South Carolina draws physician investors for several structural reasons: the lowest effective property tax in this report at 0.57%, landlord-friendly laws with streamlined evictions, and no corporate income tax on investment LLCs. Charleston commands the highest STR ADR in this entire 50-state report at $396/night with 65% occupancy. Statewide values are essentially flat (-0.2% YoY), which favors patient buyers. The strategic split: the coast carries hurricane and flood exposure — treat the insurance quote like a second opinion and order it before you fall for any coastal pro forma — while the Upstate corridor (Greenville, Spartanburg) offers the best risk-adjusted returns, driven by BMW and Michelin manufacturing with far lower disaster risk.

Long-term rental markets

Columbia is the yield anchor — homes near $227,000 renting around $1,650/mo (11.5× GRM), on the triple engine of USC, state government, and Fort Jackson. Spartanburg ($195,000, 12×) is the value entry into Upstate manufacturing growth with SRHS Healthcare, Greenville ($321,000, $1,767/mo, 15.1×) is the flagship Upstate growth story behind BMW, Michelin, and Prisma Health, and Rock Hill ($310,000, 16.7×) captures growing Charlotte-metro spillover.

Short-term rental markets

Myrtle Beach is the volume play — $295,000 entry with deep STR inventory and ~$180/night. Pawleys Island ($425,000, ~$215/night) is the quieter Hammock Coast alternative, Charleston is the trophy — $595,000 entry and the report's highest ADR at $396/night, 65% occupancy — and Hilton Head ($705,000, ~$310/night) runs premium island rates. In resort inventory this deep, a themed property or standout amenity often tips the scale when guests shop listings side by side. All four carry moderate STR regulation — verify local rules, and quote coastal insurance before you model revenue.

Up-and-coming markets

Florence ($198,000) sits on the I-95 medical corridor with MUSC expansion driving rental demand. Rock Hill ($310,000) stays on the watch list as Charlotte migration builds, Summerville ($355,000) is the fast-growing Charleston suburb with lower coastal risk, and Beaufort ($380,000) supports multiple rental strategies on military-plus-coastal demand.

The bottom line for physician investors

South Carolina pairs the report's lowest property tax with its highest STR ADR — a rare combination. Buy Upstate for risk-adjusted cash flow without coastal exposure, or Charleston-tier coast for premium ADR — but on the coast, insurance underwriting comes before yield analysis, every time. Coast or Upstate, building the right local team will make or break the investment. Dr Home Investor introduces you to vetted local professionals — including a Realtor match with boots on the ground — so due diligence doesn't begin with a blind Google search that wastes your time.