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All Forum Posts by: Kyle Deutschmann

Kyle Deutschmann has started 8 posts and replied 372 times.

Post: A very unique solar panel situation

Kyle Deutschmann
Posted
  • Lender
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Posts 402
  • Votes 197
Quote from @Joe S.:

So we bought a house several months back and we are in the process of rehabbing it now. The previous owner had purchased solar panels almost 7 years ago and stopped making payments on them about a month or two in. This means that the solar panel company cannot continue to report on his credit in a very short time from now.  He understands that we are not going to pay off the solar panels. Also, the solar panels were never connected as a lien against the property according to the closing attorney so we have already closed on said property.
After giving this backdrop. I’m assuming that the solar panels would not work without some kind of authorization from the company that installed them. So what do we tell the next buyer?

Hey, there’s some nonworking solar panels on your roof.


 Do you know if the lender filed a UCC-1 filing against the panels? Most solar lenders don’t file a lien, but some do a UCC-1 filing to have their loan secured to the panels. For other lenders, it’s treated more like an unsecured personal loan with no collateral.

Either way.. If they work I’d say keep them. It will save you money on utilities and enough buyers like them that it could increase the value. if they don’t work, hire a solar installation company or roofer to take them off. 

Post: Solar Energy System's Impact on NOI

Kyle Deutschmann
Posted
  • Lender
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Posts 402
  • Votes 197
Quote from @Callaway Pate:

Hey BP family! I was wondering if anyone has experience with a rental property that has a solar energy system (with battery storage and net metering). I'm curious as to if it's feasible to offset the electricity portion of NOI and receive a boost in property value that is greater than the cost of the solar system installation. If anyone has an opinion on this concept I'd be glad to hear it.

-Callaway

 Great question! As @Chris Seveney mentioned, DC has an AMAZING SREC market that helps pay off your system in 3-5 years, sometimes faster but I don't like to over-promise. Maryland is a close second around 7-10 year payback with the extra Maryland rebate. Virginia still has an SREC market although smaller than DC so yes the payback is a little longer BUT it is still a better ROI vs. RENTING your energy from the utility company who has historically raised their rates almost 4% every year for the past 30 years.

Rising utility rates are felt by EVERYONE, so if your home is the one home on the block with solar both your Millennial and Gen Z buyers and renters will both be interested due to the energy savings plus the fact that most younger generations are also interested in going green, especially in the DMV area. My parents sold a home in Columbia about 30-40 min from DC and sold for about 10% over list price with ~5 offers with solar from the front of their roof visible from the street. 

Happy to chat sometime and share more about how solar can add value to your home or any of your clients homes in DC, MD or VA.

Post: Add Solar to a SFH rental

Kyle Deutschmann
Posted
  • Lender
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Posts 402
  • Votes 197
Quote from @James Hamling:
Quote from @Kyle Deutschmann:
Quote from @James Hamling:
Quote from @Kyle Deutschmann:
Quote from @James Hamling:
Quote from @Corby Goade:
Quote from @James Hamling:
Quote from @Corby Goade:
Quote from @Kyle Johnson:

Hello All,

I'm just curious. Will getting solar add any value, marketing and/or rental value to your SFH rental? Is it worth doing?

I can see it may add some marketing value but that's it. Curious if other have done this if they have a SFH rental.

If you ask a solar salesperson, they'll tell you it adds all kinds of value, but I've never heard of anyone getting any value out at the sale of the home. In my market, it makes them harder to sell, at best. If your tenants pay utilities, I'm not sure why you'd take on that debt. 

I don't sell solar unit's, I sell Real Estate. And what I have seen and experienced, 1st and 2nd hand, is when solar is PROPERLY utilized as a feature, it's lends a ROI of about 150% on just the unit pricing/value increase, which is saying 0 calculus of impact on utility offset's.

No, it's not a Blue-Collar real estate thing, it's for the property types that garner and most likely have a buyer/tenant with a Tesla. 

