Everything you want to know about Lowtility.

Lowtility is a mortgage program — not a solar company — that lets you finance your home, solar panels, and smart home upgrades all in one loan. The goal is to reduce your total monthly cost of homeownership by lowering your utility bills at the same time you buy.

Lowtility is a proprietary loan product of Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. (PRMI) — we underwrite it and service it in-house. Once your loan closes, your payments come directly to us. That said, we follow guidelines similar to FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, so the process will feel familiar if you have purchased a home before.

A normal mortgage only funds the house. Lowtility adds energy-saving improvements — solar panels, battery backup, smart home systems — into the same loan. Because those improvements reduce your utility bills, your total monthly cost (mortgage + utilities) can be lower than a traditional loan on the same home.

It's a mortgage, offered through Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. There is no separate solar loan, no solar lease, and no additional lien on your home. Everything is wrapped into one mortgage payment.

We can get you pre-approved in as little as 48 hours. The key driver is your income documents — the faster we receive your full income docs, the faster we can get you fully approved and ready to make offers.

Contact Don Worthington: (385) 469-1555 or [email protected]. You can also get pre-approved at lowtility.com/homebuyers.

Lowtility does not charge the dealer fees that solar companies are normally billed by lenders (typically 15–40% of system cost). Because those fees do not exist here, the solar company passes those savings to you as contributions toward your down payment and closing costs — enough to cover them entirely in many cases.

Your mortgage payment will be slightly higher — but your utility bills will drop significantly. In real borrower examples, the utility savings exceeded the mortgage increase, resulting in a lower total monthly cost. What matters is mortgage + utilities combined, not the mortgage alone.

Yes. The loan can exceed the appraised value because the energy improvements add measurable value. This allows solar and smart home costs to be financed above the home's sale price — a unique and powerful feature of this program.

The minimum is 580. There are no maximum income overlays and no geographic overlays — meaning more buyers qualify here than for most traditional down payment assistance programs.

Not at all. Unlike government DPA programs, Lowtility has no income limits. The contribution comes from the solar company — not a government grant — so income caps do not apply.

The federal Investment Tax Credit (currently 30%) for solar may apply to the solar portion of your loan. Consult a tax professional — this credit can significantly reduce your net cost over time.

Yes. Because solar is financed through your mortgage — not a lease or a separate solar loan — you own the panels outright from day one. No solar company lien, no lease payment, no complications when you sell.

That's fine and it's planned for. The improvement funds are held in an Escrow Holdback at closing. You can move in immediately, and once installation is complete, the escrow funds are released to the contractor.

Yes. Lowtility finances any product that reduces or eliminates utility costs — battery storage, smart thermostats, EV chargers, and other smart home upgrades can all be rolled into the same loan.

Solar systems are sized based on your home's energy profile and local solar data. Your loan officer and solar partner model the savings before you commit. If the numbers do not work for your situation, you will be told upfront.

Homes with clear, unobstructed access to the sky tend to work best. If there are trees heavily shading the roof, they may need to be trimmed. Most single-family homes are excellent candidates — we evaluate roof angle, orientation, and shading as part of the process.

We start with a base system that works on 95% of homes. It will not offset your entire power bill, but it will reduce it by approximately $100–$125 per month. Once you go under contract on a specific home, we will show you additional options tailored to that property. Before closing, you will choose from those upgrades to maximize your savings.

The name says it all — Lowtility. If a product lowers your utility bill, there is a high probability we can include it in the loan. Think battery storage, smart thermostats, EV chargers, efficient HVAC systems, and more.

The math is straightforward: your loan balance is higher, but your utility bills are lower. We run a simple formula — buying power in your utility payments minus the cost of the solar system. If the result is positive, it works in your favor. If it does not make sense for your situation, we will tell you before you go any further.

No. Traditional solar loans hide dealer fees of 15–40% of system cost inside the loan — in one real example, a couple paid $99,921 for a system that cost under $22,000. Lowtility does not charge those fees. Our mission specifically includes protecting homebuyers from predatory solar financing.

That is what makes this program great. As long as you sell your home for at least what you owe on your mortgage, there is nothing extra to do — the new buyers get solar included with the purchase. No lease to transfer, no lien to pay off, no complications. The solar just comes with the home.

With this program — yes, because you own the system free and clear. Solar financed with a lease or that has a UCC-1 or fixture filing does NOT increase the value of a home. Per FHFA guidance to appraisers, leased solar cannot be factored into appraised value. Because Lowtility buyers own their system outright, the solar adds real, appraised value.

The zero down option is only available for a primary residence (1–4 units). That said, the Lowtility program can still be used on investment properties and second homes — those will simply require a down payment. Contact us to discuss the options for your specific situation.

