Rent to own Homes in Columbia, SC

In 1816, Columbia was a small town with 250 homes and more than 1,000 residents. There weren't even any municipal workers at the time - the adult citizens had to take turns clearing weeds and bushes to ensure the streets were clean and neat. Columbia didn't get its charter as a city until 1854. It was the headquarters for many Confederate agencies and a flourishing municipality until 1865 when Union soldiers burnt most of its structures to the ground. The city was always forward-thinking and invested in its infrastructure by paving streets for 17 blocks in 1908.

Columbia is still on the ball and now has a healthy, diverse economy. Major industries in the city include insurance information and technology, advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics, health care, green energy production, and research, development, and discovery. Over a dozen colleges and universities also employ many of the city's residents. With a population of 131,671 spread over 132.21 square miles, Columbia has a comfortable density level with a nice mix of urban and suburban neighborhoods and open space. It might not be a major city, but it has most of the amenities of one. Its diverse residents enjoy the small-town feel of their mid-sized city, and you can, too - by moving into one of the rent-to-own homes in Columbia.

Columbia, SC is a great place for affordable rent-to-own homes! With a median household income of over $47,416 and a median rent of $956, the Columbia, SC rent-to-own market is more affordable than the traditional housing market which has shown tremendous growth across the U.S. and with it, aggressive competition for home purchases. With the current housing shortage trend it can make it harder to become a homeowner, including in Columbia, SC. This means higher than average down payments for homes and higher qualification standards for conventional home loans. With a rent-to-own property, tenants are also buyers. You can live in the house for a set amount of time before you purchase it, meaning that you get to know the house, your neighbors, and your community before making the final purchase. This enables you and your family to make the right choice based on both information and experience. Rent-to-own is also a great alternative way to get into a home if you have bad credit or don't have enough saved for a down payment.

Check out Columbia, SC rent to own homes for sale, which may include auction properties, for sale by owner, and more.

