How Did a Renovated Columbia, SC Home Near Forest Acres Sell in 2 Days in 2026?

Over the three months ending in September, the typical home in Columbia's 29206 ZIP code took 45 days to sell, according to Redfin. A year earlier it took 22. Almost half the listings there (47.3%) cut their price, and only 14.8% sold over asking.

That's the market our team listed 6735 Formosa Drive into. It's a renovated, one-level home on a quiet street between Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes, and it went on the market at $420,000. According to the team's case study, it sold in 2 days. It closed on October 22 at $420,000, the full list price, per the Coldwell Banker MLS listing.

I'm Joseph Michel, a Realtor on The Patrick O'Connor Team at Coldwell Banker Realty, the #1 Coldwell Banker Team in South Carolina. Here's what happened, why it worked, and what it means if you've put money into your home and you're thinking about selling.

What Was the Columbia Market Like When 6735 Formosa Drive Listed?

Slower than sellers were used to. Here's the September 2026 snapshot for the Greater Columbia region from the Consolidated MLS (CMLS) report published by Hubrec:

• 1,257 closed sales, down 6.5% from last September
• 4,213 homes for sale, up 31.5% (from 3,203)
• 51 days on market, up from 38
• $285,000 median price, up 1.8%
• $290,000 year-to-date median, up 3.6%

Redfin's numbers for 29206 tell the same story up close:

• 62 homes sold in September, down from 75
• 45 median days on market, up from 22
• Sale-to-list ratio of 98.6%, with the average home selling about 3% under list
• 47.3% of listings had a price drop
• A Redfin Compete Score of 58, which Redfin calls "somewhat competitive"

Redfin also shows the 29206 median sale price at $529,844 for the three months ending September, up 43.2%. With only about 60 sales a month, that number swings a lot depending on which homes closed. The steadier stat is price per square foot: $207, up 11.9%.

So prices were holding, but buyers had time and choices. That's exactly when a renovated home can get lost. If the photos and the listing don't show the work, buyers lump it in with every other 1960s ranch and wait for a price cut.

What Made 6735 Formosa Drive Stand Out?

On paper it's a 4-bedroom, 3-full-bath home with 1,935 square feet on a .43-acre lot, built in 1965. At $420,000, that's about $217 a square foot, a little above Redfin's 29206 median of $207.

The difference was the work the sellers had done. They bought in 2023 and put serious time and money into it. Buyers got:

• A one-level floor plan, which a lot of buyers want and can't find
• A renovated kitchen with designer tile backsplash, gold accents, pendant and recessed lighting, stainless appliances and a new vented hood
• A split-bedroom layout: a private owner's suite with a walk-in closet, walk-in shower and double vanity on one side, and three bedrooms and two full baths on the other
• Bedroom 4 with its own private full bath, good for guests, a teenager or a home office
• A flex room off the kitchen, a mudroom/laundry, and hardwood floors
• A fenced backyard with room to add a driveway and a garage or workshop
• A newer HVAC system and a Nest smart thermostat
• Zoning for Satchel Ford Elementary, Crayton Middle and A.C. Flora High

All of that is valuable, but only if buyers notice it in the first few seconds they spend on a listing.

How Did Our Team Market a Renovated Home in a Slower Market?

The sellers' goal wasn't just to sell. It was to protect what they'd invested and make sure buyers saw the value of the improvements. So the team built the whole presentation around the renovations.

1. The renovations were the headline. Instead of a standard listing that lists the bedrooms and moves on, the team made the updates the centerpiece of how the home was shown to the market.

2. Professional photography with a plan. The photos were shot to highlight the details that set this house apart from competing homes, like the kitchen backsplash, hardware and lighting, the hood, the owner's bath and the flow between the living areas.

3. The layout was easy to understand. One-level living, multiple living spaces and the split-bedroom plan were front and center, so a buyer scrolling online could picture how the home lives.

4. It was priced to match the work. The list price reflected a finished, updated home, not a project. That gave buyers a clear reason to act instead of wait.

The goal was a strong first impression. It worked. According to the team's case study, the home sold in 2 days, in a ZIP code where the average home was going pending in about 42 days.

