In South Carolina, closing on a house typically takes 30 to 45 days from accepted offer to keys. Cash purchases can close in two to three weeks. The timeline varies with loan type, the condition of the property, and whether an estate or multiple owners are involved.

What makes closing in South Carolina different

If you are moving here from another state, one thing will surprise you.

South Carolina is an attorney closing state. A licensed South Carolina attorney must supervise every residential real estate closing. The South Carolina Supreme Court has held, beginning with State v. Buyers Service Co. in 1987 and reaffirmed since, that conducting a closing, examining title, preparing the legal documents and disbursing loan funds all constitute the practice of law. In many states a title company or escrow officer handles all of this. Here, it has to be a lawyer.

You get to choose that attorney. Under South Carolina Code § 37-10-102, a borrower in a consumer real estate transaction has a statutory right to select their own closing counsel, and the lender must provide a written attorney preference form early in the application. You are not obliged to use whoever the lender suggests.

Expect a CL-100. The Official South Carolina Wood Infestation Report, commonly called the CL-100 or termite letter, covers active wood-destroying insects, previous treatment, wood rot and moisture in the crawlspace. State law does not require one on every sale, but in practice most financed purchases need one, and VA, FHA and USDA loans effectively require a clear report before funding. Most lenders and closing attorneys will not accept a report older than 30 days, so it gets ordered near the end of the process rather than the beginning.

There is no separate transfer tax. South Carolina charges a deed recording fee instead, currently $1.85 per $500 of value, which the seller customarily pays.

Here is how the 30 to 45 days generally breaks down:

1. Offer Acceptance to Loan Application

Once your offer is accepted, you’ll need to apply for a mortgage (if you haven’t already). Lenders typically require a few weeks to process your application, verify your financial details, and get you pre-approved. This stage may take anywhere from 7 to 10 days.

2. Home Inspections and Appraisal

Next, the home will need to undergo inspections (such as a general home inspection or pest inspection) and an appraisal to determine its market value. This can take 1 to 2 weeks depending on availability and scheduling.

3. Underwriting and Final Approval

After the appraisal and inspections, the lender will go through underwriting. This process ensures that all your financial information is in order and that the property is a good investment. Underwriting can take anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks, depending on how quickly they can gather the necessary documents and address any issues that arise.

4. Closing Day

Once underwriting is complete and everything is approved, you’ll be scheduled to close. On closing day, you’ll review and sign all the necessary paperwork, pay closing costs, and officially transfer ownership of the home. This typically takes a few hours.

Although the average closing time is around 30 to 45 days, certain factors—such as loan type, inspection issues, or negotiation delays—can cause it to take longer. If you’re buying or selling a home in Columbia, SC, I can help keep the process on track and ensure a smooth, timely closing! Contact us now at Delaney@TheHighlandCompanyRE.com.

What slows a South Carolina closing down

  • Financing. Appraisal delays and underwriting conditions are the most common cause of a pushed closing date.
  • A CL-100 that is not clear. Active termites or moisture findings usually mean treatment, sometimes repairs, and a re-inspection before the lender will fund.
  • Title problems. Old unreleased mortgages, heirs property, boundary and easement questions. The attorney’s title search is where these surface, and they can take weeks to clear.
  • Septic and well. Common outside the city, and a failed system generally has to be addressed before a lender closes.
  • Estate and probate sales. See below. This one is often misunderstood and it is worth understanding before you make an offer.

How long does it take to close on an inherited or probate home in SC?

The closing itself takes the same 30 to 45 days. What changes is what has to happen first.

Before an estate home can go under contract, the probate court has to appoint a personal representative, and that person has to have authority to sell. If the will grants power of sale, that authority generally exists once Letters are issued, often within one to three weeks of filing. If the will is silent on power of sale, or there is no will, the personal representative usually has to petition the court for permission first, which adds weeks or more.

The common misconception is that you have to wait for the whole estate to close. You do not. South Carolina’s eight-month creditor claim period governs closing the estate, not selling the house. Many estate homes sell and close long before the estate itself is settled.

If you are dealing with an inherited property, start here:

Timelines for other situations

  • Downsizing or selling a long-held home. The closing is standard, but a house held for decades usually needs a pre-listing conversation about what to repair versus price for. See our downsizing guide.
  • Buying from out of state. Remote closings by mail-away or power of attorney are routine in South Carolina. See our relocation guide.
  • Historic districts. If the property is in a designated district such as Elmwood Park or Cottontown, exterior work needs design review, which takes time that has to be planned around rather than discovered.

Questions about a Columbia-area closing?

Call or email and we will walk you through the realistic timeline for your specific situation, whether you are buying, selling, or handling an estate.

Delaney Morgan, REALTOR®, CPRES, SRES®
Broker-in-Charge & Owner, The Highland Company Real Estate
(803) 530-9272 · delaney@thehighlandcompanyre.com

General information only, current as of September 2026, and not legal advice. We are REALTORS®, not attorneys. Fees, requirements and timelines change. Confirm details with your closing attorney and lender.