And all this about liens and so on, I have no idea what all that is about. Adding solar to a $800k+ home is cheap, dirt cheap in the big picture of things. Yes, on a $200k property I bet the cost to add solar is a big price tag in comparison to property price, but why on earth would you put it on that property? 

Again, as I have said previously, it's about amenity and property MATCH. 

If you think nobody value's a solar system, that it's a waste of $, that's just a statement of what income/wealth class your working in, that's the raw truth of it. There is a market for it, just like there is a market for luxury rentals, you may not be familiar with it but it exists. 

 I won't argue, you make some good points. I doubt it has to do with the "class" of property, I work in a market that has the cheapest electricity in the country, so that likely has a direct effect on the resale value of those systems. 


My experience with it, it seems to have all but nothing to do with electric bill off-set, seriously. Seems to be more a status thing. The only utilitarian place I experience any caring is connecting with EV charger, people love that, buyers and tenants. And again, I think it's more status symbol or some form of ego-stoke, everyone I've asked on #'s of savings etc., not a 1 has any idea, but they have all kinds of answers about how it looks, how cool, modern etc. it all is. 

Are you suggesting to your clients to install an EV charger but no solar? Doesn’t that defeat the point of getting an electric vehicle if you’re charging it from your coal and/or gas powered house? 

I’m not in your market, but I’d be happy to chat sometime and share with you my experience with solar and how it indeed can add value. I’ve been around the industry since a child and also spent 5 years in mortgages, so my question is often.. you’re telling your clients to OWN their home vs renting. Why not OWN your power and protect your clients against rising utility rates? As the demand for electricity continues to rise, so will utility rates…

Also, does every client want a pool? No. Similarly does everyone want solar? No. But it DOES save you money compared to the utility in the 3 states I operate in and it DOES indeed add value. Im happy to show you some data to change your mind :) 


No, I was inferring, and now out-right stating and I DO state/do, the very opposite of URGE when/if doing solar or have solar, one really should have an EV charger also. 

Solar without EV charger is like a burger without the bacon. 

And as I said, in my experience it's the concept of solar that people are all about, and in my opinion the status/ego of it, not the actual metrics of the numbers because everyone and I do mean LITERALLY every one of these consumers I have asked, not a 1 could tell me what those #'s were, not-a-1. But, they all said it was saving em a "bunch of $", lol. Not sure how they know that if have 0-clue of the #'s. 

But hey, like I said, I don't care about any of that. I care on what tenant/buyer it get's me and the ROI for the amenity, time to list saved, competitive advantage, my care is in the monetization side of things and NOT in schlepping solar to people.

If it were an alligator pit the market were happy to pay similar ROI on I'd be doing alligator pit's.


 Sorry I think I misread your message.. I thought I was the lone soldier on here defending solar haha. I would be happy to chat sometime and show you some numbers how it does truly make sense, at least in my market, to go solar. You can get instant monthly savings using a PPA or long term savings by paying cash/loan. 

The payback/ROI is about 7-10 years in Maryland and about 3-5 in DC with all the incentives. Once you pay it off, you're locked in for free energy for the remainder of the solar panels useful life. Our panels are warrantied and guaranteed to last at least 25 (altho they're actually designed and engineered to last about 40).

Battery technology (i.e. the SunPower SunVault or Tesla Powerwall) is where the bigger 'cost' is comparatively. Solar is where you get all the return on your investment. Batteries on the other hand are indeed still a luxury to have backup solar power during a blackout, which frankly doesn't happen often in my area. However, for states with bigger electric grid issues, I would definitely be considering a battery at some point if you want to have your own energy security/independence. 


Maybe you should share with everyone what $ your making selling these systems, and your sales volume. If they don't get it then, they never will. Because you and I know your making crazy $-BANK-$ and that's not possible unless consumer wanted it, in mass, right. 

I think it's just many are in asset-class / tenant-class who has no financial capacity in what still is categorized a "luxury" item. Before that term rub's you wrong, it's categorized in that manner just like a pool or hot-tub because it's a non-necessary item in most cases, as most properties are grid connected. 

