Homes with Solar Sell for 6.9% More

Homes with Solar Sell for 6.9% More

In 2019, Zillow published a groundbreaking statistic that homes with solar panels sold for about 4.1% more than homes without solar installed.¹ However, since 2019, home solar installations have more than doubled in capacity.² With more solar homes on the market than ever before, how do home buyers currently value homes with solar arrays? 

We compared over 400 homes to better understand how solar panels affect home value.

We focused on these specific insights:

• Homes sold with solar panels vs homes sold without solar panels

• Only homes sold in the last 3 years

• Median home values

• Home location, including city and state

This study breaks down what our research uncovered.

Key Findings 

1. On average, across the United States, homes with solar sell for 6.9% more than homes without solar.

2. The sale price increases by about $25,000 for a home with solar.

3. Four out of the 36 states in our study saw an increase of less than 2% on homes with solar. In one state (Alabama), non-solar homes sold for about 5% more than comparable solar homes.

Methodology: How We Calculated This Figure

To ensure this study was as detailed — and unbiased — as possible, the SolarReviews team spent more than a month replicating Zillow’s data study. We assessed over 400 recently sold home listings on Zillow, comparing homes with and without solar.

For every solar home, we found a non-solar home that was located in the same area, had similar square footage, and was sold around the same time, and we compared sale prices. Specifically, to be included in our dataset, comparable solar and non-solar homes had to fit the following criteria:

Timeframe: Homes sold within 180 days of each other

Size: Homes sized within 200 square feet of each other

Location: Homes in the same neighborhood (less than ~0.5 miles apart)

Accommodations: Homes with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms (a difference of up to 1 bedroom OR 1 bathroom was allowed if the square footage was comparable)

Appearance: Homes with similar curb appeal

Layout: Homes with same number of levels and similar amenities, such as pools

Age: Homes built in the same time period

Here is the average difference between solar homes and non-solar homes in our dataset:

• Number of days between sales: 67.1 days

• Distance between homes: 0.4 miles

• Difference in square footage: 67.8 square feet

• Number of beds/baths in solar homes: 3.3 beds / 2.3 baths

• Number of beds/baths in non-solar homes: 3.3 beds / 2.3 baths

On average, the solar homes in our dataset were built 3.2 years after their non-solar counterparts.

Major City Trends

We looked at homes in 62 distinct cities. Here is how the selling price compares between solar and non-solar homes in a few major metro areas:

Statistics vs. Realtors’ Experiences: Does the Data Line Up? 

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) conducts an annual Realtors & Sustainability Report that determines realtors’ general sentiment around home buyers’ perceptions of sustainability, like whether having solar panels or proximity to public transportation is important when looking for a home.⁶

In the 2024 report, 31% of agents said they perceived solar to increase home values in their markets.

Brett Johnson, owner of New Era Home Buyers, agrees.

“I have noticed a trend where the presence of solar panels can greatly impact the sale of a home,” Johnson says. “Properties that come equipped with solar panels often catch the eye of buyers and tend to sell more quickly. The appeal stems not just from the energy savings over time, but also from the increasing preference for eco-friendly living among today’s home buyers.”

Don Wede from Heartland Buys Houses notes: “Houses with solar panels are valued favorably in the real estate market. The characteristics of being modern, environmentally friendly, and cheap can appeal to a buyer better.”

Along with having the potential to increase property value, in some cases, solar can help homes sell more quickly. In the NAR survey, 57% of realtors said promoting a home’s energy efficiency in a listing was very or somewhat valuable.

“Many homebuyers are actively looking for homes that already have solar panels installed,” Johnson says. “I have encountered clients who express [a specific] interest in properties with these sustainable features and acknowledge both their immediate and long-term advantages.”

As sustainable options become more of a priority for home searchers, adding solar panels can add an extra layer of value to a home in the eyes of prospective buyers.