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South Carolina market guide
DSCR loans in Clemson, SC
Rental financing for Clemson investors, qualified on the property's rent.
For Clemson, SC rentals, the DSCR test compares rent to the full payment. The Census medians that frame it are $1,007 rent, $398,400 value and $1,912 in yearly taxes.
Market snapshot for Clemson
For Clemson, the latest five-year ACS shows a median gross rent of $1,007 (about 15% below the South Carolina median of $1,180) and a median owner-occupied value of $398,400 (well above the South Carolina median of $259,000). Annual median rent is about 3.0% of the median home value in Clemson. That is a thin gross ratio, which tells you purchase prices are high relative to rent, but it blends every housing type, so a house on a specific street needs its own rent comparables.
| Indicator | South Carolina | Clemson | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persons per household | 2.44 | 2.27 | |
| Share in 2-4 unit buildings | 4.5% | 17.7% | +294% |
| Long commuters, 45 min plus | 14.7% | 7.7% | -48% |
| Degree holders, age 25+ | 32.1% | 59.4% | +85% |
| Workers on their own account | 9.9% | 9.8% | -1% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income | 52.1% | 60.1% | +15% |
| Units sitting vacant | 13.3% | 10.0% | -25% |
| Typical construction year | 1992 | 1989 | |
| Annual rent divided by value | 5.5% | 3.0% | -45% |
| Households that rent | 28.1% | 65.7% | +134% |
| Tax as a share of home value | 0.48% | 0.48% | -1% |
| Annual property tax bill, median | $1,251 | $1,912 | +53% |
| Household income, median | $69,324 | $49,520 | -29% |
| Typical monthly rent | $1,180 | $1,007 | -15% |
| Residents (Census estimate) | 5,296,225 | 18,072 |
Tenure leans toward renters here, at 65.7% of occupied housing (well above the South Carolina median of 28%), which supports a durable pool of prospective tenants. Incomes matter for rent growth: the median household earns $49,520, well below the South Carolina median of $69,324, and 60% of renters are already cost-burdened at 30 percent of income or more.
The kind of housing in Clemson
Apartments and small buildings carry real weight in Clemson, about 55% of units, with duplexes through fourplexes at 18%. A median build year of 1989 puts most of the stock in its second round of big repairs, and an inspector will show what remains.
The Census counts 10% of Clemson housing units as vacant, with a rental vacancy figure of 6.2%.
What stands out in Clemson
A gross yield of 3.0% means Clemson is a market where purchase prices run ahead of rent, so a 1.0 ratio generally takes a larger down payment or a property priced below the local median. Housing here is neither new nor ancient, so condition varies widely from block to block and the inspection tells you more than the median. Because 66% of households rent, vacancies tend to refill, and the pricing question is how much to charge relative to nearby units.
Taxes and risk in Clemson
The Census reports median real estate taxes paid of $1,912 in Clemson, well above the South Carolina median of $1,251. Against the median value that is an effective rate of roughly 0.48%, compared with 0.48% for South Carolina as a whole. At the median rent that tax bill takes roughly 16% of a year's rent before insurance, dues or interest.
Pickens County carries a relatively low overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index, where ice storms (relatively high), lightning (relatively high) and riverine flooding (relatively moderate) rank highest.
| Hazard in Pickens County, FEMA index | Level |
|---|---|
| Cold waves exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Riverine flooding exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning exposure | Relatively High |
| Ice storms exposure | Relatively High |
| Social vulnerability score | Relatively Moderate |
| Annualized loss estimate | Relatively Low |
| Composite risk | Relatively Low |
Flood risk in Clemson is parcel by parcel: check the address on FEMA's flood map service, because a mapped high-risk zone means required flood cover and a heavier payment.
Working the Clemson rent math
Try the math at the medians. With rent at $1,007 and taxes near $159 a month, a 1.00 DSCR leaves $848 for everything else in the payment, a 1.20 ratio leaves $680, and a 1.25 ratio leaves $646. Any real property will differ, but the exercise shows how little room insurance and dues can take.