BUT.... just wait until the U.S. has there 1st year of load-shedding, that whole categorization will change in a flash. In South Africa, everyone who can get solar is getting or has solar, because there is load-shedding. 

And yes, the U.S. WILL with 100% certainty have load-shedding unless the gov. takes rapid action. It's simple math, ALL electric producers in U.S. are SCREAMING that it's now verging on emergency status that they be allowed to construct MANY more production plant's. IMMEDIATLY. And for those not in the know, on average just the permitting process for such takes on average 7years. A new production plant can easily take 20yrs from date of decision and funding to coming online. And in U.S. we have coal plant's set to shut-down in coming years because of inability to replace wearing out major components because there no longer permitted. So removing power plant's via standing regulations. 

I give it 1-2 more hot summers at this pace before load-shedding starts coming into the mix of things. 

Any who don't believe me, do your research, look up the white papers by xcel energy. They've been sounding the alarm for years warning of what's coming. 

I make less money than most realtors do on their sales commissions that’s for sure, and I’m regularly saving customers $10,000-100,000 over 25-40 years. As you said yourself.. price is what you pay, value is what you get. Plus, I feel great selling something that also has the added benefit of helping the environment.

for $200k owner occupied homes, I might recommend a PPA - $0 down, simply lowering their utility rate compared to the local electric company, saving them money month 1 without ever having to take out a loan. 

And yes exactly as we keep putting strain on the grid the more reason to own your power supply. Thanks for your input here I appreciate your perspective in the luxury market as we do have a lot of luxury clientele who buy our panels for the long term value and tax credits (perhaps some also do it for the status symbol and/or to charge their EV)

Post: Add Solar to a SFH rental

Kyle Deutschmann
Posted
  • Lender
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Posts 402
  • Votes 197
Quote from @James Hamling:
Quote from @Kyle Deutschmann:
Quote from @James Hamling:
Quote from @Corby Goade:
Quote from @James Hamling:
Quote from @Corby Goade:
Quote from @Kyle Johnson:

Hello All,

I'm just curious. Will getting solar add any value, marketing and/or rental value to your SFH rental? Is it worth doing?

I can see it may add some marketing value but that's it. Curious if other have done this if they have a SFH rental.

If you ask a solar salesperson, they'll tell you it adds all kinds of value, but I've never heard of anyone getting any value out at the sale of the home. In my market, it makes them harder to sell, at best. If your tenants pay utilities, I'm not sure why you'd take on that debt. 

I don't sell solar unit's, I sell Real Estate. And what I have seen and experienced, 1st and 2nd hand, is when solar is PROPERLY utilized as a feature, it's lends a ROI of about 150% on just the unit pricing/value increase, which is saying 0 calculus of impact on utility offset's.

No, it's not a Blue-Collar real estate thing, it's for the property types that garner and most likely have a buyer/tenant with a Tesla. 

And all this about liens and so on, I have no idea what all that is about. Adding solar to a $800k+ home is cheap, dirt cheap in the big picture of things. Yes, on a $200k property I bet the cost to add solar is a big price tag in comparison to property price, but why on earth would you put it on that property? 

Again, as I have said previously, it's about amenity and property MATCH. 

If you think nobody value's a solar system, that it's a waste of $, that's just a statement of what income/wealth class your working in, that's the raw truth of it. There is a market for it, just like there is a market for luxury rentals, you may not be familiar with it but it exists. 

 I won't argue, you make some good points. I doubt it has to do with the "class" of property, I work in a market that has the cheapest electricity in the country, so that likely has a direct effect on the resale value of those systems. 


My experience with it, it seems to have all but nothing to do with electric bill off-set, seriously. Seems to be more a status thing. The only utilitarian place I experience any caring is connecting with EV charger, people love that, buyers and tenants. And again, I think it's more status symbol or some form of ego-stoke, everyone I've asked on #'s of savings etc., not a 1 has any idea, but they have all kinds of answers about how it looks, how cool, modern etc. it all is. 

Are you suggesting to your clients to install an EV charger but no solar? Doesn’t that defeat the point of getting an electric vehicle if you’re charging it from your coal and/or gas powered house? 

