5 Best Land and Lot Loans in South Carolina

With a state so full of lovely golf courses, beach communities and one-of-a-kind historical districts and towns, it’s no surprise so many are happy to call South Carolina home.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, South Carolina has 30,064 square miles of land, offering a good stretch of terrain for those in search of a rural home.

Unfortunately, with new built and modern homes becoming more and more expensive and high closing costs and interest rates, not everyone in South Carolina can afford to buy a home. With a South Carolina land loan, you can take a different approach to homeownership and buy land in your favorite part of the state and then build your dream home when you’re ready. With the value per acre of land in South Carolina at $17,610.39, per the New Estimates of Value of Land of the United States, many in the state may find that purchasing land is much more manageable in terms of cost. 

Unlike South Carolina construction loans, which finance building a home, a land loan, or “lot loan,” lets you secure a location, then build your home as you see fit and in your own time. 

Benefits of getting a land loan in South Carolina

What are some of the benefits that come with getting a land loan in South Carolina? Consider this:

• With a land loan, you can take things slowly and build a home on your own timeline.
• Land loans let you create a home that exactly suits your needs.
• Building a home from scratch can often be easier and more cost-effective than renovating an older home.
• You won’t have to pay for any insurance on your land until you’ve actually built your home.

And, of course, a land loan allows many buyers to get property in areas they might not otherwise be able to afford, including in some of South Carolina’s popular coastal communities. 

5 Best South Carolina land loan lenders

Some lenders only offer land loans for residential projects, while other programs can lend to those that are pursuing recreational or agri-business purchases.

1. ArborOne

ArborOne Farm Credit is based in Florence, South Carolina, and provides a number of services for its members. ArborOne Farm Credit offers recreational property loans to aid in purchasing property to be developed for a country home or cabin or property just for hunting and fishing.

We reached out to ArborOne to discuss land loan program information. Here are some highlights below:

• Rural recreational property for hunting, fishing & more
• Country homes or cabins
• Small or large tracts of land
• Last 2 years tax returns required
• Sale contract required
• Survey required

When you’re ready to connect with a loan officer, use our form to quickly match with land and lot loan programs based on your specific circumstances.

2. AgSouth Farm Credit

AgSouth Farm Credit provides financing options for land, farms, and homes from a home base in Statesboro, Georgia. With more than 100 years of service to the region, it offers a range of solutions for large acreage tracks, construction, land improvements, hunting, and recreational tracks, and timberland.

We reached out to AgSouth Farm Credit to discuss land loan options, which you can read about below:

• Large acreage tracts
• Timberland
• Hunting & recreational tracts
• Farm loans
• Land Improvements
• Construction
• Small acreage and residential lots
• Financing up to 20 years (15 years for lot loans)
• Up to 85% financing

When you’re ready to connect with a loan officer, use our form to quickly match with land and lot loan programs based on your specific circumstances.

3. AgAmerica Lending

AgAmerica Lending is a multi-generational family farm lender serving residents in numerous states. The organization specifically focuses on agricultural financing. It is ranked as one of the fastest growing private companies and offers coast to coast services to farmers and ranchers throughout the country.

We reached out to AgAmerica Lending to discuss land loan process, which you can read about below:

• Minimum of 25 acres required
• Minimum loans of $150,000
• Farm/ranch financing available
• Recreational land loans available
• Terms from 18 months to 30 years

When you’re ready to connect with a loan officer, use our form to quickly match with land and lot loan programs based on your specific circumstances.

4. TD Bank

TD Bank is a full service bank that offers all types of financial products, including investments, wealth planning, and private banking services. TD Bank does have a large lending ability in which loans can be obtained for property and land purchases and the purchase and renovation of a home.

We reached out to TD Bank to discuss land loan details, which you can read about below:

• Can finance land purchases as part of construction project
• Construction loans are interest-only during the construction phase

When you’re ready to connect with a loan officer, use our form to quickly match with land and lot loan programs based on your specific circumstances.

5. Truliant Federal Credit Union

Truliant Federal Credit Union was founded in 1952 and serves areas of Virginia and North Carolina with a number of products and services to aid their members. Truliant Federal Credit Union offers a number of loan products, including those for land, constructions, mortgages, and mortgage refinance, among others.

We asked Truliant Federal Credit Union for more details on their vacant land loan product and here is what they said:

• Land loans only available in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. 
• Loan amounts available between $5,000 and $200,000.
• Financing available up to 80% of your land’s purchase price or value, whichever is less, in a subdivision and up to 70% for financing raw land.
• 70% financing available raw land.

When you’re ready to connect with a loan officer, use our form to quickly match with land and lot loan programs based on your specific circumstances.

Is a South Carolina land loan the right choice for you?

With the cost of an acre at a pretty reasonable price in South Carolina right now, you can actually get a substantial parcel of land for far less than a new home. If you like the idea of having some space, a lot loan is a great way to start.

South Carolina land loans also don’t dictate when or how you build on a lot. You can take the time you need to assess your finances, select a design, and build your ideal home. If you find that enticing and are not in a rush to move in, a land loan is a good choice. 

Finally, land loans are great for vacation homes that you don’t necessarily have to move into immediately. Since vacation homes can come at some of the highest prices on the market, this can be one of the easiest ways for South Carolinians to eventually get that perfect second home. 

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