Land for Sale in South Carolina
Buying land in South Carolina? South Carolina land ranges across the Blue Ridge in the northwest, the rolling Piedmont, the sandhills, and the Lowcountry coastal plain and sea islands. This guide covers where land for sale in South Carolina sits, the land types you will meet, what moves prices and the checks to run before you buy. Looking for something specific? The request form on this page watches for matching parcels.
South Carolina at a glance for buyers
- Deeds are recorded with the county register of deeds.
- South Carolina has 46 counties.
- Recorded sale prices are generally searchable at the county level.
- Water law is riparian: owners of land touching a stream or lake have reasonable-use rights, sometimes with permits.
Where to look for land in South Carolina
Demand centers on Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and Hilton Head. For more acreage per dollar, look at counties such as Greenville, Charleston, Horry, Beaufort, Aiken, and Colleton.
Regional markets across South Carolina
- Upstate: Land around Greenville and Spartanburg and the Blue Ridge foothills, with steady growth.
- Midlands and Lowcountry: Timber, hunting and farm tracts in the Midlands and rural Lowcountry; coastal land near Charleston and Beaufort costs far more.
- Pee Dee: Northeast South Carolina farmland and timber, inexpensive with slower growth.
South Carolina land types
Planted pine timberland across the Lowcountry and Pee Dee, Grand Strand and Lowcountry residential lots, upstate mountain and lake acreage, and hunting plantations along the ACE Basin and Savannah River.
What drives South Carolina land prices
Retiree and coastal in-migration plus a booming Greenville upstate keep South Carolina land demand high, alongside a steady timber-investment market.
Buying land in South Carolina: what to check first
- Confirm recorded legal access to a public road and order a survey.
- Get the parcel's zoning or deed restrictions in writing before relying on a use.
- Price utilities and septic: ask what the county requires.
Land due diligence checklistPerc tests and septic for raw land
South Carolina land values: what USDA data shows
USDA measured average farm real estate (all land and buildings on farms) in South Carolina at $4,900 per acre in 2026, up 20% from $4,070 in 2022. That ranks South Carolina 24 of the 48 states USDA reports, and it is 9% above the U.S. average of $4,500.
Pasture (grazing land), the closest USDA series to undeveloped rural land, averaged $4,500 per acre in 2026, up 18% since 2022 and above the U.S. pasture average of $2,000.
These are averages across working farms and ranches, not asking prices for any one parcel. A homesite near a town, a lot with road and power, or a parcel with water can sell well above these figures, and remote land with no access can sell well below them. Use them to see which way the market is moving and how it compares with the next state over, then check recent sales and current listings for the area you are looking at.
For comparison, USDA farm real estate averages per acre in the bordering states:
- North Carolina: $5,750 per acre in 2026 (17% higher)
- Georgia: $4,950 per acre in 2026 (about the same)
Frequently asked questions
What types of land are common in South Carolina?
Planted pine timberland across the Lowcountry and Pee Dee, Grand Strand and Lowcountry residential lots, and upstate mountain and lake acreage. Availability changes constantly.
Can I see what land sold for in South Carolina?
Usually. Recorded deed transfers are generally searchable at the county level, so you can compare recent sales to an asking price.
Who records a land deed in South Carolina?
The county register of deeds. A title or escrow company normally handles it at closing.
Can you find South Carolina land that isn't advertised?
Yes. Use the request form on this page with your target acreage, county and budget and we will tell you if a matching parcel comes up.
How much does land cost in South Carolina?
USDA reports farm real estate in South Carolina averaging $4,900 per acre in 2026, against $4,500 for the United States. That is an agricultural average; vacant lots, land near towns and land with water or utilities price differently, so compare current listings for the area you want.