Charleston County, South Carolina: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Charleston County is worth $450,800, property taxes on it run about $1,864 a year (0.41%), the FHA loan limit is $690,000, and closing on it means about $1,669 in transfer tax plus $1,167 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $450,800 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $1,864 a year, 0.41% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $690,000 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $832,750 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $1,669 | South Carolina transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $1,067 owner's + $100 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $40 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $2,876 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $117,500; low-income limit $94,000 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Charleston County?
The median owner-occupied home in Charleston County is valued at $450,800, per U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
How much are property taxes in Charleston County?
The median Charleston County homeowner pays $1,864 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.41% of the median home value ($1,968 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Charleston County?
$690,000 for a one-unit home in 2026 (a high-cost limit above the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $832,750, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in Charleston County?
On the $450,800 median home: transfer tax $1,669, title insurance $1,167 for both policies, recording fees about $40, about $2,876 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Charleston County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Charleston County (Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA) is $117,500. A family of four counts as low income below $94,000 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby South Carolina counties
- Beaufort County $407,600
- Berkeley County $280,300
- Calhoun County $148,800
- Cherokee County $135,200
- Chester County $143,800
- Chesterfield County $101,400
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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