Adding or inheriting solar on a Sun City home is a different math problem than newer communities — older roofs may need replacement before solar makes sense; existing lease vs purchase scenarios get tricky; and APS+SRP rates change frequently. The full solar buyer's guide is coming. Quick highlights below.
(1) Your roof has 15+ years of life left (older roofs need replacement first — solar removal/reinstall adds $3-5K). (2) You'll live here 7+ years (the payback math needs time). (3) You use 1,000+ kWh/month in summer (AZ summer A/C makes the numbers work). (4) You can pay cash or get a clean home equity loan — solar leases are usually a bad deal at resale.
Many Sun City homes have existing solar leases from 2015-2020 vintages. These transfer to new owners but can be negative-value if the lease cost exceeds current utility rates. Always read the lease agreement before closing — we help our buyers analyze them line by line. Call us if you're considering a home with solar already installed.