Does Solar Add Value to Your
Dallas or Fort Worth Home?

Short answer: yes, solar consistently adds real, measurable value to homes in DFW. But the magnitude varies based on system size, home value, neighborhood, and whether you own or lease. Here’s what the data says — and what DFW-specific factors make this market particularly favorable for solar ROI.

What the Research Actually Shows

A widely cited Zillow study found that homes with solar sold for an average of 4.1% more than comparable homes without. A Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study tracking 22,000+ solar home sales across eight states found similar premiums of $4 per watt of installed capacity — meaning a 7 kW system adds roughly $28,000 to home value.

These are national averages. In high-electricity-cost markets with strong solar awareness — which DFW increasingly is — the premium tends toward the higher end of that range.

DFW-Specific Factors

Several factors make DFW particularly favorable for solar home value appreciation:

• High electricity costs: DFW buyers understand energy bills. A home that Lowers a $230/month electricity cost is demonstrably more valuable — and buyers can do the math.
• Texas property tax exemption: As noted above, Texas exempts solar-added home value from property taxes entirely. This means buyers inherit the value without paying higher taxes on it.
• Buyer awareness: DFW has one of the fastest-growing solar install rates in the country. Buyers increasingly seek solar homes, and real estate agents are more adept at presenting owned solar as a financial asset. Note that the federal residential ITC expired after 2025 — buyers can no longer offset a new system with that credit, which makes an already-installed owned system even more attractive to them.
• Hot climate premium: In markets where A/C dominates energy bills 6+ months a year, a solar home’s savings are most apparent and most marketable.

The Critical Caveat: Owned vs. Leased

Owned systems add clear, unencumbered value. Leased systems are more complicated. When you sell a home with a solar lease, the buyer must either assume the lease (which requires qualification and approval from the leasing company) or you must buy out the lease before closing. This can delay or complicate transactions.

Buyers are generally less willing to pay a premium for a leased system since the financial benefits don’t fully transfer. An owned system is a clean asset. A lease is a liability for some buyers. This is one of the strongest arguments for loan financing over leasing.

How Appraisers Value Solar in Texas

Texas appraisers increasingly use the income approach for solar — calculating the present value of future electricity savings. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both have guidance instructing appraisers to consider solar as a value-adding feature, which means lenders are on board. The challenge is finding comparable solar home sales in your specific neighborhood, which is why working with a solar-experienced realtor matters when it’s time to sell.