SC Housing Homebuyer Program
30‑year fixed‑rate mortgage (FHA/VA/USDA/Conventional) with forgivable 2nd‑lien down payment assistance (0% interest, no monthly payments; forgiven after 15 or 20 years depending on income).
Verify program detailsState homebuying guide
South Carolina Mortgage Calculator Guide
The temptation with a mortgage calculator is to focus on principal and interest and call the job finished. In South Carolina, I would use this page to keep the other moving parts visible: down payment, property-tax assumptions, insurance, possible PMI, and cash-to-close assistance. The current benchmark is $306,300, and this guide covers 48 city calculators. That sequence keeps the first estimate simple without hiding the local details that can change a real monthly payment.
- State benchmark
- $306,300
- City calculators
- 48
Need more than a statewide benchmark?
Use the complete mortgage payment and affordability calculator to enter your own purchase price, income, debts, loan program, closing costs, and extra-payment plan.
Down-payment comparison
What 5%, 10%, and 20% down could look like in South Carolina
These examples use the $306,300 statewide benchmark, a 6.75% 30-year fixed planning rate, the 0.53% midpoint property-tax assumption, and 0.35% annually for homeowners insurance. PMI is illustrated at 1% annually below 20% down.
| Down payment | Cash down | Loan amount | Principal & interest | Property tax | Insurance & PMI | Estimated monthly payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | $15,315 | $290,985 | $1,887 | $134 | $345 | $2,366 |
| 10% | $30,630 | $275,670 | $1,788 | $134 | $345 | $2,267 |
| 20% | $61,260 | $245,040 | $1,589 | $134 | $89 | $1,813 |
The examples do not include HOA dues, closing costs, discount points, lender fees, flood insurance, or property-specific insurance adjustments. Change the city calculator inputs before using a result for a budget.
Local variation
Why one South Carolina estimate should not represent every city
The available city-page tax assumptions run from 0.22% for Isle of Palms to 0.90% for Newberry, with a midpoint of 0.53% used in the statewide examples. That spread is a reminder to verify the parcel, assessment, exemptions, and taxing district before relying on a monthly number. Isle of Palms and Beaufort and Newberry are useful starting points for seeing how the planning assumptions vary inside South Carolina.
These are effective-rate planning assumptions from 2024 public data, published in this system in 2026. Actual tax bills depend on assessed value, exemptions, levies, and the property's taxing districts.
Cash-to-close research
Homebuyer assistance in South Carolina
The state-level research list currently contains 4 programs. SC Housing Homebuyer Program and Palmetto Home Advantage are included as a place to begin, not as a promise of approval. Funding, income limits, first-time-buyer definitions, participating lenders, and eligible locations can change, so I would confirm the current rules before counting assistance as cash available at closing.
Palmetto Home Advantage
Offers conventional/FHA/VA/USDA loans plus forgivable DPA of 3–4% of loan amount (0% interest, forgiven after 10 years), no first‑time requirement.
Verify program detailsPalmetto Heroes Program
Forgivable $10,000 DPA for eligible public‑service workers (teachers, nurses, first responders, veterans), paired with SC Housing Homebuyer financing.
Verify program detailsCounty First Initiative
Reduced‑rate first mortgage plus forgivable DPA (0% interest, 15‑year term) in designated rural counties, paired with FHA/VA/USDA/Conventional.
Verify program detailsA practical review
Before relying on a South Carolina payment estimate
01
Replace the statewide South Carolina benchmark with the price of the homes actually being considered.
02
Open the relevant city calculator and verify the property-tax assumption against the parcel or local assessor.
03
Get a property-specific homeowners-insurance estimate and add HOA dues when they apply.
04
Compare several interest rates and down payments instead of budgeting from one optimistic scenario.
05
Confirm assistance rules with the official program source before reducing estimated cash to close.
Local calculators
Mortgage calculators across South Carolina
Move from the statewide benchmark to the city that matches the actual search area. Each page carries its local tax geography, home-value benchmark, and nearby comparisons.
48 city pages
Common questions
Planning a mortgage in South Carolina
How much is an estimated mortgage payment in South Carolina?
Using the current $306,300 statewide home-value benchmark, 20% down, a 6.75% 30-year planning rate, the 0.53% midpoint property-tax assumption, and a 0.35% insurance assumption, the estimated monthly payment is $1,813. Actual property, loan, tax, and insurance details can differ.
Does the South Carolina mortgage estimate include property taxes?
Yes. The statewide examples use a 0.53% midpoint from the available city-page assumptions. A property-specific estimate should use the actual parcel, assessment, exemptions, and local taxing districts.
How much down payment should I compare in South Carolina?
The page compares 5%, 10%, and 20% down. A smaller down payment reduces upfront cash but can increase the loan balance and may add mortgage insurance. Program and loan requirements vary.
Where should I verify South Carolina homebuyer assistance?
Start with each linked official program source. Verify current funding, income limits, purchase-price limits, property rules, participating lenders, and first-time-buyer definitions before relying on assistance.
Planning rate
6.75%
Tax midpoint
0.53%
Benchmark period
August 2026
Continue planning
Connect this estimate to the rest of your budget
Use the next calculator only when that part of your financial picture affects the decision you are making here.