Closing Costs in South Carolina: Attorney Required, Low Property Tax

South Carolina has moderate closing costs (1.5-2.5% of home price). SC is an attorney-required state. The deed recording fee is $3.70 per $1,000 (0.37%, seller-paid). SC’s property tax effective rate is among the lowest in the US (0.57%), keeping prepaid escrows small.

Use the calculator below — your state has already been selected. Adjust the home price, down payment, and loan type for an estimate calibrated to South Carolina.

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Estimates only — your actual closing costs depend on lender, property, locality, and the specifics of your transaction. Not financial advice. Verify all figures with a licensed lender or attorney. See our methodology below.

SC closing cost structure

1. Mandatory attorney

SC is an attorney-required state. Buyer-side $800-$1,300.

2. Deed recording fee — seller pays

$3.70 per $1,000 (0.37%), seller-paid by convention.

3. Low property tax escrow

SC effective rate is 0.57% — one of the lowest in the US. On a $300K home, $1,710/year — 3-month escrow $428.

4. Title insurance

Competitive — combined premium ~0.45%.

How to reduce SC closing costs

  1. Shop attorneys. SC closing attorney fees vary $700-$1,500.
  2. Apply for the Legal Residence (4%) exemption after closing to lower future property tax.
  3. Negotiate seller concessions.
  4. Shop title insurance.
  5. Watch HOA / POA fees in coastal communities.

Frequently asked questions (South Carolina)

Does SC require an attorney for home closings?

Yes. South Carolina is one of 15 attorney-required states. Buyer-side attorney fees: $800-$1,300 typical.

What's the SC Legal Residence exemption?

After closing on your primary residence, file the 4% Legal Residence Assessment with your county assessor. It reduces the assessment ratio from 6% (non-resident) to 4%, significantly lowering your annual property tax.

Closing costs on a $350K SC home?

Approximately $5,500-$8,000 for the buyer. Attorney ($1,000), title insurance ($1,500), prepaid escrows ($800), lender fees ($2,600).

Are SC property taxes really low?

Yes. SC's effective property tax rate is 0.57% — among the lowest in the US. Combined with the 4% Legal Residence exemption for primary homes, SC has very low ongoing property tax.

About these estimates

The calculator above uses South Carolina state averages for transfer taxes, recording fees, title insurance, attorney requirements, and property tax rates — sourced from the South Carolina Department of Revenue, the 2024 ClosingCorp survey, the Tax Foundation 2024 property tax rankings, and state-specific regulatory tariffs. Real closing costs depend on your specific lender, the property, and the county-level rules where you're buying. For a sanity check on the calculator's output, request a Loan Estimate from your lender (federal law requires one within 3 business days of mortgage application).

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Reviewed by the CalcCottage editorial team. Updated May 14, 2026. Estimates only — not financial advice.

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