Landlord and short-term rental rules in Clemson
We have not confirmed a city-specific rental registration or nightly-stay permit program for Clemson, so check with the city and with Pickens and Anderson Counties before you buy, and look at any HOA or condominium rules that can be stricter than the city's. For Clemson short-term hosts, one state-level point stands out. South Carolina taxes sleeping accommodations rented for less than 90 continuous days with a state sales tax and an accommodations tax under S.C. Code 12-36-920, and counties and cities may add a local accommodations tax that they collect themselves.
Deposit limits are set by statute in South Carolina (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410), and for Clemson landlords the rule reads: No cap on the amount in the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. After move-out, the Clemson owner has 30 days to return the deposit or account for deductions. Ending a periodic tenancy in Clemson: 30 days' written notice before the termination date (7 days for week-to-week) from the landlord.
Clemson compared with nearby markets
Looking across the table, values run from $218,200 (Anderson) up to $487,500 (Greenville), and Clemson lands at $398,400.
| Market | Renter share | Tax bill | Home value | Residents | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greer | 27% | $1,840 | $288,700 | 41,536 | $1,198 |
| Simpsonville | 32% | $1,443 | $299,300 | 26,144 | $1,415 |
| Greenville | 59% | $2,630 | $487,500 | 72,935 | $1,312 |
| Anderson | 49% | $1,366 | $218,200 | 30,051 | $975 |
| Clemson | 66% | $1,912 | $398,400 | 18,072 | $1,007 |
Tenants, jobs and anchors in Clemson
About 9.8% of Clemson workers are self-employed, the kind of borrowers whose tax returns understate cash flow and who often prefer a loan sized on rent. On the workforce side, government workers are about 30% of employment, 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.
Campuses such as Clemson University pull tenants into Clemson, and landlords near them can plan around move-in seasons. Transportation links include air service through Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Easy highway and air access helps both tenant commutes and remote ownership.
From a Clemson listing to a loan
Gather the lease or rent estimate, the tax estimate and an insurance quote for the Clemson address, check them in the calculator, and begin your application or get a quote first.
More South Carolina markets
- All South Carolina DSCR loans
- DSCR loans in Anderson, SC
- DSCR loans in Greenville, SC
- DSCR loans in Simpsonville, SC
- DSCR loans in Greer, SC
- Every market we cover
Source links
- Wikipedia: Clemson, South Carolina
- Clemson landlords: see S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410
- SCDOR accommodations tax (South Carolina)
- S.C. Code 12-36-920
- ACS 2020 to 2024 estimates for Clemson
- National Risk Index entry, Pickens and Anderson Counties
The Clemson statistics are five-year ACS estimates (2020 to 2024), which have sampling error. Landlord rules for Clemson rest on South Carolina statutes and the CC BY 4.0 RedFlagLease dataset. Reviewed in October 2026, with no promise that rules have stayed put.
DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
What rent number goes into a Clemson, SC DSCR calculation?
Underwriters take the lease if one exists and compare it with the appraisal's rent estimate; the lower figure often governs. Clemson median rent is $1,007.
How do taxes and insurance affect a DSCR loan in Clemson?
They do. Rent of $1,007 divided by 1.25 gives about $806 as the payment ceiling, and $159 of that is spoken for by the median Clemson tax bill.
What do Clemson owners pay in real estate taxes?
Typical owners pay $1,912, or 0.48% of home value, with South Carolina overall at 0.48%. Do not assume the seller's bill carries over to you.
Can nightly stays at a Clemson property support a DSCR file?
Yes on programs built for it, once the use is lawful in Clemson. Gather twelve months of statements or a third-party projection, and have South Carolina tax registration squared away.
What are the security deposit rules for a South Carolina landlord?
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410: No cap on the amount in the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. The deposit is due back within 30 days of move-out. Check the statute and your lease before collecting.
How exposed is Clemson to natural hazards?
The National Risk Index gives the county an overall relatively low rating. Use that as a prompt to get quotes, not as a verdict on one Clemson street.
Can I close a Clemson DSCR loan in an LLC?
An individual can borrow too. If you prefer an entity for the Clemson purchase, expect to provide formation documents and sign a personal guaranty.