Showing 1 - 44 of 300
212 POND RIDGE RD E
3 Beds, 3 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29223
1,500 Sqft | Built in 1981
105 GAMECOCK DR
3 Beds, 2 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Blythewood, SC 29016
1,351 Sqft | Built in 1994
146 ADLER RD
5 Beds, 4 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
West Columbia, SC 29170
2,800 Sqft | Built in 2007
113 TARPARLIN DR
3 Beds, 2 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Lexington, SC 29073
1,178 Sqft | Built in 1989
5661 COLD STREAM DR
3 Beds, 2 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Dalzell, SC 29040
1,176 Sqft | Built in 1986
1120 Fallingwater Ln
4 Beds, 3 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Sumter, SC 29154
2,083 Sqft | Built in 2000
1009 BRIDGEWATER RD
3 Beds, 2 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Batesburg, SC 29006
2,009 Sqft | Built in 2007
1 of 24 2037 PIEDMONT ST
2 Beds, 1 Bath
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Newberry, SC 29108
959 Sqft
Rent to own homes offer low monthly payments and flexible terms.
617 SUMTER ST
2 Beds, 1 Bath
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
West Columbia, SC 29169
632 Sqft | Built in 1954
Hot
1 of 28 1028 BYRON RD
3 Beds, 2 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29209
2,031 Sqft | Built in 1964
Hot
1 of 15 2717 PUTNAM ST
2 Beds, 1 Bath
Rent To Own
Midland Terrace
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29204
829 Sqft | Built in 1946
Hot
1 of 9 2008 OUIDA ST
3 Beds, 1.5 Bath
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29223
2,064 Sqft | Built in 1964
1 of 11 3615 OVERCREEK RD
6 Beds, 8.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29206
8,167 Sqft | Built in 1972
Hot
1611 MORNINGLO LN
3 Beds, 1 Bath
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29223
1,482 Sqft | Built in 1957
1527 LILLY AVE
2 Beds, 1 Bath
Rent To Own
Rochelle Heights - Victory Garden
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29204
725 Sqft | Built in 1950
601 ISAAC ST
3 Beds, 2 Baths
Rent To Own
North Columbia
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29203
909 Sqft | Built in 1954
Hot
1 of 19 887 SPEARS DR
3 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Elgin, SC 29045
1,836 Sqft | Built in 2006
4913 DALE DR
2 Beds, 1 Bath
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29203
744 Sqft | Built in 1953
Hot
1 of 39 1224 R L COWARD RD
4 Beds, 2 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Hopkins, SC 29061
2,128 Sqft | Built in 1965
Hot
1 of 20 219 WHITTINGTON CT
3 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29210
1,764 Sqft | Built in 1991
Hot
25 DUMONT ST
3 Beds, 1 Bath
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29201
1,006 Sqft | Built in 1954
1 of 11 627 GRAYMONT AVE
2 Beds, 1 Bath
Rent To Own
South Waccamaw
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29205
1,232 Sqft | Built in 1950
Hot
1 of 30 113 SESQUI TRL
4 Beds, 3.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29223
3,016 Sqft | Built in 1995
Hot
1 of 13 5 MISTY RIDGE CT
3 Beds, 2 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29229
1,326 Sqft | Built in 2005
Hot
1 of 11 241 ROSE CREEK LN
3 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29229
1,936 Sqft | Built in 1990
1 of 20 1033 SKYVIEW DR
4 Beds, 3 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
West Columbia, SC 29170
3,100 Sqft | Built in 1960
Hot
1 of 21 2019 SHADOWOOD CT
3 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29212
2,470 Sqft | Built in 1980
Hot
1 of 31 732 STONEBURY CIR
5 Beds, 3.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Blythewood, SC 29016
3,246 Sqft | Built in 2012
Hot
1 of 14 202 FALLEN OAK DR
3 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29229
2,438 Sqft | Built in 1991
Hot
1 of 17 208 BENTWOOD LN
4 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29229
2,671 Sqft | Built in 1994
Hot
1 of 11 319 FALLEN TIMBER TRL
5 Beds, 4 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Blythewood, SC 29016
3,900 Sqft | Built in 2014
Hot
1 of 30 16 ARBOR VISTA CT
3 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Columbia, SC 29229
2,262 Sqft | Built in 2000
Hot
1 of 34 137 MAGUIRE DR
3 Beds, 2 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Lexington, SC 29073
1,072 Sqft | Built in 2004
1 of 28 216 CEDAR VIEW DR
4 Beds, 3.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Irmo, SC 29063
3,850 Sqft | Built in 2005
Hot
1 of 18 2000 WATER OAK DR #10B
2 Beds, 1.5 Bath
Rent To Own
 
Multifamily (5+ Units)
Lexington, SC 29072
1,140 Sqft | Built in 1983
Hot
1 of 29 104 TRAVELER TRL
4 Beds, 3 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Lexington, SC 29073
2,018 Sqft | Built in 2002
Hot
1 of 9 307 GLENGARY CT
5 Beds, 3.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Lexington, SC 29072
3,240 Sqft | Built in 2014
1 of 19 206 RIVERBROOK CT
4 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Rent To Own
Sandy Run
Single Family Home
Gaston, SC 29053
2,657 Sqft | Built in 2009
Hot
1 of 9 1282 SAND OAK DR
4 Beds, 3 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Lugoff, SC 29078
2,150 Sqft | Built in 2018
Hot
1 of 28 914 STRADLEY LN
4 Beds, 3 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Chapin, SC 29036
2,792 Sqft | Built in 2013
2081 HIGHWAY 178
8 Beds, 5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Swansea, SC 29160
980 Sqft | Built in 1989
Hot
1 of 6 1012 NIGHT HARBOR CIR
3 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Chapin, SC 29036
2,145 Sqft | Built in 1997
Hot
1 of 9 441 LAKE ESTATE DR
3 Beds, 4 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Chapin, SC 29036
3,100 Sqft | Built in 2000
482 PINE CREST ST
5 Beds, 7 Baths
Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Camden, SC 29020
6,800 Sqft | Built in 2003
Map
Sponsored Link

More Columbia, SC Property Resources

Rent to own Homes in Cities Near Columbia, SC

Browse all Rent to own Homes in South Carolina

Buying a Home in Columbia, SC

Columbia, SC is seeing rapid growth and Columbia, SC's' housing market remains optimal with an average home price that is -14% below the 2023 national average. Columbia, SC is part of Richland county and taxes are an important factor to consider when purchasing a home whether through rent to own or a traditional purchase. The average tax rate as of 2023 for county Richland is 0.76% which is below the national average, which is 0.99%.

