Closing costs in South Carolina
What a buyer or seller pays at the closing table in South Carolina — the real transfer-tax rate, recording fees, title-insurance method and attorney rules, plus a calculator that uses South Carolina's actual rates.
- Transfer tax
- 0.37%
- customarily seller-paid
- Recording fee (deed)
- ~$15
- a flat fee per document
- Title insurance
- filed
- ~$3.50 / $1,000
- Attorney at closing
- Required
South Carolina in the national transfer-tax dataset
0.37%, #17 of 51 nationally; at $400,000, that is $840 above the median $640 tax at $400,000. The comparison uses the 51 source-verified state and DC records in the TallyClose dataset; null transfer-tax states count as 0% rather than being filled with an estimate.
- National rank
- #17 of 51
- highest state transfer-tax rate first
- Median-state tax at $400,000
- $640
- South Carolina: $1,480
- County coverage
- 6
- 0 with a city-tax field
South Carolina transfer-tax data: official source linked on this page, reviewed 2026-Q2.
How closing costs work in South Carolina
The biggest closing-cost variable in South Carolina is the real-estate transfer tax, which here is 0.37% and is customarily seller-paid. South Carolina's deed recording fee of $1.85 per $500 (0.37%) is the state's transfer-tax equivalent — it is assessed on the deed at recording and functions as the transfer tax. Seller pays. South Carolina does not impose a separate transfer tax; the deed recording fee under S.C. Code § 12-24-10 is the primary closing cost.
On a $400,000 home, the state-level transfer tax works out to roughly $1,480 , before any county or city add-ons. County recording fees are a flat fee per document and run around $15 for the deed.
For title insurance, South Carolina title-insurance rates are filed with the state and broadly similar between companies, though you can sometimes shop. South Carolina is also an "attorney state": a licensed attorney must be involved in the closing, which adds an attorney fee that title-only states don't have. Lenders here typically charge $1,400–$3,200 in origination and processing fees, and 2 months of property-tax escrow is commonly collected at closing.
Statute: S.C. Code § 12-24-10 (deed recording fee = transfer tax). Official source ↗
South Carolina closing cost calculator
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Counties in South Carolina
County and city taxes can change the total significantly. Open a county for its precise rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much are closing costs in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, buyer closing costs typically run about 2%–5% of the purchase price. The state-specific pieces are the transfer tax (0.37%, customarily seller-paid), county recording fees (a flat fee per document, around $15), and title insurance. South Carolina also requires an attorney at closing, which adds a fee. Use the calculator above for your price.
What is the transfer tax in South Carolina?
South Carolina's real-estate transfer tax is 0.37% and is customarily seller-paid. South Carolina's deed recording fee of $1.85 per $500 (0.37%) is the state's transfer-tax equivalent — it is assessed on the deed at recording and functions as the transfer tax. Seller pays. South Carolina does not impose a separate transfer tax; the deed recording fee under S.C. Code § 12-24-10 is the primary closing cost.
Who pays closing costs in South Carolina?
Both buyer and seller pay different items. The transfer tax in South Carolina is customarily seller-paid. Buyers generally cover lender fees, the appraisal, lender's title insurance and prepaids; sellers generally cover the agent commission and, in most states, the bulk of the transfer tax. Everything is negotiable in the contract.
Do I need an attorney to close in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina is an "attorney state" — a licensed attorney must conduct or oversee the real-estate closing, which adds an attorney fee to your costs.
Closest transfer-tax comparisons
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