GoodLeap Won't Let Buyer Assume Loan: What Now?

Unstuck Solar (SGI) is an independent service and is not GoodLeap. Company names are used for identification only.

📄 Get this guide as a free PDF

Print it, save it, or send it to your title company.

Download free PDF

As of November 10, 2026. General information, not legal advice. SGI is not a law firm. Your loan agreement and your state's law control. Talk to a licensed real estate or consumer attorney about your situation.

You've found a buyer, but GoodLeap won't approve them to take over your solar loan. Here's what GoodLeap's own terms say, why a denial usually means a payoff at closing, and how to keep the sale moving.

The short answer

  • Assumption is possible but not guaranteed. GoodLeap says a buyer who wants to assume the loan must "apply and qualify under GoodLeap's underwriting guidelines." GoodLeap "reserve[s] the right to decline the assumption if the new homeowner doesn't meet our criteria" [1].
  • If GoodLeap declines, the loan gets paid off. "If the assumption is not approved, the loan balance will need to be paid off as part of the sale process" [1].
  • GoodLeap says it charges no prepayment penalty: "GoodLeap never assesses any fee or penalty for prepayments" [1].
  • GoodLeap says its filing isn't a lien on your house. It describes the UCC-1 and county fixture filing as "not a lien against your home." It says the filing covers the solar equipment only [1].

What GoodLeap says about selling your home

GoodLeap's FAQ gives sellers two options [1]:

  1. Pay off the loan from the sale proceeds. GoodLeap says most homeowners choose this.
  2. Transfer (assume) the loan. The buyer applies, the assumption is subject to GoodLeap's approval, and GoodLeap can decline it.

GoodLeap's FAQ also says to call 1-800-345-9372 if you want to sell and have an existing GoodLeap loan, lease or PPA [1].

What a denial looks like in practice. On a public BBB complaint, GoodLeap's written response (dated October 13, 2026) told a home buyer that their March 2026 application to assume the seller's loan "was declined because it did not meet GoodLeap's underwriting requirements." As a result, the loan stayed in the original borrower's name [2]. This is a single case. It doesn't show how often GoodLeap approves or declines assumptions.

Important: The BBB example shows a risky outcome. The house sold, but the loan was not transferred and stayed with the original borrower. Before closing, get written confirmation of whether the loan will be paid off or assumed. Don't assume a transfer happened just because the deed did.

Why GoodLeap might decline a buyer

GoodLeap's FAQ says only that the buyer must meet its "underwriting guidelines" and "criteria" [1]. The FAQ doesn't list those criteria. Ask GoodLeap in writing what the buyer needs to provide and the reason for any denial. Under Regulation B, a creditor generally has 30 days after receiving a completed application to notify the applicant of its decision. If the decision is adverse, the notice must include either the specific reasons or a statement of the applicant's right to request them [11]. The buyer, as the applicant, is the person who would receive that notice.

Your options if the assumption is denied

  1. Pay off at closing (most common). - Get a payoff quote in the GoodLeap Home app. GoodLeap says you can select the account, tap "Payoff Quote," and receive a PDF showing the total and its breakdown [1]. - Give the quote to your title or escrow company, and make sure its good-through date covers your closing date.
  2. Negotiate with the buyer. You and the buyer can renegotiate price or credits to account for the payoff. Discuss it with your agent.
  3. Ask GoodLeap what would change the decision. Before you rework the deal, ask GoodLeap in writing whether the buyer can reapply or add a co-applicant.
  4. Roll the balance into a mortgage (refinance before you sell). GoodLeap advertises that its Mortgage Division can roll a solar loan into a mortgage [1]. Compare rates and costs independently.
  5. Dispute the loan itself if the system was misrepresented or never worked. Some consumer loans carry the FTC Holder Rule notice, which lets you raise claims against the seller with the loan holder, up to amounts paid [7]. Talk to an attorney.

Payoff and UCC-1 release when you sell

  • What's filed: GoodLeap says it files a UCC-1 financing statement with the state and a county fixture filing. It says these cover "the solar system only," and that it doesn't hold "any interest in your home (first, second, or otherwise)" [1].
  • Questions about the filing: filings@goodleapsupport.com [1].
  • Refinancing: GoodLeap says no legal action is needed and the mortgage "can be refinanced as-is." In some situations it "may agree to lift our county UCC-1 filing on the Solar Equipment for a limited period provided we will be able to refile upon closing" [1].
  • After payoff: for consumer goods, the model UCC § 9-513 requires the secured party to file a termination within one month after the debt is paid, or within 20 days of your authenticated demand, whichever comes first. State versions vary [5]. Ask GoodLeap for a paid-in-full letter and a copy of the filed termination (UCC-3) for both the state and county filings.
  • Mortgage lenders: Fannie Mae's Selling Guide requires lenders to determine who owns the panels and how they're financed. Lenders must also review the title report for related debt, and they may use a UCC "personal property" search [6]. Ask your buyer's lender early how it will treat the GoodLeap filing.

