Costs to buy a house in South Carolina | South Carolina closing costs | South Carolina house buying calculator | Homeownership costs | How to save when buying a home in South Carolina
The average home buyer in South Carolina spends between $23,222 and $83,574 when purchasing a $299,173 home — the state median value.
Keep in mind, this is just the cost of buying a home. After you close, you'll still need to budget for all the ongoing costs of homeownership.
Luckily, Clever Real Estate can help make buying a home more affordable. Working with a Clever agent means you'll not only get great service from start to finish, but you could also be eligible for up to 0.5% cash back after closing. That's about $1,496 back on an average-priced home in South Carolina!
Put money back in your pocket with Clever Cash Back. Clever will connect you with a top, local agent and send you a check after closing.
✅ Work with a full-service realtor from a top broker
✅ Eligible buyers can get cash back
✅ Clever is 100% free, with zero obligation
Average cost to buy a house in South Carolina
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Earnest money deposit (1-3%) | $2,992 to $8,975 |
| Down payment (3.5-20%) | $10,471 to $59,835 |
| Cash reserves | $2,730 to $4,095 |
| Closing costs (1.81%) | $5,408 |
| Inspection | $186 |
| Appraisal | $186 |
| Moving | $1,250 to $4,890 |
| Total | $23,222 to $83,574 |
Buyer closing costs in South Carolina
While the other costs to buy a house in South Carolina are pretty transparent, South Carolina closing costs are a bit more nuanced. They're actually a series of smaller costs lumped together into one total. Here's a breakdown of all of the South Carolina closing costs you'll likely pay when buying a home.
| Closing cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Closing fee | $299 |
| Recording fee | $20 |
| Title service fees | $500 |
| Origination fee | $1,496 |
| Underwriting fee | $600 |
| Discount points | $2,393 per point |
| Lender's title insurance | $100 |
| Owner's title insurance | Typically paid by seller |
| Prorated property tax | Varies |
| Transfer tax | Typically paid by seller |
| Total | $5,408 |
Keep in mind, closing costs are often negotiable. However, to win the negotiation battle, you'll need a great agent who can work out a deal with the seller. Clever can match you with a top agent in your area that can get the seller to shoulder more of the above costs.
Contact us at Clever for top agent recommendations.
Cost to buy a house in South Carolina calculator
Ongoing costs of homeownership in South Carolina
Unfortunately, the cost to buy a house is just the beginning. After closing, you'll officially own the home and begin paying for the ongoing costs of homeownership.
Besides the expenses outlined above, you'll also want to consider private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowner's association (HOA) fees.
- If you pay less than 20% as a down payment on your house, you'll probably have to pay PMI monthly until you get to 20% equity. For the average South Carolina homeowner, this is between $130 to $441 a month.
- Some neighborhoods have HOA fees for the care and maintenance of common areas. The national average is around $250 per month.
» MORE: The true cost of homeownership
Top ways to save money when buying a house in South Carolina
1. Look into better financing options
Paying off debts and getting your credit in the best shape possible before applying for a loan will help you get a better interest rate, which will lower your monthly payments for the life of the loan.
You can also shop around to compare lenders so you get the lowest fees and interest rates available. It may be a good idea to enlist the help of a mortgage broker if you're not sure how to go about vetting lenders.
2. Participate in home buyer programs South Carolina
South Carolina has a few programs available that make buying a house easier. For instance, SC Housing’s Homebuyer Program offers eligible buyers a competitive fixed-rate loan with the option for down payment assistance. It also has the Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program for renters looking to move into their own home and the Palmetto Home Advantage, which provides forgivable down payment assistance.
There is also the USDA, which offers the Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans for low-income buyers to afford a decent, safe, and sanitary home in select rural areas.
» MORE: First-time home buyer programs everyone should know about
3. Partner with an expert agent
Some real estate companies, like Clever, offer home buyers a percentage of their home's price back after the sale finalizes.
That means if you work with a Clever agent, you'll not only get the expertise that helps you get the best deal possible — you could also get up to 0.5% of your home price back after closing!
Clever matches you with top local agents so you can compare options and choose the best fit. And eligible buyers can get cash back after closing.
Fill out the form below and get started now. Clever's service is 100% free with no obligation.
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