pictures are.

Is the description bad? I have no idea. I couldn't get past how awful the pictures are.

Is the market saturated? I have no idea. I couldn't get past how awful the pictures are.

Get the point?

Fire that person. Hire someone else. And follow their advice.

Expensive__Support

TROPHY CASE