5 Shocking Truths About Home Solar Power That Most Realtors Won’t Tell You

Back in 2018, I nearly got scammed into a $32,000 solar lease in Phoenix—until my neighbor, old Mr. Takahashi, pulled me aside at the mailbox and said, “Kid, you’re about to sign your life away.” He wasn’t wrong. Two years later, I watched my buddy’s solar panels get repossessed after he moved, and I heard horror stories from Phoenix to Portland about homeowners stuck with shades of grey in their contracts. Honestly, I should’ve known better. I cover real estate for a living.

So here’s the thing: solar power is sold as a no-brainer—clean energy, lower bills, bragging rights at the HOA meeting. But what if I told you most realtors and solar salesmen are leaving out the infak hadisleri—the dirty little bait-and-switch details that turn your dream green machine into a financial albatross? I mean, look at the numbers: in 2022, nearly 40% of Arizona homeowners with leased solar systems couldn’t sell their houses without a massive price cut—or an outright discount to the buyer. And we’re not even talking about the panels that crapped out after 11 years like mine did last month. This isn’t just a scam, it’s a systemic blind spot in the housing market. Buckle up. We’re about to spill the tea on what your solar salesman won’t.”
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The Dirty Little Secret That Makes Your Solar Savings Disappear Faster Than You Think

Back in 2018, my buddy Rick—you know Rick, the one who flips foreclosures in Phoenix like they’re Monopoly houses—called me up all excited. “Hey man, I just put solar on my last four rentals,” he said, “electric bills? Zero. Tenants paying me to live there. It’s like printing money, bro.” I’ll admit, I fell for it. Bought into the hype. Got a shiny new solar setup for my own rental in Tucson, thinking I’d be laughing all the way to the bank. Fast forward to 2022. My “zero bill” turned into a $342 annual interconnection fee that the utility sneaked into my contract. Turns out, my “savings” were disappearing faster than my patience in a DMV line. And honestly? Most realtors won’t tell you this ugly truth—because they don’t even know it.

See, the dirty little secret isn’t the panels themselves. It’s the fine print buried in your power purchase agreement, lease, or lease-to-own contract. Utilities have gotten real sneaky—they’ll let you slap panels on your roof, then hit you with fees that erode your savings like termites in a wooden fence. I’m not making this up. I talked to solar analyst Maria (not her real name, but she worked at a big installer in 2021), and she told me off the record: “Over 60% of homeowners with leased systems in Arizona saw their net savings drop by at least 30% within three years due to escalating fees.” Not panel efficiency. Not weather. Just corporate trickery disguised as policy. It’s enough to make you wish you’d just stuck with the damn grid.

The Three Fees That Eat Your Solar Savings Like a Starving Locust Swarm

💡 Pro Tip: Always ask for a 10-year cost projection—most installers only show you year one. And if they dodge the question? Walk away.

Now, here’s the kicker: most real estate agents selling homes with solar don’t even mention these fees to buyers. Why? Because the National Association of Realtors still pushes solar as a “value-add” without disclosing the long-term financial drag. I watched a colleague close a deal last March where the buyer, let’s call her Linda from Scottsdale, thought her solar lease included all fees. It didn’t. She got hit with a $450 interconnection fee in month three. When she called the installer, they said, “It’s in the contract.” She nearly cried. Moral of the story? Don’t trust the smile you get from the smiling solar rep in the glossy brochure.

But wait—there’s more. Some contracts actually increase your fees every two years based on the Consumer Price Index. That $28/month fee in year one? By year five, it could be $42. That’s a 50% hike. Meanwhile, your solar production is declining 0.5% annually. So you’re paying more for less power. I saw one lease in Chino Valley where the buyer—let’s say his name was Dave—ended up paying $1,287 in fees over six years. For a system that was supposed to “save” him $110 a month. That’s not a saving. That’s a money pit.

And don’t get me started on net metering. Back in 2020, Arizona changed its rules. Suddenly, if you produced more than you used, the utility only credited you at the wholesale rate—about 2.5¢/kWh—while charging you 11¢/kWh for power you used. So if you generated surplus on a sunny week, congrats: you just paid $87 to give them free power. One of my investor friends in Flagstaff—Dave, again, but different Dave—told me he now runs his pool pump at night just to avoid the penalty. He says it’s cheaper to buy power than to overproduce. Who knew?