Condos and townhouses are evaluated case by case. The two key factors are the roof — whether it is suitable for solar installation and who owns it — and the HOA, since some associations have restrictions on solar panels. Reach out and we will quickly assess whether your specific property qualifies.

Yes, with some restrictions. Manufactured homes can work under this program, but there are additional requirements to evaluate. Contact us directly to confirm eligibility for your specific home.

As a safe guideline, follow FHA loan limits for your area. In many markets we can go up to conventional loan limits. In certain cases we can also accommodate jumbo loan sizes — that is evaluated case by case. Contact us to confirm limits for your specific market.

Yes. Many existing homeowners are using Lowtility to add renewable energy into their mortgage through a refinance. If you already own your home and want to add solar, battery backup, or other utility-reducing improvements, a Lowtility refinance may be a great fit.

Lowtility targets a 30-day close of escrow with a 2-week finance and contingency date — a standard purchase timeline. Solar installation happens after closing through the Escrow Holdback, so it does not delay anything.

That is actually the best time to talk to us. Other quotes show your mortgage payment — they do not show what you will pay in utilities every month for 30 years. A side-by-side comparison of total monthly cost often changes the decision completely.

"It's a mortgage that includes solar panels in the loan. The solar company contributes to your down payment and closing costs, so you can buy with zero cash to close — and your total monthly cost including utilities ends up lower than a traditional mortgage on the same home."

At this time, no. Lowtility is a proprietary loan product specific to Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. (PRMI). We underwrite and service the loan ourselves, which is part of what makes the program work. Buyers and agents interested in this program work directly with a PRMI loan officer.

Yes. Lowtility is offered through Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. (PRMI), a fully licensed lender. It is not a PACE loan, not a solar lease, and not a secondary lien product. It is a conventional mortgage structure with energy improvements financed into the loan amount.

Yes — and this is important for agents to understand. The solar and improvement costs do not have to fit within the appraised value, which means deals that might otherwise be tight on cash to close can still work. The buyer's total monthly cost is what drives the math.

The sweet spot is a 580–680 credit score buyer looking for 100% financing who does not qualify for income-restricted DPA programs. This includes buyers who earn too much for government assistance but need help with cash to close, and first-time buyers with steady income but limited savings.

Lead with the question: 'Has any lender mentioned your utility bills yet?' The answer is always no. That opens the door naturally. You are not pitching solar — you are offering a total cost comparison that no other lender is showing them.

It is worth a 15-minute comparison conversation before they lock. Most buyers at that stage have only seen their mortgage payment — not total monthly cost including utilities. If they are draining savings to close, this conversation can change the outcome significantly.

Because Lowtility does not charge the dealer fees that traditional solar financing bills to solar installers, those savings are redirected to the buyer — as contributions toward down payment, closing costs, or rate buydowns. In real examples this has covered $23,000+ in cash-to-close costs.

No. Lowtility targets a standard 30-day close with a 2-week finance and contingency date. Solar installation happens after closing via Escrow Holdback, so it does not delay close or affect the seller's timeline in any way.

The transaction looks identical to a standard purchase mortgage from the seller's perspective. The solar component is entirely between the buyer, lender, and solar partner — it does not affect how the seller is paid, the close date, or the title process.

Not before the offer, but it needs to be scoped during the pre-approval and contract process so the cost can be included in the final loan amount. The loan officer coordinates with the solar partner during the standard contract period.

The home is appraised at its standard market value. The solar and improvement costs are financed above the appraised value by design — the appraiser does not need to value the future system for the loan to work.

No. Agent commissions are paid at closing the same way as any standard transaction. The solar contribution goes to the buyer's down payment and closing costs — it does not reduce seller concessions or impact the commission structure.

Agents who introduce Lowtility early in the buyer conversation are offering something no one else is — a total cost analysis that makes the home more affordable without requiring more cash. It is a powerful differentiator when competing for buyers working with multiple agents.

Do not sell solar — sell the financial outcome. Ask: 'Would you rather pay $200/month to the utility company forever, or $25/month because your home makes its own power?' The solar is the mechanism. The product is a lower total cost of living. If the numbers work, skepticism fades fast.

Run the formula. Even a $150/month utility bill equals roughly $25,000 in buying power. If the solar system costs less than that figure, the program works in their favor. Show them the math — it is not subjective.

This is actually a selling point. Most bad solar experiences involve predatory dealer fees, lease agreements, or aggressive sales tactics. Lowtility was specifically designed to protect against those practices. The solar is owned not leased, there are no hidden dealer fees, and the financing is a standard mortgage.