SC · #23 by population

Buying a home in South Carolina

In South Carolina, the median owner-occupied home is valued at $306,200 (Census ACS 2025); the state tax on the sale comes to $1,134, and owners pay a median $1,251 a year in property tax (0.48% effective rate).

In short

South Carolina taxes property sales through its deed recording fee, requires an attorney to close and requires a seller disclosure form. It forecloses through the courts and is not a community property state. Deadline to appeal a property tax assessment: 90 days from the mailing of the assessment notice; in years without a notice, in writing before the first penalty date.

Key figures for South Carolina

  • Median home value: $306,200, owner-occupied homes, Census ACS 2025; $517,100 in the city of Greenville. Compare
  • Price trend: The FHFA House Price Index shows South Carolina prices up 2.4% and Greenville–Anderson–Greer prices up 1.7% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026.
  • State transfer tax: $1.85 per $500 of value, or fractional part of $500 ($3.70 per $1,000): $1.30 per $500 state and $0.55 per $500 county; $1,134.05 on $306,200. Compare
  • Median property tax paid: $1,251 a year, 0.48% of the median value (U.S.: 0.94%), Census ACS 2020-2024. By county
  • Cities covered by Payotte: 5 in South Carolina.

Calculate for South Carolina

If you buy

South Carolina state transfer tax

Deed recording fee (S.C. Code 12-24-10): $1.85 per $500 of value, or fractional part of $500 ($3.70 per $1,000): $1.30 per $500 state and $0.55 per $500 county. Change the price: the amount is recalculated instantly.

Price$306,200
State transfer tax$1,134.05
Share of the price0.37% of the price
Who paysThe seller

Default price: the South Carolina median value of owner-occupied homes, $306,200 (Census ACS 2025). Rule: Divide value by $500, round up to the next whole unit, multiply by $1.85 (state $1.30 plus county $0.55, both set by statute). Value is what was paid, including debt assumed, minus any prior lien that stays on the property; the parties may elect the property tax fair market value. Who pays: The statute puts the fee on the grantor (seller), jointly and severally if several; the buyer is only secondarily liable. For deeds from a master-in-equity, governments or a tax-exempt retirement plan, the grantee owes it. Not included: county and city transfer taxes, recording fees, title insurance and lender charges. South Carolina transfer tax guide · all 50 states.

If you sell

Capital gain and the federal tax on it

Same federal rule in every state: Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code excludes up to $250,000 of gain on a main home ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly).

Capital gain$350,000
Section 121 exclusion$250,000 (limit $250,000)
Taxable gain$100,000
Type of gainLong-term (owned over 1 year), 15% chosen
Federal tax on the gain$15,000

Section 121 excludes $250,000; the rest is taxable.

Gain = sale price minus your adjusted basis (purchase price, buying costs and improvements); selling expenses reduce it (IRS Publication 523). Long-term rates for sales in 2026, by taxable income including the gain (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, section 4.03): 0% up to $49,450 single or $98,900 married filing jointly, 15% up to $545,500 single or $613,700 jointly, 20% above. Not included: South Carolina state income tax on the gain (not computed), the net investment income tax, depreciation recapture on a rental or home office, and the reduced exclusion for an early sale. Agent commissions are negotiated and never set by law. Capital gains on a home sale.

Cities in South Carolina

  • Greenville main city of South Carolina on Payotte, 57th largest U.S. metro area
  • Columbia 70th largest U.S. metro area
  • Charleston 71st largest U.S. metro area
  • North Charleston 126,005 residents, Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area (71st largest)
  • Mount Pleasant 95,604 residents, Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area (71st largest)

Sectors of Greenville

How Greenville is divided: Single-member council districts.

Buying in South Carolina: frequently asked questions

What is the median home value in South Carolina?

The median value of owner-occupied homes in South Carolina is $306,200 (Census ACS 2025), and $517,100 in the city of Greenville. These are owner estimates, not sale prices. The FHFA House Price Index shows South Carolina prices up 2.4% and Greenville–Anderson–Greer prices up 1.7% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026.

