Tips & Market Updates
Upstate Real Estate Blog
Living in Spartanburg County SC: Towns, Schools, Lakes and Home Prices
Living in Spartanburg County SC puts you about 39 minutes from downtown Greenville, next to BMW's largest plant in the world, and in one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. The median home sold for about $298,600 in September 2026. Here is how the towns,...
Living in Pickens County SC: Easley, Clemson and the Mountains
What living in Pickens County SC is like: Easley, Pickens and Clemson compared, drive times to Greenville, Table Rock, Lake Keowee, home prices and a free guide.
Living in Oconee County SC: Lakes, Waterfalls and Small Towns
What living in Oconee County SC is like: the towns compared, Lake Jocassee vs Keowee vs Hartwell, waterfalls, home prices and a free 9-page guide.
Buying a Home in Upstate SC: The Complete Buyer’s Guide 🏡
Buying a home in Upstate SC follows six clear steps: pre-approval, a buyer agreement, showings, the offer, due diligence and closing. Most financed purchases in Greenville, Anderson and Spartanburg counties close in 30 to 45 days, and this guide walks you through each...
Down Payment Assistance in South Carolina: 5 Greenville & Spartanburg Programs for 2026
Down payment assistance in South Carolina can cover up to $5,000, $20,000, or up to $50,000 for eligible City of Greenville employees. Most Upstate programs are 0% interest forgivable loans for your down payment or closing costs. What you qualify for depends on your...
SC Property Taxes Explained: The 4% vs 6% Assessment Rate 🏠
South Carolina taxes the home you live in at a 4% assessment rate. Second homes, rentals and land use 6%. Owner-occupants also skip school operating millage. In my Greenville example below, that turns a $7,956 bill into about $3,045, but only after you file the legal...
Upstate SC Lake Water Levels: Which of 7 Lakes Stays Full? 🌊
Upstate SC lake water levels depend on who runs the lake, not just the weather. Of the 7 most popular lakes, Keowee, Bowen, Blalock and Robinson stay within a few feet of full all year. Hartwell and Jocassee can drop 10 feet or more, and Lyman sits in between with a 3...
Upstate SC Housing Market: Buyer’s or Seller’s Market Right Now? 🏡
Right now the Upstate SC housing market is leaning toward balanced, with sellers holding a slight edge. As of September 2026, Greater Greenville had 4.4 months of supply and homes sold for 98.0% of list price, while Spartanburg had 4.6 months. Buyers have more choices...
First-Time Home Buyer Mortgage Tips: 13 Free Guides for Upstate SC
Free plain-English mortgage guides for Upstate SC buyers: the buying timeline, Loan Estimates, SC property taxes, insurance, escrow, HOA fees, appraisals and title insurance.
Living Near the Swamp Rabbit Trail: Where to Buy in Greenville SC 🚲🏡
Living near the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville SC costs less than most people expect. New townhomes at Marion Square and Magnolia Trail have recently started in the $230s, Grayson Point and The Refuge cover the middle, and Velo's gated trail-front homes run from the...