What is required for solar panels?

Properties with Solar Panels

The ownership and debt financing structures commonly found with solar panels are key to determining whether the panels are third-party owned, personal property of the homeowner, or a fixture to the real estate. Common ownership or financing structures include: 

• borrower-owned panels,
• leasing agreements,
• separately financed solar panels (where the panels serve as collateral for debt distinct from any existing mortgage); or
• power purchase agreements.

Fannie Mae will purchase or securitize a mortgage loan on a property with solar panels. If the borrower is, or will be, the owner of the solar panels (meaning the panels were a cash purchase, were included in the home purchase price, were otherwise financed and repaid in full, or are secured by the existing first mortgage), our standard requirements apply (for example, appraisal, insurance, and title).

Properties with solar panels and other energy efficient items financed with a PACE loan are not eligible for delivery to Fannie Mae if the PACE loan is not paid in full prior to or at closing. For additional information, see B5-3.4-01, Property Assessed Clean Energy Loans.

Lenders are responsible for determining the ownership and any financing structure of the subject property’s solar panels in order to properly underwrite the loan and maintain first lien position of the mortgage. When financing is involved, lenders may be able to make this determination by evaluating the borrower’s credit report for solar-related debt and by asking the borrower for a copy of all related documentation for the loan. The lender must also review the title report to determine if the related debt is reflected in the land records associated with the subject property. If insufficient documentation is available and the ownership status of the panels is unclear, no value for the panels may be attributed to the property value on the appraisal unless the lender obtains a UCC “personal property” search that confirms the solar panels are not claimed as collateral by any non-mortgage lender.

Lenders are responsible for ensuring the appraiser has accurate information about the ownership structure of the solar panels and that the appraisal appropriately addresses any impact to the property’s value. Separately financed solar panels must not contribute to the value of the property unless the related documents indicate the panels cannot be repossessed in the event of default on the associated financing. Any contributory value for owned or financed solar panels must comply with Energy Efficiency Improvements in B4-1.3-05, Improvements Section of the Appraisal Report.

The following table summarizes some of the specific underwriting criteria that must be applied depending on the details of any non-mortgage financing for the solar panels.

*A fixture filing is a UCC-1 financing statement authorized and made in accordance with the UCC adopted in the state in which the related real property is located. It covers property that is, or will be, affixed to improvements to such real property. It contains both a description of the collateral that is, or is to be, affixed to that such property, and a description of such real property. It is filed in the same office that mortgages are recorded under the law of the state in which the real property is located. Filing in the land records provides notice to third parties, including title insurance companies, of the existence and perfection of a security interest in the fixture. If properly filed, the security interest in the described fixture has priority over the lien of a subsequently recorded mortgage.

If the solar panels are leased from or owned by a third party under a power purchase agreement or other similar lease arrangement, the following requirements apply (whether to the original agreement or as subsequently amended).