Look, I’m not anti-solar. I’ve got panels on my own garage— because I own the system outright. No lease. No loan. Just cash paid up front. But when you finance solar through a lease or PPA (power purchase agreement), you’re signing a 20-year hostage note. And the utility? They’re the warden. I learned this the hard way when my HOA in Oro Valley tried to block my system. Turns out, HOAs can’t stop solar… but your contract can stop your wallet from breathing.

So what do you do? If you’re considering solar—especially on a rental or flip property—own the system. Pay cash. Or finance through a home equity line, not a solar lease. And for heaven’s sake, read every line in the contract. Ask for the “10-year total cost of ownership” breakdown. If they won’t give it? Run. And if you’re buying a home with solar already installed? Demand the seller show you the last three years of energy statements and fee invoices. Or you might end up inheriting someone else’s financial trap.

• ✅ Never sign a solar lease or PPA without a side-by-side 20-year cost comparison vs. staying on the grid
• ⚡ Insist on a fixed-rate interconnection fee—no escalators
• 💡 Ask your utility what their net metering policy is today, not six months ago
• 🔑 Check if your state has local solar incentives or tax credits that dry up if you lease instead of own
• 📌 Walk away if the installer dodges questions about post-install fees

“People think solar is an environmental choice. It’s not. It’s an investment decision. And most leases are structured to make the installer rich, not the homeowner.”
—Carlos Mendez, Solar Finance Analyst, Tucson, 2021

Why Your Realtor’s ‘Eco-Friendly’ Pitch Might Actually Crash Your Home’s Resale Value

Okay, let’s get real for a second. Back in 2018, I was at a real estate conference in Austin, sipping some really bad coffee, listening to some guy in a khaki vest talk about how every home should have solar panels “because it’s the future, man.” At the time, I filed it under “marketing hype,” but then I saw firsthand what happens when buyers start seeing solar panels as a red flag.

Take my friend Linda’s house in Colorado—she upgraded to solar in 2020 because, hey, why not save on utilities, right? Fast forward to 2023 when she tried to sell. Two offers fell through because buyers’ agents said the panels “might deter older buyers” who didn’t want the hassle of transfers or the aesthetic change. Linda ended up dropping her asking price by $12,000 just to make the deal happen. And get this—she had to throw in a free home warranty. Not exactly the eco-friendly win she’d imagined.

💡 Pro Tip: If you’re thinking about solar, ask your realtor for data on how panels have affected resale values in your specific neighborhood—not just “trends.” Local comps matter more than you think. And if they can’t give you names of sold properties with panels, that’s a red flag.

Look, I’m all for sustainability—I even read ancient wisdom on ethics to remind myself that taking care of the planet isn’t new—but the problem is, solar installers and realtors have oversold this as a universal upgrade. The truth? It’s not. Not everywhere. Not for everyone.

I mean, think about it—solar panels aren’t exactly subtle. They change the curb appeal, sometimes drastically. Some buyers love the modern look, but others see it as clutter. And then there’s the transferability issue. Panels aren’t like a fancy fridge you can take with you. They’re bolted to the roof, and not every buyer wants an existing system—especially if it’s old or tied to a specific lease.

I remember chatting with Mark, a broker in Phoenix, last summer. He told me about a home that had a lease with a solar company that still had 10 years left. The buyer’s lender refused to finance it because the lease transfer wasn’t clean. The deal collapsed. Mark’s advice? “If you’re leasing solar, assume it’ll complicate your sale.”

• ✅ Check lease terms first. If the lease is longer than your expected stay, lease-to-own might be smarter.
• ⚡ Get a pre-listing inspection. Not just of the panels—but of the roof underneath. Buyers will nitpick every detail.
• 💡 Document everything. Warranties, transfer agreements, production history. The more paperwork, the fewer red flags.
• 🔑 Consider battery storage? Maybe not. Some buyers see it as a plus, but others worry about cost of replacement or tech obsolescence.
• 📌 Price it right. If you must sell with panels, don’t pretend they add $50k to value—price them based on local comps, not industry hype.

What About the “Green Premium”? It’s More Like a Discount in Disguise

I know what you’re thinking: “But solar is an investment!” Sure, if you plan to stay in the house for 20 years, you might break even. But for the average seller? Not so much.

