First-time buyer programs
First-time home buyer programs in South Carolina
South Carolina's first-time-buyer help is run by South Carolina State Housing Finance & Development Authority. These programs can lower your rate, cover part of your down payment and closing costs, and give you a mortgage tax credit. Here's what's offered, who qualifies, and where to apply.
Who runs the programs in South Carolina
Agency name and URL last verified 2026-07-18 against the NCSHA and HUD directories.
How much help you'd need in South Carolina
Assistance is sized against the cash you have to bring, so start from that number. On a $400,000 home in South Carolina with 10% down:
| Up-front cost | Estimated in South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Down payment (10%) | $40,000 |
| Closing costs | $8,142 – $12,242 |
| Total cash to close | $48,142 – $52,242 |
| Monthly payment | $2,783 |
Down-payment assistance is usually aimed at the first line and closing-cost help at the second — so in South Carolina the realistic gap a program needs to close is somewhere between $48,142 and $52,242.
South Carolina's transfer/deed tax of about 0.37% is customarily the seller's to pay, so it usually stays off your cash-to-close.
This state commonly requires a real estate attorney to conduct the closing — practice and law vary, so confirm locally.
South Carolina's effective property-tax rate of 0.438% is below the U.S. average of 0.888%, and it is collected monthly through escrow — which matters here because it moves the monthly payment a lender uses to decide how much you qualify for. Property taxes in South Carolina.
Illustrative estimate — a $400,000 single-family home, conventional loan, 10% down, good credit, at an assumed 6.75% rate. Your real figures come from your Loan Estimate. Effective property-tax rate by state (2024 ACS) — your county or municipality may differ; confirm locally. Property-tax source: Construction Coverage 'Where Are U.S. Property Taxes Highest?' (2026 ed.), US Census 2024 ACS effective owner-occupied rate; pub. 2026-02-09. Transfer-tax source: each state's own transfer-tax statute or revenue department, read directly (NY: NY Dept. of Taxation & Finance); accessed July 2026. Who conducts the closing: DocJacket / ALTA (2026), Superior Notary Services, HomeLight — cross-referenced; practice varies and changes, confirm locally. The dollar ranges behind it — loan origination, the appraisal, title insurance, homeowners insurance, and the attorney or settlement fee — are typical ranges rather than sourced figures: they vary by lender, provider, and market.
Amounts, rates, and income/price limits change. They are set by South Carolina State Housing Finance & Development Authorityand updated periodically, so we don't list dollar figures here — the official site above has the current numbers. What these programs offer and who typically qualifies is much the same wherever you buy: the product set, the eligibility framework, and the national directories.
First, know your numbers
Assistance programs layer on top of a mortgage you qualify for. See what you can afford in South Carolina. It's free, and you don't need an account to start.
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