Affinity Plus Solar Loans for Minnesota Homeowners

← All financing options · Last reviewed October 2026

What the Affinity Plus solar loan is

Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union is a Minnesota credit union that offers loans built specifically for home solar. It's one of the lenders we work with when a homeowner wants to own the system but doesn't want to pay the full price up front.

Affinity Plus offers two solar loans:

• A Home Equity Solar Loan, secured by your house, for larger systems and lower rates
• A personal secured solar loan for smaller projects, for borrowers who don't want to use home equity

You apply with Affinity Plus, not through us. To us, the result works like a cash sale: you pay iSolar on our normal schedule, and the credit union lends to you.

Affinity Plus solar loans at a glance

*As of October 2026, from Affinity Plus's Home Equity Solar Loan page and personal solar loan page. The footnotes on those pages carry older effective dates, and your rate depends on term, credit score and loan-to-value. Confirm current rates with Affinity Plus before you sign.

What Affinity Plus asks you to document

The home-equity rate includes a solar discount, and getting it takes paperwork. Affinity Plus's page lists these items:

• An installation agreement or proposal from a NABCEP-certified installer that lists the panels, inverters and other components. Our master electrician, John Ihle, holds a NABCEP credential.
• A solar site plan showing the address and where the system will go
• A complete utility bill from the last six months
• An Xcel Solar*Rewards acknowledgement letter, when it applies

As of October 2026, the page also still asks for tax documents showing you can use the federal residential solar credit. That credit isn't available for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. Ask your loan officer how they handle this requirement now. We can't speak for the credit union's underwriting.

We provide the proposal, equipment list and site plan as part of every quote. If you're enrolling in Solar*Rewards, we file the application and pass along Xcel's letter when it arrives.

How it works with iSolar

1. Get a written proposal. We design your system and give you a cash price with an itemized equipment list, production estimate and site plan. Start with a free quote.
2. Become a member and apply. Affinity Plus membership is based on where you live, work or study, or a household connection. Apply online and a mortgage loan officer follows up to complete it.
3. Send Affinity Plus our documents. Forward the proposal, site plan and utility bill. If you need anything else from us, just ask.
4. Line up timing. We'll schedule your contract and the 5% deposit ($1,200 minimum) around your loan approval so you aren't waiting on one or the other.
5. Close your loan. Home-equity loans close like a small mortgage, with closing costs paid by you.
6. Permits, install and PTO. We handle permits, interconnection and the 1–2 day install. You pay the balance at the milestones in your contract, the same as any cash purchase.

Things to compare before you choose it

• Your home is collateral on the home-equity version. That's how you get the lower rate, but it's still a lien. If you're refinancing or selling soon, talk to your loan officer first.
• Closing costs add to the cost of borrowing. Get the estimate in writing and include it in your total.
• No dealer fee is involved. You're borrowing from a credit union and paying us directly, so the price you finance is our cash price. Our post on dealer fees in solar loans explains why that matters.
• Federal credit math is gone. Some older solar loans assumed a 30% tax-credit paydown in year two. That doesn't apply to a home system installed now, so budget for the full payment. See our 2026 tax credit explainer.

Who it's best for, and who it isn't

Best for

• Minnesota homeowners with equity who want a fixed rate and a term of up to 15 years
• Borrowers who'd rather work with a local credit union than a national solar lender
• Larger systems, or solar plus a battery, up to $100,000 on the home-equity option. Confirm with Affinity Plus what it will finance beyond the panels.

Not ideal for

• Homeowners who don't want a second lien on the house
• Anyone who needs the fastest decision possible, since home-equity loans take longer to close than point-of-sale loans like One Ethos
• Borrowers who may not qualify for membership. Check eligibility first.

Next step

Get your proposal first. It's the document Affinity Plus needs, and it shows the exact amount to borrow. Request a free quote, or estimate your payback with the solar payback calculator before you call the credit union.

Sources

• Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union — Home Equity Solar Loan
• Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union — Personal Solar Loan
• Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union — Become a Member
• IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit

iSolar is not a lender. Loan approval, rates and terms are set by the lender. Information current as of October 2026; confirm details with the lender.