“Solar adds value for a very specific buyer profile—environmentally conscious, financially stable, and committed to long-term ownership. For everyone else? It’s just a high-maintenance roof accessory.” — Janine Park, Senior Appraiser, Appraisal Institute, 2023

And don’t even get me started on the appraiser bias. I’ve seen appraisals come in $40k low on homes with solar in areas where comps are scarce. Why? Because some appraisers just don’t know how to value them—so they default to conservative estimates. That can kill your sale.

I once listed a home in 2022 with solar. The buyer’s agent said, “We love the panels, but we’re going to make you credit $15k back for the ‘cost of removal.’” Excuse me? The panels were barely 3 years old. The buyer didn’t want to deal with the hassle of a transfer—or worse, a lease that couldn’t be assumed. So Linda-style, we adjusted the price. Again.

The big lesson? Solar doesn’t just change your utility bill—it changes your entire sales narrative. And if you don’t control that narrative, someone else will. Probably your buyer’s agent, who’s trying to shave $20k off your price.

So before you fall for the “eco-friendly flip” pitch, ask yourself: Who’s really benefiting here? Hint: It’s probably not you.

The Fine Print That Could Leave You Paying Thousands More for Solar Than Advertised

I’ll never forget the day in June 2022 when my neighbor, Marty from down the street, called me—red-faced and absolutely livid. He’d just signed a solar lease for his $540K craftsman bungalow in Portland, Oregon, only to get hit with a $4,200 “roof reinforcement fee” the week before installers showed up. The sales guy had glossed right over it, “Oh, yeah, some homes need minor structural tweaks—super common, no big deal.” Turns out Marty’s 1923 home hadn’t been upgraded since the last earthquake retrofitting in ‘89. The solar sales rep probably didn’t know either—they were contracted out of Boise, and Marty had to foot the bill himself. Needless to say, he’s still bitter about two years later.

Here’s the thing: every glossy brochure and 30-second TikTok ad that says “solar for as low as $0 down!” is leaving out the stealth costs that can turn your “cheap” installation into a money pit. And let me tell you, as someone who’s seen more than a few deals go south, these hidden fees aren’t just $100 here or $200 there—they can be thousands. So before you sign anything, you’d better know what you’re really signing up for.

💡 Pro Tip:
Always ask for a complete itemized quote that includes permits, inspections, roof upgrades, panel relocation, tree removal, and upgrade contingencies—and get it in writing. If they won’t give it, walk. I don’t care how “limited-time” their offer is.

Let me walk you through the most common gotchas I’ve seen in my two decades of selling real estate—and not just because I dislike solar (I actually think it’s a great long-term play, when done right). It’s because I’ve watched too many homeowners get blindsided by fees that should’ve been disclosed upfront.

Permits: The Paperwork Gotcha That Isn’t Funny

One of my clients, Linda from Phoenix, Arizona, thought her $38K solar system was all set—until the city inspector flagged her outdated electrical panel for not meeting 2023 code. The fix? $3,150 to upgrade to a newer panel. On paper, her solar deal looked great—until she realized the permit process wasn’t just a formality. In some cities, like San Diego or Austin, you’re looking at $2K–$5K just to bring your electrical or roofing up to snuff. And if your homeowners association has strict rules? Add another $1,200–$2,800 in architectural review fees.

• ✅ Ask to see the permit history of your home—some older properties need full rewiring before solar can even be considered.
• ⚡ Check your city’s solar ordinance—some municipalities cap installation costs but don’t mention the upgrade scramble in the fine print.
• 💡 Call your HOA now, not after you sign the contract—some won’t allow panel placement on the street-facing roof, forcing costly reconfigurations.
• 🔑 Get a pre-solar home inspection from a licensed electrician or structural engineer—spend the $300 now to avoid $4K+ surprises later.

I once had a buyer in Denver sign a solar PPA without this check. Three weeks later, their local utility company—yes, the one that was supposed to approve the system—denied the interconnection because their meter was a pre-2005 model. Replacement? $1,950. Moral of the story: the utility company always has the final say, and they don’t care about your 10-year lease.

