What Homeowners in Columbia & Richland County Need to Know

If you’re a homeowner in the Columbia/South Carolina region who’s fallen behind on your mortgage—or worried you might soon—this message is for you. Right now, the landscape is shifting: defaults are rising, servicers are overwhelmed, and your options matter more than ever.

📈 What the data is saying

Recent reporting shows that in the first half of 2024, the city of Columbia had one of the highest foreclosure start rates in the state. thestate.com Across the larger Richland County, South Carolina market, home values may be modest (e.g., the median home value is approximately $240,728 according to Zillow) but the pressure on homeowners is mounting. Zillow While I couldn’t locate a public large-scale dataset showing the exact number of defaults by county, multiple professional alerts and industry chatter confirm: defaults are up and servicers are under-prepared.

🏦 Why this matters for you

At the RMF Realty Team, LLC we’ve submitted multiple short-sale requests already to major servicers—including Carrington Mortgage Services, Mr. Cooper, Freedom Mortgage Corporation and others—and what we’re seeing is clear: the system is scrambling. When servicers become overwhelmed, delays happen. When delays happen, your chances of a smooth short sale decrease.

👥 What homeowners must do

A successful short sale depends on teamwork among homeowner, real-estate agent, and servicer. That means you must be ahead of the game. Here’s your preparation checklist:

  • Gather your financial paperwork now — tax returns, pay stubs, mortgage statements, hardship letter, etc.

  • Be responsive when the servicer asks for items. Servicers working at capacity may hold up your request if you don’t act promptly.

  • Communicate with your real-estate professional (that’s us!) to monitor where your case stands.

  • Understand: a short sale may be a better alternative than letting the process go to foreclosure. But it won’t happen automatically—you have to act.

✅ Why you should act now

Because when defaults rise and servicer volume spikes, your window for the Short Sale Urgency option narrows. If you wait until you’re in deep arrears, with no paperwork ready, you risk losing leverage—and possibly losing your home. Knowing your options and being proactive is the best way to avoid the sweep of foreclosure.

📞 Let’s walk you through it

If you’re behind—or even if you’re just worried and unsure of what to do—reach out to the RMF Realty Team today. We’ll walk you through your options, help you understand the short-sale path (if appropriate), and be your guide through every step. Don’t let “waiting for things to get better” trap you into a worse position.


Send us a message or call us now: “I’m ready for short-sale—help me.” We’ll schedule a free consultation, get your paperwork reviewed, and map out a strategy tailored to you.


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