Buying a home in South Carolina

Property taxes, transfer taxes, home values and first-time buyer help in South Carolina.

Effective property tax rate

0.48%

Median tax $1,251 ÷ median value $259,000 (ACS 2020–2024)

Typical home value

$306,323

Zillow ZHVI, 2026-08

State transfer tax

0.37%

Usually paid by: seller. S.C. Code § 12-24-10 (deed recording fee = transfer tax). Official source. Local taxes may add more.

Estimated buyer closing costs Estimate

$2,500–$4,300

On a $306,323 home: typical lender fees + title insurance + deed recording (TallyClose) + the buyer’s share of transfer/recording taxes. Excludes prepaids, escrow and local taxes.

At South Carolina's effective rate of 0.48%, a typical $306,323 home would owe about $1,470/year ($123/month) in property taxes. Actual bills depend on your county, city and exemptions. Run your numbers.

First-time homebuyer programs

South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority

Your state housing finance agency offers down payment assistance and low-rate mortgages for eligible buyers. Visit South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B25103, B25077); Zillow Home Value Index; TallyClose closing-cost dataset (CC BY 4.0), which cites each state statute; NCSHA HFA directory. Last updated 2026-10-15.