Licensed South Carolina Real Estate Broker — Affiliated with G Brokerage

Sell Your Commercial Property in Columbia, SC

Columbia is South Carolina's capital city and the state's center of government, higher education, and military operations. The University of South Carolina's 35,000+ students, Fort Jackson's annual throughput of 50,000 soldiers, and state government employment create three institutional demand pillars that provide unusual stability for a mid-size market. Columbia's commercial real estate offers investors higher yields than Charleston or Greenville — typically 100 to 200 basis points — while delivering institutional-grade demand stability. Property owners benefit from a buyer pool that increasingly recognizes Columbia's value proposition relative to SC's pricier coastal and upstate markets.

No upfront feesConfidential process$500K - $10M+ properties
2x
Dual Expertise
Business broker + CRE advisor. Most brokers only do one.
90
Day Avg. to Offer
Well-priced properties with strong financials attract fast offers.
$0
Upfront Cost
Success-based fees only. You pay nothing until your property sells.
Market Intelligence

Columbia Commercial Real Estate Market

Columbia's commercial real estate market rests on three institutional pillars that collectively generate demand no other SC city can match: state government (the capital employs over 30,000 state workers), the University of South Carolina (35,000+ students and major research activity), and Fort Jackson (the Army's largest and most active Initial Entry Training Center, processing 50,000 soldiers annually). These three institutions create a demand floor that insulates Columbia's commercial market from the economic cycles that affect less institutionally anchored cities.

The Midlands region's industrial market has strengthened significantly, driven by I-26 and I-77 corridor logistics, Amazon's fulfillment operations, and manufacturers targeting Columbia's lower labor costs compared to Charlotte and Charleston. The Vista and Main Street districts downtown have revitalized into restaurant and entertainment destinations, creating new demand for hospitality and retail properties. Prisma Health's two major hospital campuses — Richland and Baptist — anchor medical office demand throughout the metro. The Northeast Columbia submarket (Two Notch Road, Killian Road) experiences the strongest population and retail growth.

Columbia's cap rates run 100 to 200 basis points above Charleston and 50 to 150 above Greenville, positioning the market as South Carolina's value play for yield-focused investors. This isn't because Columbia's fundamentals are weak — the institutional demand base is arguably the most recession-resistant in the state — but because Columbia lacks the tourism premium of Charleston and the corporate headquarter premium of Greenville. For sellers, this means a buyer pool that is analytically sophisticated, focused on cash flow metrics, and responsive to properties with clean financials and stable tenancy.

137,000+
Population
1.0% annually
Annual Growth
45000
Median Income
0.035
Unemployment
Major Employers: State of South Carolina, University of South Carolina, Fort Jackson, Prisma Health, BlueCross BlueShield SC
Economic Drivers: Government, Higher Education, Military, Healthcare, Insurance
What's Selling

Top Property Types in Columbia

01

Office & Government

The I-26/I-77 interchange and Columbia's central SC location create logistics advantages for industrial properties serving statewide and regional distribution. Amazon's fulfillment operations, automotive suppliers serving BMW and Volvo plants elsewhere in SC, and food distribution companies anchor tenant demand along the Bluff Road, Garners Ferry Road, and Cayce/West Columbia industrial corridors. Columbia's lower occupancy costs compared to Charleston and Charlotte attract tenants migrating from pricier markets. Modern distribution space with 28'+ clear heights and interstate access generates the strongest buyer interest.

02

Retail & Student

The University of South Carolina's 35,000+ students and game day culture (Williams-Brice Stadium seats 80,000) create demand for retail, restaurant, and entertainment properties that extends well beyond the Five Points and Vista districts. Assembly Street, Devine Street, and the Harbison Boulevard corridor in Irmo serve distinct market segments. The Vista's transformation into Columbia's premier dining and nightlife district has created premium restaurant rents that rival Charleston's secondary corridors. Properties with Gamecock visibility and student foot traffic maintain strong occupancy and attract hospitality-focused investors.

03

Industrial & Distribution

Prisma Health operates two major hospital campuses in Columbia — Richland and Baptist — together employing thousands and generating medical office demand throughout the metro. The Forest Drive medical corridor, the Devine Street professional district, and the Northeast Columbia healthcare cluster along Two Notch Road house most of the city's medical-adjacent commercial properties. Multi-tenant medical buildings with diversified specialty mixes achieve the tightest cap rates in Columbia. VA healthcare demand from Fort Jackson military retirees adds a federal component to the medical office market.

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Market Data

Columbia Cap Rate Ranges

Property TypeTypical Cap Rate
Industrial6.5% - 8.5%
Retail6.5% - 9.0%
Office7.0% - 9.5%
Mixed-Use6.5% - 8.5%
NNN Lease5.0% - 7.0%

Cap rates reflect stable government and institutional demand. Government-tenanted properties command lower cap rates.

Your Advisor

Why Columbia Property Owners Work With John Salony

Dual Expertise

Most CRE agents don't understand business valuations. Most business brokers don't do real estate. John does both, giving you a complete picture of your property's value.

No Wasted Time

Pre-qualified buyers. Realistic pricing from day one. Clean financials and marketing materials that attract serious offers, not tire-kickers.

Confidential Process

Your tenants, employees, and competitors won't know you're selling until you're ready. Every step is managed with discretion.

Success-Based Fee

You pay nothing upfront. John's fee is earned only when your property sells. Your interests are fully aligned.

Common Questions

Selling Commercial Property in Columbia

Office with government tenants and retail near USC are strongest, along with I-20/I-26/I-77 corridor industrial.
Most sales take 4 to 10 months. Government and institutional tenants provide stability.
Columbia cap rates offer 100 to 200 basis points more yield than Charleston, making it SC's value market for income investors. Industrial along I-26/I-77 trades at 6.5% to 8.5%. Retail ranges from 6.5% to 9.0%, with Vista and Five Points properties at the lower end. Medical office near Prisma campuses trades at 6.0% to 8.0%. General office varies from 7.0% to 9.5%. NNN properties with credit tenants achieve 5.0% to 6.5%. The institutional demand base from state government, USC, and Fort Jackson underpins these yields with unusual stability.
Yes — Columbia's institutional economy creates specific combined transaction opportunities. Restaurants and bars in the Vista and Five Points districts, medical practices near Prisma campuses, and professional service firms serving state government all frequently sell as combined business-and-real-estate packages. John Salony structures these transactions to capture the institutional demand premium — the stability that USC, Fort Jackson, and state government provide — in both the business and property valuations.
Columbia's three institutional pillars — state government, USC, and Fort Jackson — aren't going anywhere, providing demand stability that purely private-sector markets cannot match. Industrial demand is growing along the I-26/I-77 corridors, the Vista continues maturing as a dining destination, and Northeast Columbia's population growth drives new commercial development. Properties with institutional tenant exposure or proximity to demand generators are best positioned. A confidential consultation can help you quantify the institutional stability premium in your Columbia property's value.
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Licensed SC Real Estate Broker REL.138767 B | Affiliated with G Brokerage Commercial Real Estate Inc.
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