I'm a homeowner in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina considering purchasing a rooftop solar system. Before I get quotes from installers, I want an independent analysis based on public data. Cover the full picture: system costs and current incentives (federal and NC-specific), realistic payback timeline given local electricity rates and solar irradiance, ongoing costs like maintenance and inverter replacement, impact on home resale value, and how Duke Energy's net metering policies affect the math. Where relevant, note how my situation in NC compares to national averages — am I in a better or worse position than a typical US homeowner? Cite your sources with numbered references.