Columbia, SC Rental Market for Investors
An estimated 90% of Columbia's active listings could cash-flow as a short-term rental — here's what the numbers say for investors, as of August 2026.
Homes in Columbia that pencil right now
A sample of active Columbia listings whose DSCR clears 1.25 using short-term rental income projections we accept as a direct lender. These are spread across the price range, not ranked, and current as of August 2026.
$135,000DSCR 1.792 bed · 2 bath · 1,450 sqft
- STR revenue
- $33,685/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,252/mo
On the market 80 days · Listed by Crossroads Realty LLC
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Columbia
$197,000DSCR 1.952 bed · 2 bath · 1,116 sqft
- STR revenue
- $33,233/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,137/mo
On the market 5 days · Listed by Carson & Associates
Scout this home & market: 2-bed house in Columbia
$223,000DSCR 2.043 bed · 2.5 bath · 1,609 sqft
- STR revenue
- $41,495/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,355/mo
On the market 88 days · Listed by OpenDoor Brokerage LLC
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Columbia
$229,900DSCR 1.894 bed · 2.5 bath · 2,054 sqft
- STR revenue
- $48,480/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,710/mo
On the market 10 days · Listed by Trelora Realty Inc
Scout this home & market: 4-bed house in Columbia
$245,000DSCR 2.274 bed · 2 bath · 2,331 sqft
- STR revenue
- $49,891/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,464/mo
On the market 47 days · Listed by Keller Williams Realty Columbia
Scout this home & market: 4-bed house in Columbia
$275,000DSCR 2.355 bed · 3 bath · 2,368 sqft
- STR revenue
- $62,890/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,781/mo
On the market 66 days · Listed by Better Homes and Gardens Real Est Medley
Scout this home & market: 5-bed house in Columbia
$289,000DSCR 1.854 bed · 2.5 bath · 2,064 sqft
- STR revenue
- $48,310/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,742/mo
On the market 100 days · Listed by Home Advantage Realty
Scout this home & market: 4-bed townhouse in Columbia
$319,900DSCR 1.744 bed · 2.5 bath · 1,887 sqft
- STR revenue
- $55,630/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,129/mo
On the market 75 days · Listed by Southern Visions Realty Inc
Scout this home & market: 4-bed house in Columbia
As of August 2026, we analyzed 1,038 active for-sale homes in Columbia, South Carolina. The typical listing is priced at $274,395 and is projected to generate about $44,542 a year as a short-term rental.
After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 90.4% of those homes could still cover an investor mortgage payment on short-term-rental income — well above the 52.5% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking Columbia #1 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in Columbia sit a median of 54 days on the market, and 31% of active listings came on in just the last 30 days — a steadily paced market, which shapes how much room there is to negotiate.
For a DSCR loan — which qualifies on the property's rental income rather than your personal income — that's a relatively healthy setup: in Columbia, a meaningful share of listings throw off enough short-term-rental income, after costs, to cover an estimated investor mortgage payment.
What actually works in Columbia
Columbia is a broad cash-flow market right now: 749 of the 938 Columbia homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $358,000.
| Price | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $150k | — | 100%2.70 | — | — |
| $150k–$250k | 91%1.71 | 100%1.97 | 100%2.34 | — |
| $250k–$350k | 41%1.24 | 89%1.54 | 95%1.73 | 100%2.19 |
| $350k–$500k | — | 42%1.21 | 55%1.27 | 95%1.60 |
| $500k+ | — | 0%0.82 | 0%0.88 | 29%1.10 |
Darker means a larger share of that group cash-flows. “—” means fewer than 8 active listings — too few to draw a conclusion from.
Columbia in full
| Active for-sale homes analyzed | 1,038 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $274,395 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $44,542 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $191 |
| Median occupancy | 64% |
| Median beds | 3 |
| Median size | 1,809 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 90.4% |
| Median days on market | 54 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 31.2% of active |
As a user of this system, you agree to all Scout Terms & Conditions and Home & Mortgage Conditions.
Would a Columbia rental qualify for a DSCR loan?
Pre-filled with Columbia's median price and projected short-term-rental income — change any field to match a specific property.
Advanced
On a 5-minute call with you, we can use Scout to run real numbers on real properties.
Estimates for educational purposes. Final terms subject to credit, property & program approval.
5 senior bankers · 47 statesPressure-test the market before you trust the median.
We’ll help you compare the market-level signal with the exact property, local costs, rental rules, and financing structure.
Thinking about an investment property in Columbia?
Send the address or your target buy box. We’ll run the property with today’s assumptions.
Prefer to talk now? Call or text Chad: 858-353-8331.