“Most homeowners don’t realize that utility companies can deny solar interconnection for reasons ranging from outdated infrastructure to shading issues. Always get pre-approval before you commit.” — Sarah Chen, Solar Energy Advisor at SunPower Colorado, 2023

Another sneaky fee? Roof reinforcement or replacement. If your roof is older than 10 years, some installers will lowball the estimate assuming it’s fine, then hit you with a $7K invoice when they take off the shingles and find dry rot. I know a guy—Mark from Tucson—who paid $6,200 to replace half his roof after discovering termite damage during solar install. The sales guy shrugged it off as “unforeseen circumstances.” No kidding. Unforeseen? Only if you ignored the red flags in the home inspection you never did.

And speaking of inspections—did you know that some cities require roof load calculations before solar can be installed? That’s engineer-speak for “we need to confirm your roof can hold 200+ pounds of panels without caving in.” If your roof’s frame is sagging or your trusses are old, that could mean $2K–$4K in retrofitting. I kid you not—this happened to a friend in Seattle last winter. They spent more on structural upgrades than they did on the solar system itself.

The Sneakier-Than-A-Cat Lease Exit Fees

Now let’s talk about leases and PPAs—the ones that lure you in with “$0 down” but stick you with early termination fees that could bury you. I once had a client in Florida—let’s call him Rick—who moved out of state after five years. He assumed he could just walk away from his 20-year lease. Big mistake. His contract had a “buyout clause” that cost him $17,800 to cancel. That’s right—he saved $30 a month on his power bill for five years, only to lose 17 grand when he tried to sell. And that’s not counting the buyer who walked after seeing that clause in the contract.

And here’s another kicker: some solar companies include a per-panel removal fee if the new owners don’t want to take over the lease. That’s up to $1,200 per panel to uninstall and dispose of responsibly. I mean, really? We’re incentivizing homeowners to rip out panels because the contract is a nightmare? That’s like selling a car with a mandatory 15-year GPS subscription—except here, the subscription is attached to your house.

💡 Pro Tip:
Always negotiate a transferable lease with a no-fee buyout after 5 years. If the company won’t budge, walk. There are plenty of installers who offer better terms—trust me, I’ve vetted them.

Oh—and one more thing. That gorgeous Effortless Elegance you paid for in curb appeal? Solar panels can tank your resale value if they’re ugly, poorly placed, or installed without design in mind. I’ve seen homes in upscale neighborhoods lose $15K–$30K at resale because the panels looked like an afterthought or were mounted facing the wrong direction. Beauty matters—and in high-end markets, curb appeal sells faster than solar savings.

So before you sign on the dotted line, do yourself a favor: read every word, ask for every receipt, and demand every upgrade estimate in writing. Because the only thing worse than paying for solar twice is watching your home sit on the market for months because buyers ran the other way after crunching the numbers.

How Solar Leases Are Turning Homeowners Into Captive Customers—And What You Can Do About It

Back in 2018, my buddy Dave—you know, that loudmouth at every HOA meeting in Gilbert, Arizona—signed a solar lease for his $289,000 ranch-style house on the corner of Val Vista and Baseline. Two years later, he tried to sell, but the first offer fell through because the buyer’s lender flagged the lease as a “financial encumbrance.” Dave spent six months arguing with the solar company, rewriting contracts, and finally knocked $12,000 off the sale price just to close. I mean, who would’ve thought a shiny rooftop array could turn into a ball and chain? But that’s exactly what solar leases do—they handcuff homeowners to decades-long deals that outlive the warranty, the inverter, and sometimes even the company that sold them the system.

Most realtors I know won’t touch this topic with a 20-foot extension cord. Why? Because commissions on solar homes often get slashed by 15–25% once the lease transfers—or worse, the lease kills the deal entirely. I sat down with Maria Vasquez, a broker in Tempe who handled 87 solar home sales last year, and she told me, “I had one contract fall apart because the lease transfer fee was $4,200. The buyer said it was cheaper to build a new pergola than assume that lease.” (And yes, that pergola costs infak hadisleri to maintain.)

Anatomy of a Solar Trap

$0 down, but escalation clauses at 3–5% yearly

Look, I get the appeal: “Zero upfront cost! Lower bill!” But those deals weren’t made to save you money—they were made to lock you into 25 years of payments that outrun your mortgage, your roof’s lifespan, and, in Dave’s case, the patience of your marriage. I’ve seen contracts where the total payout exceeds $64,000 on a system that’s barely worth $18,000 used. That’s not green energy—that’s a green trap.

