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Buying a home in Greenville, South Carolina

In Greenville, the median value of owner-occupied homes is $517,100, Greenville County's effective property tax rate is 0.51%, a purchase mortgage carried a median $6,312 in total loan costs in 2025, and median gross rent is $1,312 a month.

Data as of : Census ACS 2025 1-year, Census Vintage 2024, FHFA HPI 2026Q2, Census ACS 2020-2024, HMDA 2025, HUD FY 2027. Sources

Checked on against the official sources listed at the bottom of the page.

Greenville home costs, fact by fact

Calculate for Greenville

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$517,100
State transfer tax$1,914.75
Share of the price0.37% of the price
Who paysThe seller

Default price: the Greenville median value of owner-occupied homes, $517,100 (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.

In short

The median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Greenville is $517,100, according to the Census Bureau’s 2025 American Community Survey, but the margin of error is wide (±$50,549). Greenville County’s median is $351,700. SC Housing gives first-time buyers a $10,000 forgivable down payment loan, with a $450,000 price cap in Greenville County, per its 2026/2027 limits.

How much homes cost in Greenville

The American Community Survey (ACS) asks owners how much they think their home would sell for. The median of those answers is a useful benchmark, but it is not a sale price: it covers every owner-occupied home, including homes bought long ago. Our page on South Carolina home prices explains the method in detail.

AreaMedian value, 2025 (ACS)Margin of error (90%)
City of Greenville$517,100±$50,549
Greenville County$351,700±$11,443
Greenville–Anderson–Greer metro area$316,800±$6,948
South Carolina$306,200±$3,027
United States$371,100±$646

*Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates 2025, table B25077.

The city figure sits far above the county and metro figures, and its margin of error is large, so treat it as an order of magnitude rather than a precise number. The county figure is steadier.

Are Greenville prices rising?

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) tracks repeat sales of the same single-family homes. Its purchase-only, seasonally adjusted index for the Greenville–Anderson–Greer metro area, published August 25, 2026, shows:

Area1-year change (Q2 2025 to Q2 2026)5-year change (Q2 2021 to Q2 2026)
Greenville–Anderson–Greer metro area+1.7%+43.5%
South Carolina+2.4%+45.4%
United States+2.1%+33.4%

Source: FHFA House Price Index, quarterly purchase-only files. Changes calculated by Payotte from the published index values.

Prices in the Greenville area rose modestly over the past year, after a gain of more than two-fifths over five years.

Closing costs, property tax and transfer tax

On top of the price, buyers and sellers pay closing costs: lender fees, the appraisal, recording fees, title work and prepaid items. Several of these depend on the loan and on the providers you choose. We do not recompute them on this page. For the rules, who usually pays each item and a worked example, see our guide to closing costs in South Carolina.

The same goes for taxes. Our pages explain property tax in South Carolina and the transfer tax charged when a deed is recorded. To see how property tax can be paid through your monthly mortgage payment, read our guide to escrow accounts.

Help for Greenville buyers

SC Housing lists Greenville County as a non-targeted county. Its bond program has these limits for reservations on and after June 1, 2026:

HouseholdMaximum incomeMaximum home price
1 or 2 people$106,400$450,000
3 or more people$122,360$450,000

The program offers $10,000 of assistance, forgiven if you stay 15 years. Its Palmetto Home Advantage program has no price limit and a $140,000 income limit. The first-time buyer programs page has the details, including aid for Greenville County employees.

Locally, the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority (GCRA) sells affordable homes to qualifying first-time buyers, with a homebuyer class required. The Greenville County Human Relations Commission teaches that class, on the third Saturday of each month and online.

Flood risk in Greenville

Greenville County’s Floodplain Administration says the county’s 2021 FEMA flood maps can be viewed in the county’s GIS system, and that residents get a 15% discount on flood insurance because the county takes part in the NFIP Community Rating System. SCDOI notes that a standard homeowners policy does not cover flood, so ask for a flood quote before you make an offer. Our page on natural hazards and insurance in South Carolina lists FEMA’s disaster declarations for the county.

South Carolina guides for Greenville buyers

Frequently asked questions

What is the median home price in Greenville?

The Census Bureau’s 2025 American Community Survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Greenville at $517,100 (±$50,549). Greenville County is at $351,700. These are what owners think their homes are worth, not median sale prices.

Are home prices in Greenville going up?

According to the FHFA purchase-only index, prices in the Greenville–Anderson–Greer metro area rose 1.7% between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026. Over five years, they rose 43.5%.

Is there down payment help in Greenville?

Yes. SC Housing offers $10,000 of forgivable assistance with its bond program, and Palmetto Home Advantage offers 0%, 3% or 4% of the loan amount. Greenville County employees may qualify for up to $40,000 through GCRA.

What is the SC Housing price cap in Greenville County?

The bond program’s maximum home price is $450,000, with income limits of $106,400 (1 or 2 people) and $122,360 (3 or more). Palmetto Home Advantage has no price limit.

Do I need flood insurance in Greenville?

A lender requires it for a government-backed mortgage if the home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Check the county’s flood maps, and note that NFIP coverage generally starts 30 days after purchase.

More South Carolina guides

Sources

Questions about buying a home in Greenville

How much is property tax in Greenville?

Homeowners in Greenville County pay a median $1,512 a year in property tax, 0.51% of the county median home value of $299,000 (Census ACS 2020-2024). Your bill depends on your assessed value and local rates.

What are closing costs on a mortgage in Greenville?

Home-purchase mortgages in Greenville County carried median total loan costs of $6,312 in 2025; half of the 6,562 loans fell between $4,401 and $9,655 (HMDA). Total loan costs are the lender and settlement-service charges of the Closing Disclosure; transfer taxes and prepaid items come on top.

Is there a transfer tax when you buy a home in Greenville?

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.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Greenville?

It depends on your mortgage rate, down payment and how long you stay. As a benchmark, the median value of owner-occupied homes in Greenville ($487,500) equals 31 years of the median gross rent ($1,312 a month), both from Census ACS 2020-2024.

What natural hazards affect home insurance in Greenville?

Across South Carolina, the main hazards for home insurance are hurricane wind, flood, storm surge and earthquake, and the insurer of last resort is South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association, for the coastal area. 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.

Run your own numbers: rent vs buy calculator · closing costs calculator.

Professionals by sector of Greenville

Who licenses each trade in South Carolina

Other large cities: see cities in South Carolina.

Data sources for the figures above

South Carolina · All states · Federal guides