Amanda,
I can only tell you my experience at looking at solar
The solar panels only have a usable life of 15 to 20 years.
You need to look at when the break even point is.
These are some suggestions to help you find out.
1. Your average annual electric bill.
2. How many panels will you need to produce all of the power you need and then some.
3. Look at the cost of buying the solar panels outright.
4. Look at the cost of a lease. Does the payment escalate over the life of the lease.
5. Look at paying the total lease cost up front.
6. Now look at how many years it will take of solar production to break even with the cost of the system.
7. If you lease is the lease transferable to a potential new owner
8. Solar panels need to be cleaned at least four times per year. Does the Solar Company offer a cleaning service and how much will it cost?
9. If the solar panels are on the roof where you can easily access them perhaps you would want to clean them yourself.
10. Cleaning soalar panels is easy but it must be done when the air temp. is cool to stop the panels from cracking.
11. Look at the solar tile option as a way to reroof your home with a solar system that is better looking than solar panels
My system is a lease so at the end of the lease, they can give me the system, I can buy the system or they can remove it.
My option would be to replace the panels which should be a lower cost as I already have the framing and the inverter system.
I hope this helps.
Jim