Median home value in all 50 states

Is there a real estate transfer tax in South Carolina?

South Carolina has no tax called a transfer tax but charges a deed recording fee of $1.85 per $500 of value, or $3.70 per $1,000 ($2.60 state and $1.10 county), which is $1,480 on a $400,000 sale. By law the seller owes it.

Full South Carolina guide · Compare all 50 states

How much is the state transfer tax on a $306,200 home in South Carolina?

On $306,200, the median value of owner-occupied homes in South Carolina (Census ACS 2025), the state deed recording fee comes to $1,134.05 ($1.85 per $500 of value, or fractional part of $500 ($3.70 per $1,000): $1.30 per $500 state and $0.55 per $500 county). County and city taxes are not included.

Full South Carolina guide · Compare all 50 states

What closing costs does South Carolina law set?

South Carolina has no official typical closing-cost total. The deed recording fee is $3.70 per $1,000 ($1,480 on $400,000) with the seller liable, and Greenville County charges $15 to file a deed and $25 to file a mortgage.

Full South Carolina guide · Compare all 50 states

How is property tax calculated in South Carolina?

In South Carolina a home you own and live in as your legal residence is assessed at 4% of fair market value (other real estate 6%) and is exempt from school operating taxes. In the City of Greenville the 2025 millage is 331.5 mills.

Full South Carolina guide · Compare all 50 states

How much property tax do homeowners pay in South Carolina?

Owner-occupants in South Carolina pay a median $1,251 a year in property tax on a median home value of $259,000, an effective rate of 0.48% (U.S.: $3,119, 0.94%), per Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates.

Property tax by county in South Carolina

What is the deadline to appeal a property tax assessment in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, give the county assessor written notice of objection within 90 days of the mailing of your assessment notice (S.C.

Full South Carolina guide · Compare all 50 states

Do you need a real estate attorney to close in South Carolina?

Yes. The South Carolina Supreme Court has held that all real estate and mortgage loan closings must be supervised by a licensed attorney (Matrix Financial Services Corp. v. Frazer, 2011).

Full South Carolina guide · Compare all 50 states

What must a home seller disclose in South Carolina?

South Carolina law requires most sellers of one- to four-unit homes to give the buyer the Real Estate Commission's disclosure form before the contract is signed (S.C. Code 27-50-50).

Full South Carolina guide · Compare all 50 states

How does foreclosure work in South Carolina?

South Carolina foreclosures go through the courts: a power of sale is not valid unless a court first establishes the debt or the borrower consents in writing after the loan matures. After a foreclosure sale, bidding stays open for 30 days.

Full South Carolina guide · Compare all 50 states

What first-time home buyer programs does South Carolina offer?

In South Carolina, SC Housing offers first-time buyers a $10,000 down payment loan that is fully forgiven after 15 years in the home. Its Palmetto Home Advantage program gives 0%, 3% or 4% of the loan amount and has no first-time requirement.

Full South Carolina guide · Compare all 50 states

Which natural hazards affect home insurance in South Carolina?

A standard South Carolina homeowners policy does not cover flood, including storm surge, and the Department of Insurance advises considering a flood policy whether or not the property lies in a mapped flood zone.

Full South Carolina guide

How much tax when you sell a home in South Carolina?

The federal rule is the same in South Carolina as in every state: if you owned and lived in the home as your main home for at least 2 of the last 5 years, the first $250,000 of gain is excluded, $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly (Section 121, IRS Publication 523). Bought $400,000, sold $750,000: a single owner has $100,000 of taxable gain, $15,000 of federal tax at the 15% long-term rate; a couple filing jointly owes nothing. South Carolina income tax on the gain is not computed here.

Capital gains on a home sale

South Carolina guides

Professionals in South Carolina

Sources

Data as of . Figures are computed from these sources.

All states · Federal guides