Q1 2026 SC RURAL LAND OUTLOOK
Continued population growth, a potential $35M annual surplus for the South Carolina Conservation Bank, and an upcoming election for a new Agricultural Commissioner are ongoing market events poised to impact the state’s rural land market. According to the most recent IRS data South Carolina is now the fastest growing state and added over 59,000 residents from out of state resulting in over 29,000 new taxpayers and approximately $4.1 billion in income from 2022-2023. This data bodes well for future economic growth and rural land values statewide.
Plans for a casino resort in Orangeburg County are underway and include allotting 35% of the casino’s future tax revenue (estimated at $100M per year) to the South Carolina Conservation bank on an annual basis. A consistent revenue stream of this nature dedicated to protecting rural acreage would offer tremendous support to current funding for conservation easements. Unprecedented population growth, sprawling development, and historically high land prices have escalated the value, incentive, and demand of these easements and the possibility of an additional $35M in the Conservation Bank’s budget each year is gaining significant momentum.
A new SC Agriculture Commissioner will take office later this year for the first time since 2004. The agricultural industry is a major component of the state’s economy and per a 2022 report represents 55% of the $51.8 billion annual economic impact generated by SC agribusiness (which includes nearly 260,000 jobs and over $12.3 billion in annual labor income.) Policies from the next commissioner’s term will influence the state’s 4.6 million acres of farmland for the next four years. (Shareholder Rusty Hamrick)
UPSTATE SC LAND STATISTICS Q1 2026
HUFF CREEK TEAM STATISTICS Q1 2026
CURRENT HUFF CREEK INVENTORY VOLUMES
View our current inventory here.