Median Home Price in Columbia, SC

Median Rent in Columbia, SC

Rent to own homes offer low monthly payments and flexible terms.

Average Cost of Living in Columbia

Columbia is an extremely affordable place to live in. The city's overall cost of living is 4.2% lower than South Carolina's average and 15.7% lower than the national average. Health care and utilities are on the more expensive side, transportation and housing are on the low end, and groceries are average. The surrounding municipalities include Forest Acres, Lexington, Irmo, Dentsville, and Cayce. Forest Acres, Lexington, and Irmo are 9.3%, 6.9%, and 6.7% higher, while Dentsville and Cayce are .50% and 3.2% lower, respectively. Columbia is larger, more populous, and has more to offer its residents than neighboring towns, but it is still very affordable - even compared to the nearby municipalities.

Average Home Prices in Columbia

Though Columbia is the second-most populous city in the state, it has an excellent, reasonably-priced housing market. The median cost of a home in the city is $136,700. That's $33,400 less than South Carolina's average of $170,100 and $94,500 less than the United States' average of $231,200. Homes in other towns in the region range from $109,400 in Cayce to $196,800 in Forest Acres. It's surprising that Columbia's housing market is so affordable. It is one of the better cities for people looking to buy a rent-to-own home.

Columbia Statistics

If you're interested in Columbia rent-to-own homes, don't forget to consider important factors in addition to monthly living costs, such as average commute, taxes, crime rates, etc. The following are some common Columbia statistics compared to the U.S. national average.

Columbia Averages National Averages
One-Way Commute 15.2 minutes 26.4 minutes
Violent Crime 39.5 22.7
Property Crime 76.0 35.4
Unemployment Rate 3.7% 3.9%
Income Tax Rate 7.0% 4.6%
Air Quality 40 58
Water Quality 56 55
Median Household Income $41,454 $53,482
Median Property Taxes $700 $2,200
Utilities $470/month $112/month
Monthly Rent $1,090 $1,470
Median Home Cost $136,700 $231,200
Median Home Age 46 years 40 years

Popular Amenities and Attractions in Columbia

Columbia has a well-developed downtown. You can do plenty of shopping during the day until you're ready to sit down to a meal at one of the many fine restaurants located along Main Street. Visit the downtown museums, watch a movie, and even check out the statehouse and watch legislators go about their daily business. If you want to relax for a bit, you can visit Finlay Park, located alongside the heart of downtown. It encompasses 18 acres and has beautiful lakes and ponds, playgrounds, walking paths, picnic areas, and a café, and if you're there during the summer, you can catch an outdoor concert in the park. When it gets dark, the fun begins with live indoor performances in the downtown theaters and late-night dining and drinking at its bars and restaurants.

The city has more transportation options than expected for a municipality its size. Long-distance travelers can use the Columbia Metropolitan Airport to get to and from the city. Getting around town is a breeze with the city's affordable, neon Comet buses. To traverse the downtown, you can ride the Soda Cap Connector buses for free or take advantage of the city's bike-share program. If cars are more your thing, Uber, Lyft, and taxis operate throughout the area, and if you have your own vehicle, there are plenty of municipal parking garages and spaces available for a daily maximum of $10. The city even has a convenient app for its bike riders and parking garages.

Columbia has a diverse population, a vibrant downtown, a healthy economy, an excellent transportation system, and an affordable housing market. Check out some of the rent-to-own options in Columbia, and make this wonderful city your home.

Browse Rent to Own Locations Below
Browse All Rent to Own Listings