Best In South Carolina Real Estate™: Columbia

West Columbia leads South Carolina in homes owned free and clear — 45.2% of properties with no mortgage, according to ALEX Intelligence’s 2026 data. This isn’t just a statistic — it’s a signal of deep financial resilience in the Midlands. While other markets rely on leverage, West Columbia’s homeownership model is built on stability, not speculation. In those markets, high leverage is common; here, the absence of debt is the norm. The full data is here: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-21-columbia-sc-free-and-clear-place-mkt. Homes Owned Free and Clear, top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2024) #1 West Columbia — 45.2% #2 Camden — 39.6% #3 Seven Oaks — 39.1% #4 Dentsville — 37.9% #5 Lake Murray of Richland — 37.9% #6 Lugoff — 35.0% #7 Forest Acres — 34.8% #8 St. Andrews — 34.2% #9 Oak Grove — 32.7% #10 Woodfield — 28.6% Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: w_lemay (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=142049278; Slide 2: Upstateherd (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=115795169; Slide 3: L. Scott Johnson (sjohnson.sc) (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=34347529; Slide 4: w_lemay (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=142524961 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-21-columbia-sc-free-and-clear-place-mkt View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902