What Affects Mortgage Interest Rates in South Carolina
South Carolina mortgage interest rates follow national lending markets rather than rates set by state borders. Your credit profile, loan structure, property details and other application factors can affect the pricing offered to you.
A mortgage quote for a home in Columbia can differ from one for a property in a rural part of South Carolina when the borrower, property or loan details change.
When comparing lenders, look at both the interest rate and the annual percentage rate, or APR. The interest rate is the percentage charged for borrowing the principal. APR is a broader annualized measure that includes the interest rate plus certain loan costs.
If you already have a mortgage in South Carolina, compare South Carolina refinance rates with your current loan before refinancing.
Types of Mortgages Available in South Carolina
South Carolinians buying a home can choose among several mortgage structures, while the amount borrowed determines whether conventional financing stays within South Carolina's statewide conforming limit.
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A conventional fixed-rate mortgage keeps the same interest rate for the full loan term.
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FHA loans in South Carolina follow separate borrower and property requirements. FHA loan limits are set separately from conforming limits and are published county by county.
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Eligible borrowers can compare South Carolina VA loan rates. VA financing follows its own borrower and property requirements.
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USDA loans combine borrower qualification with property eligibility and may apply when you are buying in an eligible rural part of South Carolina.
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An adjustable-rate mortgage can change after its initial rate period according to the loan terms.
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A jumbo loan finances an amount above the applicable conforming limit. South Carolina uses one statewide one-unit threshold for 2026.
Buyers entering the market for the first time can compare first-time homebuyer loan options in South Carolina.
Mortgage insurance treatment varies by loan program, so include mortgage insurance requirements by loan type when estimating the full payment.
2026 Conforming and Jumbo Loan Limits in South Carolina
All 46 counties in South Carolina use the same $832,750 one-unit conforming loan limit for 2026. The Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, sets conforming loan limits annually.
A one-unit mortgage above $832,750 falls into the jumbo category anywhere in South Carolina. The threshold applies to the amount borrowed rather than the home's purchase price.
Buyers borrowing above $832,750 can compare South Carolina jumbo loan rates. Because the same one-unit limit applies across all 46 counties, there is no county-level conforming table to check.
These are 2026 limits for one-unit properties. Limits for two-, three- and four-unit properties are higher. The FHFA publishes annual conforming loan limit values by county and property size.
FHA financing uses a separate county-level limit system. The VA does not impose a loan limit for eligible borrowers with full entitlement. Lenders may still apply their own underwriting and loan-size requirements.
Mortgage rate pages are also available for these states:
South Carolina Mortgage Payment Examples By Rate
South Carolina's payment examples extend to an $800,000 mortgage, which remains below the statewide $832,750 one-unit conforming limit that applies across all 46 counties for 2026. The table shows principal-and-interest payments across the supplied loan amounts and rates. Use the South Carolina mortgage payment calculator to test a different loan amount or other mortgage details.
| Loan Amount |
5.50% |
5.75% |
6.00% |
6.25% |
6.50% |
| $800,000 |
$4,542 |
$4,669 |
$4,796 |
$4,926 |
$5,057 |
| $700,000 |
$3,975 |
$4,085 |
$4,197 |
$4,310 |
$4,424 |
| $600,000 |
$3,407 |
$3,501 |
$3,597 |
$3,694 |
$3,792 |
| $500,000 |
$2,839 |
$2,918 |
$2,998 |
$3,079 |
$3,160 |
| $400,000 |
$2,271 |
$2,334 |
$2,398 |
$2,463 |
$2,528 |
| $300,000 |
$1,703 |
$1,751 |
$1,799 |
$1,847 |
$1,896 |
The figures cover principal and interest only. Property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, association fees and other costs are not included.
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