Your Guide to Finding South Carolina Land for Sale

South Carolina is bordered by North Carolina and Georgia. The east of the state is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, and has a deep, rich history that dates back to 1708 when many slaves lived in the area. South Carolina was the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation, and is also the eighth state in the country to ratify the United States Constitution.

In terms of land mass, South Carolina has the 40th largest landmass in the United States, and the state has the 24th largest population in the country. The GDP of the state is $183.6 billion, and there are total of 46 counties in all of South Carolina.

From beautiful lake-view land to land on the Atlantic Ocean or in the mountains, South Carolina has something for everyone. There's also a deep history in South Carolina, where many homes and areas are still reminiscent of the Georgian, Greek Revival, Victoria and Adamesque periods. There are even 18th-century Georgian town houses currently being built in the city, and it’s the perfect location in terms of climate. If you want to move to an area of the United States where the climate is rather mild, it doesn’t get much better than South Carolina.

Climate Information

Featuring a humid subtropical climate, South Carolina has many areas that have high elevation and areas that have hot and humid temperatures during the summer.

* Highs average between 50.2°F and 57.1°F during the month of January, depending on the region.
* Lows average between 31.4°F and 42.4°F during the month of January.
* July is the hottest month, with highs averaging between 80.5°F and 92.1°F.
* July lows average between 68.7°F and 77.0°F.

Hurricanes are a concern for the area, as well as tropical cyclones. Hurricane season in South Carolina lasts from June 1 to November 30, and two large category 4 hurricanes hit the state in 1954 and 1989. Climate is a major concern if you plan on farming or utilizing the land for timber. Being a subtropical climate, you’ll find that you can grow many different crops, and that the growing season is longer than in other parts of the United States. This means that you’ll find many great opportunities in South Carolina if you buy a large parcel of land.

But if you want to build a home on a property and sell it, you may want to look at one of the many large lakes, as waterfront homes sell for a much higher price.

South Carolina has several large lakes, including:

* Lake Marion, which spans 110,000 acres.
* Lake Storm Thurmond, which spans 71,100 acres.
* Lake Moultrie, which spans 60,000 acres.

These are just the largest lakes in South Carolina. You also have the opportunity to buy land on the Atlantic Ocean, but you will need to be concerned about the potential hurricane season.

Land Opportunities and Averages in South Carolina

We are going to be taking a look at some of the current properties on the market today so that we can understand what the going rate is for acreage in South Carolina.

* A 1.12-acre lot in Seneca, South Carolina is currently for sale for $7,500, and is located near Lake Keoweel - a prime location. City water and electricity are available.

* Another 1.12-acre lot sold for $9,900 in Seneca, and offered a ready-to-build lot with a paved road and utilities already available.

* A 0.26-acre lot sold in Westminster, South Carolina for $7,800. This lot previously sold for $54,000 in 2006, and offers a lake view. This home also offers paved road access and utility availability.

As you can see, the price of acreage varies greatly depending on where you purchase land in South Carolina. A 1-acre lot can be as cheap as $7,000, or as much as $28,000 if the property is located in an area with lake views.

South Carolina Real Estate Statistics

Buying land with the intent of earning a profit can go in a few different directions: allow the land to accrue in price, build a home on the property and sell it, or work the land in some form, whether be hunting, timber or something similar.

Let’s take a look at the current real estate market to understand the home prices in South Carolina.

* The average home price is $169,500.
* The average sold price is $174,976.
* The average square foot price is $89, much cheaper than the United States average of $114.

According to Zillow, the average home listed has seen its price increase by 3.3% on the year.

* Mount Pleasant has the highest median home price of $318,200.
* Charleston has home prices of $210,000 on average.
* Spartanburg has a median home price of $84,100.

Building a home in the South is much more affordable than in other parts of the country, and the housing market has seen an uptick in recent months. As you can see from the statistics above, home prices have increased by 3.3% this past year, and there are forecasts for housing prices to continue to increase by 2.8% in 2016.

South Carolina Farming

Farming is a big contributor to South Carolina’s GDP, and there are three distinct farming regions: Piedmont in the Northwest, Central and Coastal. Depending on where you purchase your property, you’ll be able to grow different types of crops.

Asparagus, beans, beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, honeydew, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, kale, lettuce, mustard, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, corn, squash, tomato, turnips and watermelon.

All of these crops can be grown in any region, but it depends on the time of year. Clemson University provides a great outline of the crops that you can grow and the requirements in South Carolina. If you plan on farming in South Carolina, it’s vital that you know what crops you will be focusing on at different seasons of the year.

South Carolina has many great opportunities for land and investment purposes. You’ll be able to find not only ideal properties, but several different types of landscapes from rolling hills in the Northwest to beautiful ocean views in the eastern part of the state.