I’m not in your market, but I’d be happy to chat sometime and share with you my experience with solar and how it indeed can add value. I’ve been around the industry since a child and also spent 5 years in mortgages, so my question is often.. you’re telling your clients to OWN their home vs renting. Why not OWN your power and protect your clients against rising utility rates? As the demand for electricity continues to rise, so will utility rates…

Also, does every client want a pool? No. Similarly does everyone want solar? No. But it DOES save you money compared to the utility in the 3 states I operate in and it DOES indeed add value. Im happy to show you some data to change your mind :) 


No, I was inferring, and now out-right stating and I DO state/do, the very opposite of URGE when/if doing solar or have solar, one really should have an EV charger also. 

Solar without EV charger is like a burger without the bacon. 

And as I said, in my experience it's the concept of solar that people are all about, and in my opinion the status/ego of it, not the actual metrics of the numbers because everyone and I do mean LITERALLY every one of these consumers I have asked, not a 1 could tell me what those #'s were, not-a-1. But, they all said it was saving em a "bunch of $", lol. Not sure how they know that if have 0-clue of the #'s. 

But hey, like I said, I don't care about any of that. I care on what tenant/buyer it get's me and the ROI for the amenity, time to list saved, competitive advantage, my care is in the monetization side of things and NOT in schlepping solar to people.

If it were an alligator pit the market were happy to pay similar ROI on I'd be doing alligator pit's.


 Sorry I think I misread your message.. I thought I was the lone soldier on here defending solar haha. I would be happy to chat sometime and show you some numbers how it does truly make sense, at least in my market, to go solar. You can get instant monthly savings using a PPA or long term savings by paying cash/loan. 

The payback/ROI is about 7-10 years in Maryland and about 3-5 in DC with all the incentives. Once you pay it off, you're locked in for free energy for the remainder of the solar panels useful life. Our panels are warrantied and guaranteed to last at least 25 (altho they're actually designed and engineered to last about 40).

Battery technology (i.e. the SunPower SunVault or Tesla Powerwall) is where the bigger 'cost' is comparatively. Solar is where you get all the return on your investment. Batteries on the other hand are indeed still a luxury to have backup solar power during a blackout, which frankly doesn't happen often in my area. However, for states with bigger electric grid issues, I would definitely be considering a battery at some point if you want to have your own energy security/independence. 

Post: Add Solar to a SFH rental

Kyle Deutschmann
Posted
  • Lender
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Posts 402
  • Votes 197
Quote from @Carlos Ptriawan:
Quote from @Kyle Deutschmann:
Quote from @James Hamling:
Quote from @Corby Goade:
Quote from @James Hamling:
Quote from @Corby Goade:
Quote from @Kyle Johnson:

Hello All,

I'm just curious. Will getting solar add any value, marketing and/or rental value to your SFH rental? Is it worth doing?

I can see it may add some marketing value but that's it. Curious if other have done this if they have a SFH rental.

If you ask a solar salesperson, they'll tell you it adds all kinds of value, but I've never heard of anyone getting any value out at the sale of the home. In my market, it makes them harder to sell, at best. If your tenants pay utilities, I'm not sure why you'd take on that debt. 

My experience with it, it seems to have all but nothing to do with electric bill off-set, seriously. Seems to be more a status thing. The only utilitarian place I experience any caring is connecting with EV charger, people love that, buyers and tenants. And again, I think it's more status symbol or some form of ego-stoke, everyone I've asked on #'s of savings etc., not a 1 has any idea, but they have all kinds of answers about how it looks, how cool, modern etc. it all is. 

Are you suggesting to your clients to install an EV charger but no solar? Doesn’t that defeat the point of getting an electric vehicle if you’re charging it from your coal and/or gas powered house? 

For most EV owner we charge the car in the office where price is subsidized. There's no immediate need to install EV charger and solar.


 That makes sense, but the benefit of solar (tax credits, rebates, energy savings, lower monthly cost vs. the utility, SREC income, plus the environmental benefits) certainly outweigh the cost of sticking with the inflating utility company's rates. 

