Columbia, South Carolina - The Midlands
How to buy a home in the Midlands without a big pile of cash in the bank.
Most renters here think they need $50,000 saved. They do not. South Carolina has money set aside right now to help you buy, and most people never hear about it. This guide shows you what is real, what you qualify for, and who to call. Text us and you get both of us working on it, Taquoia and Shakir.
Questions while you read? Text START to 803.941.5087.
Section One
The middle price for a home in Columbia is about $275,735. Move the slider and see the cash you would actually need at the table.
The middle price in Columbia is about $275,735.
Cash you would need at the table
$8,000
FHA 3.5 percent down plus about 3 percent closing costs, minus $10,000 in help.
| Home price | Cash needed on your own | Cash needed with $10,000 help |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | About $16,000 | About $6,000 |
| $300,000 | About $19,500 | About $9,500 |
Based on an FHA loan with 3.5 percent down plus about 3 percent in closing costs. Your real number depends on your loan and the seller. Ask us and we will run yours.
That is the whole secret. The help does not make you rich. It moves you from someday to this year.
Median sale price, city of Columbia, three months ending May 2026. Redfin.
Want your real number? Text START to 803.941.5087 and we will run it today.
Text START to 803.941.5087Section Two
You pick one, not both. Here is what each one gives you.
$10,000 toward your down payment
3 or 4 percent of your loan amount
You pick one, not both. Which one wins depends on your income and your price range. That is a five minute conversation.
Not sure which one fits you? Text START to 803.941.5087.
Text START to 803.941.5087Section Three
Five quick questions. Nothing is stored and nothing is shared. This is a starting point, not an approval.
Read these before you decide you cannot.
If you have not owned in the last 3 years, you count as a first time buyer again.
You need a 640. That is lower than most people think, and it can often be fixed in a few months.
A family of three in Richland or Lexington can earn up to $110,170 and still qualify. Palmetto Home Advantage goes much higher.
The price cap is $450,000. That buys a lot of house in the Midlands.
Veterans get a one time pass on the first time buyer rule. Ask us how it works.
Think you might qualify? Text START to 803.941.5087 and we will find out in one call.
Text START to 803.941.5087Section Four
This is the part nobody tells you. Not every lender is approved for these programs, and some will talk you out of it because it is extra paperwork for them. These are approved and local.
If you only make two calls, make them these. Both know these programs cold and both close them.
Start here
Branch Manager
Citywide Home Mortgage
Also recommended
Nexa Mortgage
Direct line and online application below
NMLS #1053560
Current as of July 2026. The full approved list lives at schousing.sc.gov under Find a Lender.
Want us to introduce you to one we trust? Text START to 803.941.5087.
Text START to 803.941.5087Section Five
Takes ten seconds.
Free, and it tells you where you really stand.
Nothing is real until you have one.
Your number, not the number Zillow guessed.
And we negotiate the seller into helping with your costs.
From that first text to keys in your hand is usually 45 to 60 days.
Team Lead and REALTOR
I am a Realtor with Selling Carolinas Group at Keller Williams Preferred, right here in the Midlands. I work with a lot of first time buyers, and my job is to tell you the truth about what you can do, even when the answer is not yet. If it is not yet, I will tell you exactly what to fix and how long it takes.
Buyer Specialist and Commercial Agent
Shakir Saleem, Buyer Specialist and Commercial Agent with Selling Carolinas Group. Shakir works hands on with buyers across Columbia, Lexington and the Midlands, from the first showing to the closing table. He also handles the team's commercial side, so if you are buying a first home now and thinking about investment property later, he is the one to ask.
One text starts it
Text START and you get both of us, Taquoia and Shakir. We will run your real number, tell you which program fits, and point you at a lender who closes these loans.
Selling Carolinas Group at Keller Williams Preferred, Columbia SC. sellingcarolinasgroup.com