Did 6735 Formosa Drive Sell for Full Price?

Yes. Coldwell Banker's MLS listing page shows the home closed on October 22, 2026, for $420,000, the same as its list price. In 29206, the average home was selling about 3% under list, so getting full price mattered. On a $420,000 home, 3% is about $12,600.

The timeline was short and clean. Public listing data shows the home went live the evening of September 11. The team's case study says it sold in 2 days, and it closed 41 days after it hit the market.

What Would a Buyer Pay Monthly at Today's Rates?

Freddie Mac's 30-year fixed average was 7.24% as of October 29, 2026, down from 7.32% the week before. At $420,000, here's the principal and interest (not taxes, insurance or PMI):

• 20% down ($336,000 loan): about $2,290 a month
• 10% down ($378,000 loan): about $2,576 a month
• 5% down ($399,000 loan): about $2,719 a month

The listing also mentioned a possible lender credit. At rates like these, buyers watch every dollar of their monthly payment. Credits can help close that gap. Here's how seller credits can buy down a buyer's rate.

What Can Columbia and Forest Acres Sellers Learn From This Sale?

If you renovated, make the work impossible to miss. Buyers don't read the listing remarks first. They look at photos. If your new kitchen looks like everyone else's in the first image, you've lost the advantage you paid for.

Price for the market you're in. With 4,213 homes for sale across the region and nearly half of 29206 listings cutting price, buyers can spot an overpriced home fast. A finished home priced right gets attention on day one. One priced too high turns into a price cut later. For more, read how to price your home to sell and how to read a CMA.

One-level homes have a built-in audience. Downsizers, buyers planning to age in place, and families who want everyone on one floor are all looking for the same thing. Say it loud in the marketing.

The first days on market matter most. Our team has seen this across price points. A custom Irmo home in Ascot Estates sold in 17 days, and a Lake Murray home in Chapin went under contract in 13 days. The listings that launch well tend to sell well.

Prep before you list. These sellers had already done the hard part. If your home still needs work, start with how to prepare your home to sell.

What Does This Mean for Buyers Looking in 29206?

The best homes still go fast. Redfin says "hot homes" in 29206 go pending in about 18 days, compared to about 42 for the average home. If you're looking near Forest Acres or Arcadia Lakes, especially for an updated one-story in a strong school zone, have your pre-approval ready and be ready to move.

At the same time, 47.3% of listings in the ZIP have cut their price, so there's room to negotiate on homes that have been sitting. Our team can help you tell which is which. If you're comparing other parts of Columbia, see Is Northeast Columbia, SC a Good Place to Buy a Home in 2026?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long are homes taking to sell in Columbia, SC in 2026? Across the Greater Columbia region, homes averaged 51 days on market in September 2026, up from 38 a year earlier, per CMLS data published by Hubrec. In the 29206 ZIP, Redfin shows a median of 45 days over the three months ending September, up from 22.

How fast did 6735 Formosa Drive sell? The team's case study says it sold in 2 days. Public listing data shows it went live September 11, 2026, and Coldwell Banker's MLS page shows it closed October 22, 2026.

What did 6735 Formosa Drive sell for? The Coldwell Banker MLS listing shows a sale price of $420,000, which was the full list price.

What is the median home price in 29206? Redfin puts the 29206 median sale price at $529,844 for the three months ending September 2026, or $207 per square foot. The Greater Columbia regional median in September was $285,000.

Do renovations help a home sell faster? They can, if buyers can see them. In this case, the team built the marketing around the renovations so buyers recognized the value as soon as they found the home online.

Who sold 6735 Formosa Drive? The Patrick O'Connor Team at Coldwell Banker Realty, the #1 Coldwell Banker Team in South Carolina.

Thinking About Selling in Columbia, Forest Acres or Lexington?

You can see more of our team's results on our sold homes page and the full 6735 Formosa Drive case study. If you've updated your home and want to know what buyers would pay for it today, call or text me at 803-553-6438, or visit scmidlandsagent.com.

— Joseph Michel, Realtor | Coldwell Banker Realty | The Patrick O'Connor Team, the #1 Coldwell Banker Team in South Carolina | SC License 130259

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