If you’re shopping for luxury real estate in the Columbia, SC area you’ll find an appealing combination of Southern charm, big-lot privacy and — often — more house for your money than in pricier South Carolina markets. The Midlands’ luxury market centers on two adjoining counties: Richland County luxury neighborhoods (Columbia proper (downtown city), Woodcreek Farms, Kings Grant, Forest Acres, Elmwood Park, Shandon, Heathwood) and Lexington County areas & luxury neighborhoods (Lake Murray, Chapin, Saluda River Club and several gated golf and lake communities). Together they offer everything from historic, tree-lined estates near the Statehouse to modern lakefront mansions on Lake Murray.

MLS Listings Data


Total Listings:	374
Average Price:	$1,106,165
Highest Listing Price:	$5,250,000
Average Days On Market:	105

There are currently 374 luxury houses for sale on MLS in the Columbia SC region. Real estate property listings such as this have an average sales price of $1,106,165, ranging in price from $700,000 to $5,250,000. The average sq ft luxury estate type home is approximately 3,940 square feet for a house in one of Columbia SC's premier neighborhoods. The largest property for sale is 18,345 sqft and the smallest 1,106 sqft. View property listings for sale by price, street, subdivision, age, property type, location, features, size, listing date, and time on MLS with an average of one hundred four days on the market.

Best Luxury Neighborhoods of the Columbia SC Region

Some of the neighborhoods and subdivisions most commonly associated with upscale homes in the Midlands include:

Forest Acres / Shandon / Heathwood (Richland County) — established neighborhoods with large lots and classic architecture near Columbia’s best private schools and city amenities.
Lake Murray shoreline (Chapin, Irmo, Lexington County) — lakefront estates and custom homes that appeal to buyers seeking waterfront lifestyle and privacy. Lake Murray remains one of the strongest “value” plays for buyers wanting waterfront luxury without coastal price tags.
Gated golf & "country-club" communities (Saluda River Club, Timberlake C.C. Woodcreek Farms, Golden Hills, Windermere) — newer custom neighborhoods with amenities that attract luxury buyers.
Blythewood / Cobblestone Park and select north-Richland subdivisions — larger custom lots and newer construction for buyers who prize space and quieter suburban living.

“Luxury” is relative. In Charleston or Greenville, buyers commonly think of $2M+ as the luxury threshold; in the Columbia Midlands the term often covers a wider range — from high-end $800K+ custom homes and historic mansions to multi-million-dollar lake estates. You routinely get larger lots, newer custom construction and waterfront acreage for less money in the Midlands compared with South Carolina’s coastal and resort markets. That relative value is a major selling point for out-of-town buyers and locals upgrading to estate living.

Luxury Real Estate Taxes: Richland vs. Lexington — what buyers should know

Property tax calculations in South Carolina combine assessed value (which depends on classification and reassessments) and the local millage rate. Two practical points for luxury buyers in this region:

Richland County — historically has had higher effective property-tax rates than many surrounding counties and has recently moved public discussions toward millage increases (which can raise taxes on high-value homes). Richland provides online tools for tax estimates and posts current millage schedules. Luxury homeowners should check their specific tax district because city, school and special district mills vary.
Lexington County — generally keeps a separate millage schedule and, in recent budget cycles, has notably kept its county portion flat; Lexington also publishes a detailed millage schedule and an online tax estimator that buyers can use to model taxes on lakefront or high-value properties. Depending on where a luxury home sits (in-town, lake neighborhood, or a special tax district), the total tax bill can vary materially.