South Carolina Closing Costs for Buyers: How Much You'll Pay
In South Carolina, the state transfer tax is 0.37% (about $1,471 on a $397,600 home), and an owner's title policy runs about $956 plus $100 for the lender's policy. An attorney handles the closing here. Figures below come from South Carolina statutes, the state's revenue and insurance regulators and filed title rate cards, read on September 11, 2026.
Transfer tax in South Carolina
| Jurisdiction | Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (state) | Deed Recording Fee of $1.85 for each $500 (or fraction of $500) of the realty's value (0.37%), composed of a state portion of $1.30 per $500 and a county portion of $0.55 per $500 (S.C. | source |
More on South Carolina (state)
Deed Recording Fee of $1.85 for each $500 (or fraction of $500) of the realty's value (0.37%), composed of a state portion of $1.30 per $500 and a county portion of $0.55 per $500 (S.C. Code Sections 12-24-10 and 12-24-90). Functions as South Carolina's real estate transfer tax even though it is styled a 'recording fee.'
Uniform statewide rate; the $0.55-per-$500 county share (S.C. Code Section 12-24-90(A)(2)) is the same in every county and is retained by the county's general fund, so there is no additional county-by-county surcharge to layer on top.
Who pays: By statute the fee is the liability of the grantor (seller); the grantee (buyer) is only secondarily liable if the seller does not pay. S.C. Code Section 12-24-20(A). Source
Worked example: On a $397,600 home, the Deed Recording Fee is $1.85 per $500 of value, rounded up to the next $500 increment ($397,600 / $500 = 795.2, rounded up to 796 units x $1.85), for a total of about $1,472.60, owed primarily by the seller under state law.
How much is title insurance in South Carolina?
On a $397,600 home in South Carolina, an owner's title policy costs about $956 and the lender's policy about $100 when both are issued together (the simultaneous-issue discount). The buyer customarily pays for the owner's policy and the lender's policy. South Carolina is a filed-competitive state: each title insurer files its own rates, so premiums differ by company and it pays to get two quotes. Premiums computed from First American Title Fee Calculator (filed rates), Greenville County, South Carolina, read September 11, 2026.
Who pays the owner's policy: buyer (First American's calculator default allocation for Greenville County; negotiable by contract) Source
Owner's policy on the full $397,600 price and the lender's policy on an 80% loan ($318,080), quoted together so the simultaneous-issue rate applies; First American filed rates for Greenville County.
South Carolina-specific buyer costs on a $397,600 home
These are the line items set by South Carolina law or filed rates. Lender fees, appraisal, escrow and prepaid taxes and insurance come on top and depend on your loan.
| Owner's title policy | $956 |
|---|---|
| Lender's title policy | $100 |
| Deed recording | $15 |
| Mortgage recording | $25 |
| State-set items, total | $1,096 |
Do you need a closing attorney in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina is widely regarded as the strictest attorney-closing state in the country. Under the South Carolina Supreme Court's decision in State v. Buyers Service Co., 292 S.C. 426, 357 S.E.2d 15 (1987), providing title opinions, preparing documents affecting title, and handling real estate closings all constitute the practice of law and must be conducted or supervised by a South Carolina-licensed attorney from start to finish, practitioners describe South Carolina as 'probably the only true attorney state,' with the attorney required to be physically present at the closing table with the borrower. Source
Recording fees
Recording the deed costs $15 and the mortgage $25 at the Greenville County Register of Deeds (South Carolina's most populous county). Fee schedule
How much are closing costs in South Carolina?
For a buyer, closing costs usually run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On South Carolina's median-priced home (about $397,600), that is roughly $7,952 to $19,880, and it is separate from your down payment. The exact figure depends on your lender, your loan, and local taxes.
What closing costs include
Closing costs are a bundle of one-time fees due at settlement: lender or origination fees, an appraisal, title insurance, escrow and settlement fees, recording fees and any South Carolina transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Why South Carolina closing costs vary
The single biggest reason closing costs differ from state to state is transfer taxes, which states and sometimes counties and cities charge on the sale. Title insurance customs and whether an attorney is required at settlement also matter.
How a rebate offsets South Carolina closing costs
Buyer commission rebates are legal in South Carolina. Because a rebate can be paid as a credit at closing, it can erase a meaningful share of these costs. On a $397,600 home, a 2% rebate is about $7,952, often enough to cover much of the closing bill.
Frequently asked questions
How much is title insurance in South Carolina?
About $956 for an owner's policy on a $397,600 home, plus about $100 for the lender's policy when both are issued together. Rates vary by insurer, so get two quotes.
Who pays closing costs in South Carolina?
Transfer tax: By statute the fee is the liability of the grantor (seller); the grantee (buyer) is only secondarily liable if the seller does not pay. S.C. Code Section 12-24-20(A). The buyer customarily pays for the owner's policy and the lender's policy, plus lender fees, appraisal and prepaid taxes and insurance. Sellers often cover part of the buyer's costs through a negotiated concession.
How much is the transfer tax in South Carolina?
Deed Recording Fee of $1.85 for each $500 (or fraction of $500) of the realty's value (0.37%), composed of a state portion of $1.30 per $500 and a county portion of $0.55 per $500 (S.C. Code Sections 12-24-10 and 12-24-90). Functions as South Carolina's real estate transfer tax even though it is styled a 'recording fee.'. On a $397,600 home that is about $1,473, customarily paid by the seller.
Do you need an attorney to close on a house in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina is widely regarded as the strictest attorney-closing state in the country. Under the South Carolina Supreme Court's decision in State v. Buyers Service Co., 292 S.C. 426, 357 S.E.2d 15 (1987), providing title opinions, preparing documents affecting title, and handling real estate closings all constitute the practice of law and must be conducted or supervised by a South Carolina-licensed attorney from start to finish, practitioners describe South Carolina as 'probably the only true attorney state,' with the attorney required to be physically present at the closing table with the borrower.
How much are closing costs in South Carolina?
Buyer closing costs in South Carolina typically run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On South Carolina's median-priced home (about $397,600) that is roughly $7,952 to $19,880, on top of your down payment.
What do closing costs include in South Carolina?
Lender or origination fees, an appraisal, title insurance, escrow and settlement fees, recording fees and any South Carolina transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Can a buyer rebate offset closing costs in South Carolina?
Often yes. In South Carolina, buyer commission rebates are legal, and a rebate can be applied as a credit toward your closing costs at the settlement table.
Sources
- South Carolina transfer tax statute
- First American Title Fee Calculator (filed rates), Greenville County, South Carolina, read September 11, 2026
- South Carolina closing attorney rule
- Greenville County Register of Deeds (South Carolina's most populous county) recording fees
- SCDOR, Deed Recording Fee
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: buyer closing costs are typically 2% to 5% of the purchase price
South Carolina figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
South Carolina title insurance at every purchase price, with a calculator →
South Carolina transfer tax at every purchase price, who pays and local surcharges →
Read the full buyer closing-costs guide →
Figures are typical 2026 ranges and vary by lender, loan, and location. This is general information, not financial advice; confirm your numbers with your lender and closing agent.
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