Happy to chat sometime and open your eyes to the world of solar if you'd like! Our panels are made in America, built to last 25 years, and cost less than the utility company in my three markets. 

Post: Add Solar to a SFH rental

Kyle Deutschmann
Posted
  • Lender
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Posts 402
  • Votes 197
Quote from @Ryan Kelly:

@Kyle Johnson Nope.


 Care to explain?  see my comments above if you want more info on my perspective as someone who has been around the solar industry for years. I’m happy to chat and share some data sometime to help change your mind about solar. 

It’s no longer a “left vs right” question when choosing solar. Environmentally of course it makes sense, but financially the economics are simply in favor of solar at this point.


I’d be happy to take a look at whatever data you’re seeing that is suggesting otherwise.

Post: Add Solar to a SFH rental

Kyle Deutschmann
Posted
  • Lender
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Posts 402
  • Votes 197
Quote from @James Hamling:
Quote from @Corby Goade:
Quote from @James Hamling:
Quote from @Corby Goade:
Quote from @Kyle Johnson:

Hello All,

I'm just curious. Will getting solar add any value, marketing and/or rental value to your SFH rental? Is it worth doing?

I can see it may add some marketing value but that's it. Curious if other have done this if they have a SFH rental.

If you ask a solar salesperson, they'll tell you it adds all kinds of value, but I've never heard of anyone getting any value out at the sale of the home. In my market, it makes them harder to sell, at best. If your tenants pay utilities, I'm not sure why you'd take on that debt. 

I don't sell solar unit's, I sell Real Estate. And what I have seen and experienced, 1st and 2nd hand, is when solar is PROPERLY utilized as a feature, it's lends a ROI of about 150% on just the unit pricing/value increase, which is saying 0 calculus of impact on utility offset's.

No, it's not a Blue-Collar real estate thing, it's for the property types that garner and most likely have a buyer/tenant with a Tesla. 

And all this about liens and so on, I have no idea what all that is about. Adding solar to a $800k+ home is cheap, dirt cheap in the big picture of things. Yes, on a $200k property I bet the cost to add solar is a big price tag in comparison to property price, but why on earth would you put it on that property? 

Again, as I have said previously, it's about amenity and property MATCH. 

If you think nobody value's a solar system, that it's a waste of $, that's just a statement of what income/wealth class your working in, that's the raw truth of it. There is a market for it, just like there is a market for luxury rentals, you may not be familiar with it but it exists. 

 I won't argue, you make some good points. I doubt it has to do with the "class" of property, I work in a market that has the cheapest electricity in the country, so that likely has a direct effect on the resale value of those systems. 


My experience with it, it seems to have all but nothing to do with electric bill off-set, seriously. Seems to be more a status thing. The only utilitarian place I experience any caring is connecting with EV charger, people love that, buyers and tenants. And again, I think it's more status symbol or some form of ego-stoke, everyone I've asked on #'s of savings etc., not a 1 has any idea, but they have all kinds of answers about how it looks, how cool, modern etc. it all is. 

Are you suggesting to your clients to install an EV charger but no solar? Doesn’t that defeat the point of getting an electric vehicle if you’re charging it from your coal and/or gas powered house? 

I’m not in your market, but I’d be happy to chat sometime and share with you my experience with solar and how it indeed can add value. I’ve been around the industry since a child and also spent 5 years in mortgages, so my question is often.. you’re telling your clients to OWN their home vs renting. Why not OWN your power and protect your clients against rising utility rates? As the demand for electricity continues to rise, so will utility rates…

Also, does every client want a pool? No. Similarly does everyone want solar? No. But it DOES save you money compared to the utility in the 3 states I operate in and it DOES indeed add value. Im happy to show you some data to change your mind :) 

Post: Add Solar to a SFH rental

Kyle Deutschmann
Posted
  • Lender
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Posts 402
  • Votes 197
Quote from @Corby Goade:
Quote from @Kyle Johnson:

Hello All,

I'm just curious. Will getting solar add any value, marketing and/or rental value to your SFH rental? Is it worth doing?

