‘Free’ Solar Panels Leave Florida Homebuyers Facing a $45,000 Shock

What was marketed as a major selling point—‘FREE SOLAR PANELS’—has become a source of severe distress for a Florida couple, who now face a potential $45,000 bill for equipment they believed came with their home.

The issue came to light over a year after the purchase, when the homeowners attempted to refinance their mortgage. Questions arose about the ownership of the solar panels, which had been prominently advertised as ‘free’ in the Zillow listing and verbally assured by the seller at closing. A subsequent letter revealed an existing solar loan of $45,000. The couple’s contract included standard language purchasing the home with ‘all existing improvements and fixtures,’ but did not explicitly exclude or address the solar panel financing.

‘We’re in complete disbelief,’ said one of the homeowners, who asked not to be named due to the ongoing dispute. ‘We were told repeatedly there was no debt. Now we’re stuck navigating a mess with a lender who won’t talk to us because we’re not on the loan, and the original account holder is deceased.’

Legal experts note this scenario is becoming more common as residential solar installations surge. Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans or other solar financing agreements can attach to the property itself, not just the owner, creating ‘hidden liens’ that may not be immediately apparent during a standard title search.

‘This is a cautionary tale for the ‘green’ home boom,’ said real estate attorney, Michael Thorne. ‘Buyers must demand full documentation on any installed renewable energy systems. ‘Free’ often means ‘financed,’ and that debt needs to be cleared at closing or explicitly assumed. The sellers’ assurances, unless in writing, offer little protection.’

The incident underscores the importance of extreme due diligence. Homebuyers are advised to: 1) Require the seller to provide a full payoff statement for any solar equipment; 2) Ensure the title search specifically looks for solar/PACE liens; and 3) Get all representations about included features in the purchase contract.

What Readers Are Saying

We asked for reactions to this complex situation. Here’s a sample of the responses:

• David R., Real Estate Investor: ‘This is a failure of the buyers’ agent and title company. A proper closing process should have flagged this. The sellers likely committed fraud, and the buyers may have strong legal recourse to sue for the debt plus damages.’
• Lisa G., Environmental Advocate: ‘It’s heartbreaking. Stories like this cast a shadow on the solar industry, which is vital for our future. We need stronger regulations to make financing transparent and protect consumers, so people aren’t afraid to go green.’
• Carlos M., Former Solar Sales Manager: ‘This is infuriating and gives ethical installers a bad name. The sales tactic of shouting ‘FREE’ while burying the financing terms is predatory. The company that wrote that loan shares blame for not ensuring the lien was addressed during the home sale.’
• Susan P., Homeowner: ‘How terrifying! We almost bought a house with leased panels. Our inspector warned us. This couple needs a lawyer, not Reddit. That debt could ruin their credit and their chance to sell the house later.’

As for the Florida family, they are consulting with an attorney to determine their next steps, which could range from negotiating with the solar lender to filing a lawsuit against the home’s previous owners.