The Columbia market right now
Typical value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research, August 2026, mid-tier homes, seasonally adjusted. These are area-wide figures, not a value for any one home.
Show the numbers
| Month | Median sale price |
|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | $256,132 |
| Jul 2026 | $256,064 |
| Jun 2026 | $256,183 |
| May 2026 | $256,287 |
| Apr 2026 | $256,277 |
| Mar 2026 | $255,924 |
| Feb 2026 | $255,230 |
| Jan 2026 | $254,385 |
| Dec 2025 | $253,608 |
| Nov 2025 | $253,027 |
| Oct 2025 | $252,452 |
| Sep 2025 | $252,022 |
| Aug 2025 | $251,790 |
| Jul 2025 | $252,093 |
| Jun 2025 | $252,452 |
| May 2025 | $252,898 |
| Apr 2025 | $253,194 |
| Mar 2025 | $253,567 |
| Feb 2025 | $253,430 |
| Jan 2025 | $252,500 |
| Dec 2024 | $251,447 |
| Nov 2024 | $250,711 |
| Oct 2024 | $250,666 |
| Sep 2024 | $250,498 |
| Aug 2024 | $250,231 |
Source: Zillow Home Value Index. Monthly figures, not seasonally adjusted, so some ups and downs are just the time of year.
What the metro area covers
The Census Bureau counts about 870,193 people in the Columbia, SC metro area, across 6 counties. Property taxes, recording fees and some transfer taxes are set county by county, so check the county your home is in.
| County | Population (2024 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Richland County, SC | 430,651 |
| Lexington County, SC | 313,774 |
| Kershaw County, SC | 71,698 |
| Fairfield County, SC | 20,369 |
| Saluda County, SC | 19,452 |
| Calhoun County, SC | 14,249 |
Towns with the most ZIP codes in the area: Columbia, West Columbia, Lexington, Camden, Cameron, Saint Matthews, Blair, Jenkinsville, Ridgeway, Rion, Winnsboro, Bethune.
Population and counties: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates and 2023 metro delineations.
South Carolina rules that affect sellers
Transfer tax
South Carolina charges a deed recording fee of $1.30 per $500 of value (state fee) plus $0.55 per $500 (county fee), both set by state law, for a total of $1.85 per $500, or 0.37% of the price. By statute the fee is the liability of the grantor (the seller), with the buyer secondarily liable, so sellers customarily pay it.
Local add-ons: The $0.55 per $500 county fee is set by state law and applies in every county, and it is already included in the 0.37% total.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 12, Chapter 24 (Deed Recording Fees)
Seller disclosure
Yes. Under the Residential Property Condition Disclosure Act (S.C. Code section 27-50-10 and following), owners of homes with one to four dwelling units must give buyers a written disclosure statement on the form promulgated by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission, before the contract is signed or as otherwise agreed in the contract. Exemptions include foreclosures, court-ordered and estate sales, transfers between family members, and sales where both parties agree in writing not to complete a disclosure statement.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 27, Chapter 50 (Residential Property Condition Disclosure Act)
Who handles the closing
South Carolina is an attorney closing state. Under state Supreme Court decisions such as State v. Buyers Service Co. and Doe v. McMaster, title searches, document preparation, the closing, recording and disbursement in a residential real estate transaction must be performed or supervised by a South Carolina licensed attorney.
Also worth knowing
When a nonresident sells South Carolina real estate, the buyer must generally withhold state income tax from the proceeds (at the top individual rate for individuals, or 5% for corporations), unless an exemption applies. Nonresident sellers can provide an affidavit of their gain to reduce the amount withheld.
Also worth knowing
State law lets the parties agree to an "as is" sale, but an "as is" sale is not on the list of exemptions from the disclosure requirement. Failing to deliver the form does not void the sale or justify delaying closing.
Checking an agent's license
Real estate agents in South Carolina are licensed by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation). You can look up any agent before you work with them.
South Carolina Real Estate Commission (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) license lookup
Rules checked 2026-09-30. They change, and local practice varies: confirm with your title company, closing attorney or agent before relying on them. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.