Buying a Home in Columbia, SC

What buying a home in Columbia looks like right now

Buying a home in Columbia, SC means moving at the pace of the market. In the twelve months ending October 8, 2026, half the homes that sold in Columbia's busiest ZIP codes were on the market for four weeks or less, according to Consolidated MLS closed sales. The buyer who gets a good house is usually the one who was ready before it was listed, not the one who saw it first.

Being ready means three things: you know what a lender will lend you, you know what you actually want to spend each month, and you know what that money buys in the parts of town you are considering. A home that is perfect on paper in Northeast Columbia may cost very differently from one with the same square footage near Forest Drive. This page is for anyone buying in Columbia and the Midlands, from a first home to a fifth.

Start my home search

Start my home search Call (803) 422-2226

Or read how we do it, step by step

How Taylored Realty Team helps you buy

Taylored Realty Team is Terry and Yolanda Taylor, REALTORS® in Columbia with more than 40 years of combined experience. Yolanda is the Broker-in-Charge and sits across the table for you in negotiations. Terry keeps every deadline in your contract on track.

We start with getting you ready, not with touring houses. At our first meeting we go over our buyer agency agreement line by line, so you know exactly what we do for you and how we are paid, and we never default to dual agency. Then we help you get pre-approved, show you what your budget buys, and build a focused search. The full process is laid out in how we help you buy, step by step.

What you get when you buy with us

A plan before the first showing: pre-approval, a monthly number you are comfortable with, and the areas that fit it.
A focused search, built on what matters to you rather than everything on the market.
Comps on every home you are serious about, so your offer is grounded in what similar homes actually sold for.
Help through the due diligence period, which in our contracts usually runs about 10 business days, including lining up inspectors and reading the reports with you.
Someone in touch with your lender, so a missing document or a low appraisal gets handled early.
A final walkthrough and every document at the closing attorney's table explained in plain language.

One buyer described it this way: "They guided us and supported us from the very first phone call we made with them."

Buying across the Midlands

We help buyers across Richland, Lexington, and Kershaw counties. Start with buying a home in Columbia, or see what each area offers: Lexington, Blythewood, Forest Acres, Chapin, and West Columbia.

Before you start touring, read our buyer's guide to Columbia and the Midlands and pre-qualified vs. pre-approved. When you are ready, talk with us about your search.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much earnest money do I need in Columbia, SC?

On a typical resale purchase it is usually around $1,000, held by the closing attorney. New construction can be different because builders set their own terms.

How long is the due diligence period?

In our contracts it usually runs about 10 business days from when your offer is accepted. It is your window to inspect the home and decide how to move forward. Your contract sets the exact dates.

Who handles the closing?

In South Carolina, a closing attorney handles the closing. You choose the attorney, and we are glad to recommend one.