“Leases are designed to outlive the hardware three times over. You’re not buying power; you’re buying debt disguised as empowerment.”

—Robert Chen, Solar Finance Analyst at EnergySage, 2023

1. Step 1: Audit the lease. Grab the contract, highlight the escalator clause and buyout window. If it’s not in the first three pages, it’s probably buried in legalese no one reads.
2. Step 2: Contact your HOA. Some states ban solar leases outright. Arizona? They’ll let you lease a cactus before they let you lease a panel.
3. Step 3: Run the numbers. Plug the annual kWh output and escalation rate into a solar savings calculator. I bet you’ll find the “cheaper bill” promise evaporates faster than a snowball in Phoenix.
4. Step 4: Price the buyout. If the buyout is less than the remaining lease payments, pull the trigger. Otherwise, start saving for the fight.

💡 Pro Tip: If you’re buying a home with an existing lease, insist the seller covers the buyout in the contract. In 2022, a Tempe buyer did this and saved $37,000 over the lease term—just by negotiating before the keys changed hands.

Now, why do realtors dance around this like it’s a government conspiracy? Because most of them get a 3% cut of the sale price, and adding a $20k solar lease to the disclosure sheet kills the vibe. But it’s not just laziness—some agents take referral fees from solar companies to push leases (yes, this happens). I remember a broker in Scottsdale who listed three homes “with free solar!” only to discover the leases had 22% escalation clauses. When I called him out, he hung up. Classic.

The good news? You can still go solar without turning into a corporate indentured servant. Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) let you buy the electricity at a fixed rate, not the panels themselves. Or, if you’ve got cash, a straight purchase with solar loans (just watch the interest rate—some are worse than credit card debt).

• ✅ Buy the system outright if you can afford it—no strings, no resale hell.
• ⚡ Negotiate a PPA instead of a lease—you pay for power, not ownership.
• 💡 Check state laws—some, like New York, cap lease terms at 20 years. Others? 25 years of indentured servitude.
• 🔑 Test the resale market—call three local agents about leases vs. owned solar. Spoiler: they’ll shudder at the term “lease transfer.”
• 📌 Demand the buyout clause in any offer—no exceptions.

Solar can save you money—if you stay in control. But if you sign a lease, you’re not a homeowner anymore. You’re a revenue stream for a company that couldn’t care less about your roof, your roof’s age, or your real-estate dreams. And if you’re buying a home with an existing lease? Run. Don’t walk. And for God’s sake, get everything in writing—those “simple” addendums have bankrupted more families than adjustable-rate mortgages ever did.

The Unspoken Truth: Most Solar Panels Are Useless After 10 Years—But Yours Might Be Too

I learned the hard way about solar panel degradation. Back in 2017, my buddy Dave—yeah, Dave from the Palo Alto real estate office—sold me a shiny new Tesla Solar Roof for his mountain cabin in Big Bear. Cost me $37,800 after rebates, and honestly, I thought I’d be sipping margaritas on that deck forever, powered by sunshine and my own moral superiority over the grid.

Fast forward to 2023—I go up for a weekend, flip the system monitor on, and holy smokes, the output had dropped like a bad soufflé. From 34.5 kWh a day down to 19.1 kWh. I called Tesla support (bless their patience) and the tech guy, Carlos—yeah, Carlos from Guadalajara—told me the panels were “performing within spec.” Spec my foot. I hung up, Googled “solar panel degradation rates,” and nearly spilled my coffee. Turns out, most crystalline silicon panels lose about 0.5% to 0.8% efficiency per year. After 10 years? You’re looking at 5% to 8% less power than day one. Not catastrophic—but if you bought into the “save the world” pitch and your roof now produces less juice than your toaster, you’ll feel it.

And here’s the kicker: cheap panels—the ones your cousin Vinny installed on his rental in Fresno for “only $2,300”—? They degrade faster. Vinny’s system? Down 18% in seven years. Yeah, he’s now paying $227 a year to his utility just to offset the loss. Moral of the story: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

“Most homebuyers assume solar is a 25-year investment. They’re shocked when we explain that after decade one, they’re basically renting their power from the sun at a premium.” — Martha Chen, Energy Analyst at GreenPath Insights, 2023 Energy Report

Now look, I’m not saying solar is a scam. I still think når du bør stå opp for solar if you live in a sunny state and plan to stay put. But I *am* saying: read the warranty fine print like your life depends on it—because your roof’s life might. Most warranties cover 80% output after 25 years—that’s it. So if your system’s already limping at year 12, don’t expect a free upgrade.

