The South Carolina commercial real estate market closed out 2025 on a strong note, cementing the Charleston region’s reputation as one of the Southeast’s most active mid-size commercial markets. According to data tracked through the South Carolina Commercial MLS (SCCMLS), the region recorded over half a billion dollars in total sales volume and absorbed nearly 4.43 million square feet of lease space. These numbers tell a story of a market deepening in its established corridors while actively expanding into new ones.

Whether you’re an investor, broker, or business owner evaluating your next move, this commercial real estate market update gives you the data you need to make informed decisions.

By the Numbers: 2025 at a Glance

The headline figures from the SCCMLS 2025 Annual Report paint a clear picture of market health:

  • Total Sales Volume: $588,168,342
  • Total Leased Square Footage: 3,401,971 sq ft
  • Top Sales Asset Class: Office at $193,592,064
  • Top Lease Asset Class: Industrial at 3,080,440 sq ft
  • Average Monthly SCCMLS Membership: 1,022 licensed users

These numbers aren’t just impressive. They reflect a commercial real estate market with diverse demand across asset classes, submarkets, and tenant profiles.

Sales Market: Where the Deals Were Made

Downtown Charleston Leads, But Suburbs Are Surging

Downtown Charleston remained the single most active submarket in the South Carolina commercial real estate market, accounting for roughly 37.9% of all recorded sales volume at $165,878,936. But the suburban story may be even more compelling: Greater North Charleston ($102,905,684), West Ashley ($59,435,400), Goose Creek/Moncks Corner ($55,374,999), and Mount Pleasant ($54,035,805) collectively absorbed the majority of remaining volume.

Capital is following population and infrastructure. The corridors radiating outward from the urban core along I-26 and I-526 were among the most active in the region, a signal that the commercial real estate market is maturing well beyond the peninsula.

Office Led All Asset Classes in Sales

Office properties topped all categories at $193,592,064 in total sales—a reflection of several large-scale transactions that drove significant volume, with demand holding up best for office buildings while older stock faces higher vacancies. Retail followed at $113,282,108, with Industrial close behind at $96,462,134. Underperforming older office properties are also increasingly being evaluated for adaptive reuse.

Unimproved Land: A Forward-Looking Signal

One of the most telling data points in this commercial real estate market update is unimproved land activity: $82,337,900 in ground transactions closed in 2025. Activity was heightened in the Summerville, Goose Creek, and Greater North Charleston corridors. Pointing to a robust development pipeline and sustained investor confidence in the region’s long-term growth trajectory.

Lease Market: Industrial Dominates, Office Redistributes

Industrial is the Defining Force

At 3,080,440 square feet, industrial leasing was the defining story of Charleston’s 2025 commercial real estate market. Greater North Charleston alone absorbed 1,614,663 square feet — nearly 50% of all industrial space leased in the region. The Dorchester Road Corridor added another 693,213 sq ft, a direct reflection of the continued build-out of logistics and distribution capacity along the I-26 spine.

Office Leasing

National headlines about office distress don’t tell the full story here, as the office sector has begun to stabilize while hybrid work patterns settle in. The South Carolina commercial real estate market absorbed 818,731 square feet of office space in 2025. Greater North Charleston led at 222,768 sq ft, narrowly edging out Downtown Charleston at 193,030 sq ft. West Ashley (107,560 SF), Mount Pleasant (103,882 SF), and Daniel Island (72,078 SF) each registered meaningful activity — confirming that office tenants are distributing across quality suburban submarkets rather than pulling back altogether.

Retail: Evenly Spread Across the Region

Retail leasing totaled 507,940 square feet, making it the most evenly distributed asset class across submarkets. A healthy sign of consumer-driven demand across the region’s growing population centers.

What This Means for the South Carolina Commercial Real Estate Market

The 2025 data from SCCMLS tells the story of a healthy, diversified commercial market with clear centers of gravity, active suburban expansion, and a land acquisition pattern that suggests the pipeline for future inventory remains strong.

A few key takeaways for investors and brokers:

Industrial demand is expanding geographically. The days of North Charleston being the only industrial game in town are fading. Orangeburg County, Colleton County, and the Dorchester Road Corridor are absorbing significant volume as developers seek lower land costs with strong logistics access.

Office isn’t dying, it’s shifting. Suburban submarkets are absorbing meaningful office activity. Quality product in accessible suburban locations continues to attract tenants even in the post-pandemic environment.

Unimproved land sales signal future growth. Over $82 million in land transactions means developers are actively positioning for the next cycle. Watch the Wando/Cainhoy and Greater Summerville corridors closely.

Downtown Charleston remains the anchor. With 37% of all sales volume and nearly 294,000 sq ft of lease absorption, the urban core is still the commercial heartbeat of the region.

Stay Ahead with the SCCMLS Commercial MLS

The South Carolina Commercial MLS (SCCMLS) is the region’s dedicated commercial real estate database and a leading source of market insights and data-driven insights for clients across the commercial real estate industry. Built with the purpose to give brokers, investors, and property owners accurate, up-to-date listing and transaction data. With an average of 1,022 licensed members per month and a growing statewide footprint, SCCMLS is the commercial MLS built for South Carolina’s market and supports decisions around properties and assets.

In 2025, SCCMLS also launched a redesigned website, partnered with Crexi to automatically syndicate all member listings at no additional cost, and introduced the FBS Auto Assistant for streamlined listing entry. These services reflect broader innovation and technology adoption across the industry, as many organizations are also exploring AI-driven tools to improve efficiency.

If you’re a commercial broker looking for the most comprehensive data on the South Carolina commercial real estate market, SCCMLS membership puts the right data at your fingertips, helping firms and organizations set investment priorities, support investing decisions, and navigate market challenges with greater success. Better data and partnerships can also help clients respond as investment volume and liquidity begin to recover, with lower costs of capital, tighter credit spreads, and more alliances and joint ventures expanding access to capital.

Data sourced from the SCCMLS 2025 Annual Report (January–December 2025). All figures reflect data entered into the SCCMLS database. For questions or custom data inquiries, contact Support@SCCMLS.com.