Complaints, regulator and court activity

  • BBB (checked Nov 10, 2026): GoodLeap, LLC has an A+ rating and is BBB Accredited. It shows 1,324 complaints in the last 3 years and 442 in the last 12 months [2][3].
  • Minnesota Attorney General lawsuit: on March 8, 2024, Minnesota's AG announced a lawsuit against GoodLeap, Sunlight Financial, Solar Mosaic and Dividend Solar Finance. The suit alleges hidden fees on more than 5,000 solar-panel purchases in Minnesota [12]. As of November 10, 2026, BBB's GoodLeap profile lists the case as a pending government action whose allegations "have not yet been proven" [3].
  • Proposed class action: Dominguez and Leja v. GoodLeap, LLC was filed May 29, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. It's a proposed class action by active-duty servicemembers alleging deceptive solar-financing practices. These are allegations, not findings [4].
  • CFPB database: we found no company named "GoodLeap" or "Loanpal" in the CFPB complaint database's company list as of November 10, 2026. GoodLeap complaints may be filed under another name or may not appear. See the tracker notes [8].
  • Complain to GoodLeap directly: GoodLeap's complaints page lists Maria Mellott, Vice President, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, 8781 Sierra College Blvd., Roseville, CA 95661, 916-475-1255, consumercomplaints@goodleap.com [9].

If your loan is with Solar Servicing (formerly Mosaic)

Solar Servicing LLC announced on September 22, 2025 that it had acquired Mosaic's loan servicing operations [10]. Its homeowner FAQ is stricter than GoodLeap's on transfers [10]:

  • No transfers: "At this time, we do not offer loan transfers." To sell a home with an active loan, it suggests paying the loan off.
  • Payoff letters: for a payoff demand letter or a payoff amount for a specific date up to 10 calendar days out, email loanservicing@solarservicingllc.com.
  • No refinancing: it says it doesn't offer refinancing.
  • No prepayment penalties.
  • Equipment-only lien: its UCC-1 state and county filings cover the solar equipment, "not a lien on the real property."

For more detail, see our Solar Servicing guide.

How Unstuck Solar can help

SGI can help review your contract and your options. Not a law firm. We'll tell you when you need one. Results vary.

Tell us about your contract →

FAQ

Can a buyer take over my GoodLeap solar loan? Possibly. The buyer must apply and qualify, and GoodLeap can decline [1].

What happens if GoodLeap denies the assumption? GoodLeap says the balance will need to be paid off as part of the sale [1].

Does GoodLeap charge a prepayment penalty? GoodLeap's FAQ says it never charges a prepayment fee or penalty [1]. Check your own loan agreement.

Is the GoodLeap UCC-1 a lien on my house? GoodLeap says no: its filings cover the solar equipment and aren't a lien against your home [1]. Title companies may still require the filing to be addressed before closing.

How do I get a GoodLeap payoff quote? In the GoodLeap Home app, choose the account and tap "Payoff Quote" [1].

Will GoodLeap remove the UCC filing for a refinance? GoodLeap says a refinance can usually proceed as-is. In some cases it may temporarily lift the county filing if it can refile after closing [1].

What if the house sold but the loan wasn't transferred? The original borrower may still owe it, as in the BBB example above [2]. Contact GoodLeap in writing right away, and talk to an attorney.

Not legal advice. SGI is not a law firm. Figures and statuses are as of November 10, 2026 and can change. Consult a licensed attorney about your situation.

Sources

  1. GoodLeap, FAQ (Home Sale / Refinance; Payments): https://www.goodleap.com/faq
  2. BBB, GoodLeap, LLC complaints (business response dated 10/13/2026; viewed Nov. 10, 2026): https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/roseville/profile/construction-loans/goodleap-llc-1156-33013909/complaints
  3. BBB, GoodLeap, LLC business profile (rating, accreditation, government action; viewed Nov. 10, 2026): https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/roseville/profile/construction-loans/goodleap-llc-1156-33013909
  4. Virginia Courts Daily, "Active-duty military members sue GoodLeap solar lender for alleged deceptive loan practices" (June 5, 2026): https://vacourtsdaily.com/active-duty-military-members-sue-goodleap-solar-lender-for-alleged-deceptive-loan-practices
  5. UCC § 9-513, Cornell LII: https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/9/9-513
  6. Fannie Mae Selling Guide B2-3-04: https://selling-guide.fanniemae.com/sel/b2-3-04/special-property-eligibility-considerations
  7. FTC Holder Rule, 16 C.F.R. § 433.2, Cornell LII: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/16/433.2
  8. CFPB Consumer Complaint Database API (queried Nov. 10, 2026): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/search/api/v1/
  9. GoodLeap, Consumer Complaints: https://www.goodleap.com/complaints
  10. Solar Servicing LLC, Homeowner FAQs: https://solarservicingllc.com/homeowner-faqs/ and home page: https://solarservicingllc.com/
  11. Regulation B, 12 C.F.R. § 1002.9 (Notifications), Cornell LII: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/12/1002.9
  12. Minnesota Attorney General, "Attorney General Ellison sues solar lenders over $35M in deceptive hidden fees" (Mar. 8, 2024): https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2024/03/08_SolarLending.asp
Call now (321) 732-6830

Calls may go to voicemail; leave your name, state, and solar company and we'll call you back.

Keep this guide

Download the PDF version, free.

Download free PDF

Get help with your solar contract

Your lease, PPA or loan, in about 60 seconds.

Leave the first box unchecked for email-only contact. SGI is not a law firm. No legal advice. Results vary.

See my options →