FAQ
We are a partner owners count on to help them find the best solution for their families and their business.
Most frequent questions and answers.
Our mission at Activate is to help landowners and developers of renewable energy projects maximize the value of their real estate. We acquire individual properties and aggregate them into a large, diversified portfolio of strength which we will hold for the long term.
We believe only you know what is best for your family or business. But there are several key reasons to consider selling.
Immediate cash value: Receiving a lump-sum payment for your interest can free up cash to enhance your lifestyle or business interests.
Tax or estate planning: Plan for a more certain future and potentially realize overall tax savings through utilizing capital gains or a 1031 Like-Kind Exchange. Please consult your tax professional.1
Reduce your risk: Sell all or a portion of your interest to take long-term risk off the table.
Today, many landowners are choosing to work with Activate and finding both our process and market-leading pricing an appealing option when they decide the time is right to sell.
1 Important tax notice: Activate does not provide advice on any income tax, capital gains tax or other tax requirements or issues related to any transaction. Use of any information obtained from Activate or its affiliates or agents is for general information only and does not represent tax advice either express or implied. You are encouraged to consult with, and rely solely upon, your tax advisor.
We buy the land and/or rights associated with high-quality wind, solar, and energy storage facilities in every state across the United States. We offer lump-sum payments directly to landowners looking to sell their lease or rights to the rental or royalty income they receive. We partner with renewable developers to provide an accretive capital infusion for projects in exchange for a sale-leaseback of their land or a purchase of their leasehold interest.
First, we need some basic information from you on key terms in your lease, such as your annual payments, the length of term, and any escalators to your income. With this information we can provide you with a no cost, no obligation offer. There is no harm in wanting to know what your property will be worth today.
Second, we will work to quickly turn around a formal offer you can count on. In most cases, we provide our offers in less than 48 hours.
Third, we agree on a price and terms that work for everyone and proceed to closing.
It’s that simple and easy.
Typically, our closings occur between 30-45 days. There is often an opportunity to close faster and in such a case, we will do so and get your payment to you as soon as possible.
We can be flexible to purchase your renewable income stream in a structure that allows you to achieve your goals. Also keep in mind that we can always purchase just a portion of your interest. Deal structure types include:
Fee simple land: an outright purchase of your land. This typically works best for solar properties.
Easement purchase: allows you to keep using or owning the land while we own the rights to the renewable income. This works best for wind properties.
Right now, you likely pay ordinary income tax on your monthly lease income. If you were to sell to us, in many cases the lump sum is eligible for the capital gains tax rate, which is currently much lower than the ordinary income tax rate. Activate has carefully structured the sale to qualify in most cases for it to be treated as capital gains, and we are also able to execute the 1031 Like-Kind Exchange (which defers tax liability indefinitely into the future, until you or your heirs take the investment out of real estate form). We can provide basic guidance on standard tax treatment of our transaction; however, your accountant or tax advisor remains your best and final resource for tax advice.1
1 Important tax notice: Activate does not provide advice on any income tax, capital gains tax or other tax requirements or issues related to any transaction. Use of any information obtained from Activate or its affiliates or agents is for general information only and does not represent tax advice either express or implied. You are encouraged to consult with, and rely solely upon, your tax advisor.
Activate has a data-driven process we use to evaluate all the key factors associated with the value of your renewable interest in order to provide you with market-leading pricing. Sending us a copy of your lease is always the best way to ensure you can receive the highest price.
Much like closing a home, there is paperwork involved in selling your interest. Fortunately, the Activate team has years of experience closing energy real estate transactions across the country and work hard to make the process as transparent, simple, and as efficient as it can be. Activate will take the lead in getting your deal closed, keeping you updated along the way with our progress.
Yes, but we will need to work with your bank to get a clean title on the interest we will be acquiring. We are here to assist you with both title clearance and mortgage release forms.