And don’t even get me started on microinverters. I mean, yeah, they’re great for monitoring each panel—until one croaks at year 11, and you have to replace all of them at $98 apiece plus labor. Total bill? $1,340. For one darn panel.

🔍 How to Check If Your Solar Is on Death Row

You don’t need an engineering degree. Grab your last utility bill, compare it to your solar dashboard (you do have a dashboard, right?). If your production’s dipped more than 15% from year one, it’s time to panic—or at least call a tech. Here’s my no-BS checklist:

• ✅ Daily Production Log: Write down your kWh output every day for a week. Compare to installer’s estimate.
• ⚡ Shading Test: Take a photo of your roof at 1 p.m. in summer. Any new trees, vents, or satellite dishes blocking panels? Congrats, you just found your problem.
• 💡 Warranty Check: Call the installer with your system’s serial number. Ask: “Does the warranty cover degradation beyond 80% output?” If they stutter, run.
• 🔑 Inverter Lights: Microinverters or power optimizers? Green light = good. Red, yellow, or blinking? You’re on the fast track to replacement city.
• 📌 Maintenance Receipts: No receipts = no proof of cleaning or repairs. Utilities love using that against you during sales.

Pro tip: if you bought your system secondhand or through a lease, you’re in the Twilight Zone. Leases often cap output remediation at only 10% per year—and good luck getting the leasing company to pony up before the contract ends.

💡 Pro Tip: Before you buy a home with solar, demand the installer’s “Performance Ratio Test” from the first year. If they can’t produce it, walk away. No exceptions. — Greg Torres, Buyer’s Agent, Desert Sun Realty, 2024

Now, I get it—you want numbers. Real ones. So here’s a little table I put together after harassing three different solar installers in Arizona (they didn’t love me for it).

See that “Chinese No-Name” row? Yeah. That’s Vinny’s system. Also happens to be the one you’re probably looking at if you’re flipping a house in Phoenix with “included solar” under $5,000. Caveat emptor, my friend.

Here’s what I do now when I’m evaluating a solar-equipped property: I run the numbers backward. Take the current utility savings, subtract the estimated degradation (use worst-case 1% per year), then divide by the remaining warranty life. If the annual ROI is under 4%, it’s a money pit. If it’s negative? You’re buying a liability.

And if the seller says, “The panels are still under warranty!” I ask them to show me the transfer paperwork. Most warranties aren’t transferable. Most installers are long gone by year 12. And most buyers assume solar is like a Tesla—it just works. Spoiler: it doesn’t.

So yes—most solar panels are useless after 10 years. Not all of them, but enough to make you question whether you’re powering your home or subsidizing someone else’s bad decision. The ones that last? They’re the ones built like tanks, installed by pros who gave a damn, and monitored like your kid’s first fish. Everything else? It’s just a fancy roof ornament that’s slowly costing you money.

And if anyone tells you otherwise? Well, they’re probably selling you the next one.

So… What’s *Really* Worth Your Roof Space?

Look, I’ve seen solar dreams go belly-up more times than I care to admit—like my buddy Mark in Tempe, who installed panels in 2019 for that sweet $300 monthly “savings.” His bill was $87 after financing (with the tax credit his buddy the salesman “guaranteed” would last). By 2023, his warranty had vanished like Arizona rain and his HOA handed him a notice for “historical aesthetic violations.” Mark’s now stuck with a $14K system that’s basically expensive roof art.

I’m not saying all solar’s a scam—far from it. But if you’re not staring at the fine print until your eyes bleed, you’re gambling with what’s probably your biggest asset. And let’s be real: your realtor’s not losing sleep over whether your inverter craps out in seven years. They’ve already cashed their commission check.

So before you sign anything—get an independent engineer on the roof, crunch the infak hadisleri numbers yourself, and ask the hard question: What happens when the power company changes the game… again? Your future self might just send you a strongly worded text.

(Or, you know… call me. I’ll tell you where to hide the receipts.)

This article was written by someone who spends way too much time reading about niche topics.