I can see it may add some marketing value but that's it. Curious if other have done this if they have a SFH rental.

If you ask a solar salesperson, they'll tell you it adds all kinds of value, but I've never heard of anyone getting any value out at the sale of the home. In my market, it makes them harder to sell, at best. If your tenants pay utilities, I'm not sure why you'd take on that debt. 
I can share several addresses of homes that sold with MORE with solar on the FRONT of your roof. 

My family owned a house and sold for $40k over list price with solar visible from the front… about 10% over list price. Please explain how this didn’t add value? We had 5 offers and sold in a bidding war way before this crazy marketing starting in 2020… 

Post: Add Solar to a SFH rental

Kyle Deutschmann
Posted
  • Lender
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Posts 402
  • Votes 197
Quote from @Jonathan R McLaughlin:

a bit like @James Hamling we have work with at least a few populations where there would be a perceived social benefit. We have looked at it, and looked at it....and can't make it work.  With any kind of financing you are essentially adding a lein to the property which has to be assumed or paid off. We have very good accountants who could maximize the tax benefit...still no. Its just not financially viable for us to put that much cash up front. Oh, and every single energy savings estimate we have gotten has been inflated.

Exception? We would definitely buy a home that had it installed if the seller took the hit and paid off the loan or knocked the price down accordingly. May have to wait for a different market cycle.


 I'm not in your market... but in our market we can provide Solar Power Purchase Agreements (similar to a lease), where you lock in a rate for your electricity, coming from clean, green energy on your roof. You can pay as little as $0 down, pay $0 in maintenance, take out $0 in loans, and simply lock in a rate for electricity for 25 years. 

Utility rates have gone up an average of ~4% per year over the past 30 years, and in my area I have noticed my bills go up about 30% from when I bought just a few years ago. 

I had a client that I was able to lower his electricity bill from $315/month on average down to $175/month on average. What tenant wouldn't like that? Plus a FIXED rate, not a variable utility rate. You already locked in a 30 year rate on your mortgage (I assume). Why not lock in a 25 year rate on your electricity 

Happy to chat sometime if you'd like to learn more! 

Also if you buy panels from us, none of our lenders put a lien on your home... sorry for all the mis-information out there or bad solar companies giving us a bad reputation.

Post: Add Solar to a SFH rental

Kyle Deutschmann
Posted
  • Lender
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Posts 402
  • Votes 197
Quote from @Kyle Johnson:

Hello All,

I'm just curious. Will getting solar add any value, marketing and/or rental value to your SFH rental? Is it worth doing?

I can see it may add some marketing value but that's it. Curious if other have done this if they have a SFH rental.


Solar can absolutely add value to your home, but it does depend a bit on your market in terms of local incentives as well as local utility rates compared to solar energy rates.. Here are a few ways solar pays for itself and hands down adds value to your home as long as you install good panels from a good contractor...

1) For primary & secondary homes, you can get 30% of the investment into solar back on your federal income tax returns (assuming you qualify)

2) Some states like Maryland have an extra $1000 rebate on top of that. 

3) 8 states including DC, MD, and VA have a Solar Renewable Energy Credit/Certificate Market (SREC) where you can earn passive income by selling your SRECS to the utility companies (through a broker) to meet local 'green' regulations.

4) If you don't want to buy the panels (or take out a loan) you can do a SunPower Power Purchase Agreement where you put $0 down, pay $0 in maintenance, and simply lock in a lower rate vs. the utility company for 25 years. Some other company's solar leases are non-transferrable. SunPower's PPA's are indeed transferrable to the next homeowner. Or you can include them in the cost of your home sale and the next homeowner simply owns the panels. 

5) According to a Zillow study, homes with solar sold for about 4.1% more than homes without solar. 

Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions about going solar and how it can add value to your home. My parents sold their home for about 10% over list price in 2014 and again in 2019 with solar on the FRONT of their roof (visible from the street).