Welcome to a fresh snapshot of the South Carolina real-estate market for 2025. At Southern Acres Land Co., we believe that staying ahead of trends empowers land sellers, investors and developers alike. Here’s what we’re seeing—and why it matters to you.
1. Market fundamentals: prices, inventory & sales
Recent data shows that median home values in South Carolina are hovering around $299,690, marking a slight decrease of about 0.7% over the last year. Zillow+1 The average “days to pending” is about 36 days, indicating a still-active market. Zillow
Meanwhile, in select markets such as the Charleston area, home prices are increasing by ~4-6% due to tight inventory and strong demand. TKG SC
For land developers and buyers, that means two signals:
- Opportunities exist in land acquisition while home inventory remains constrained.
- Price and competition for developed/finished parcels may increase if the home market recovers or accelerates.
2. Land and lake-area growth
An interesting niche: lake-area real estate in South Carolina has grown significantly. One report showed the total value for lake-front and lake-access properties rose to approximately $1.5 billion, up from about $1 billion in winter-2023. SC Biz News
For your team at Southern Acres, focused on land acquisition and development, this shows a growing appetite for amenity-rich land offerings (water access, recreation) which can command premium value.
3. Legal & regulatory changes to watch
In 2025, South Carolina introduced several real estate law updates that impact buyers, sellers, agents and developers. Key changes include:
- Removal of mandatory seller-paid buyer’s agent commission in many transactions. The Floyd Law Firm PC
- Increase in small-estate threshold (e.g., simplified probate) to {$45,000} in some cases—speeding up property transfers. The Floyd Law Firm PC
- Updated oversight around technology tools (including AI) used in real estate practice. The Floyd Law Firm PC
For your internal workflows this means: when reaching out to county officials, lodging draft contracts, or advising sellers/investors, ensure you factor in how these regulatory shifts might affect fees, timelines and disclosures.
4. What this means for sellers & investors
For sellers (particularly of raw or ready-to-build land):
- With home supply low and land demand rising (especially for niche amenities), now is a good time to market parcels highlighting location, access, infrastructure and future potential.
- Ensure zoning, utilities and access are clearly documented and marketed—buyers are increasingly savvy and expect transparency.
For investors & developers (like your team at SALC):
- Consider focusing on under-served areas where housing supply is constrained but land availability remains.
- Highlight value-adds: proximity to water, recreation, access to utilities, or ability to subdivide/develop may give your parcels a competitive edge.
- Stay on top of regulation: as fees, commissions and disclosure rules evolve, modelling should reflect those changes (e.g., less reliance on traditional commission structures).
5. Looking ahead: what to keep on your radar
- Watch mortgage interest rate trends: while rates remain elevated compared to prior years, stabilization could spur renewed buying activity—and that pushes land demand.
- Monitor infrastructure investments in South Carolina: roads, water/sewer expansions, and planned subdivisions often act as leading indicators for land value appreciation.
- Keep an eye on migration patterns: South Carolina continues to draw buyers from other states seeking lifestyle (coastal, lake-front, suburban) and tax benefits. That theme plays into your land acquisition strategy.
At Southern Acres Land Co., we believe the current moment presents an advantageous window for both owning and marketing land in South Carolina. With slight cooling in average home prices but growing interest in specialty land niches and regulatory changes creating clarity in transactions, sellers and investors can act with confidence.
If you’re considering selling a parcel, acquiring a tract for subdivision or simply want to understand how this shifting market affects your strategy—we’d love to partner with you. Reach out and let’s talk about how we can turn today’s trends into your next opportunity.