So, you’ve braved the wilds of Skyrim, slain dragons, joined guilds, and maybe even shouted a few unfortunate souls off cliffs. But something’s missing, isn’t it? A place to call your own, a sanctuary from the harsh realities of Tamriel. You’re ready to buy a house in Skyrim! This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from gathering the gold to decorating your dream home.
Why Buy a House in Skyrim?
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s explore why owning property in Skyrim is so desirable:
- Storage: Tired of lugging around mountains of dragon bones and potions? Houses offer safe and plentiful storage for all your loot. No more accidentally selling that unique enchanted sword!
- Crafting: Many houses come equipped with crafting stations like alchemy labs, enchanting tables, and forges, allowing you to create powerful weapons, armor, and potions from the comfort of your own home.
- Rest and Recuperation: A good night’s sleep in your own bed provides a well-rested bonus, improving your skills. Plus, it’s just nice to have a safe haven to relax in after a long day of adventuring.
- Prestige: Let’s be honest, owning property is a sign of success. It shows you’ve made your mark on Skyrim and are more than just a wandering adventurer.
- Spouse Accommodation: Once married, your spouse can move into your house, providing a stable base of operations for your family. They can even run a shop, generating income for you.
- Customization: Many houses can be upgraded and decorated to your liking, allowing you to create a truly unique and personalized space.
The Houses of Skyrim: A Buyer’s Guide
Skyrim offers a variety of homes to purchase, each with its own unique location, style, and price. Here’s a rundown of the available properties:
Purchasable Homes:
- Breezehome (Whiterun): The first and often most easily acquired house. Located in Whiterun, it’s a small, cozy home perfect for beginner adventurers.
- Cost: 5,000 gold (Can be reduced to 2,000 if you help the Jarl of Whiterun before the dragon attack).
- How to Acquire: Complete the quest “Bleak Falls Barrow” for the Jarl of Whiterun, Balgruuf the Greater. He will then grant you permission to purchase Breezehome from his steward, Proventus Avenicci.
- Upgrades: Several upgrades are available, including a laboratory, enchanting table, and various furnishings.
- Hjerim (Windhelm): A larger, more prestigious house located in Windhelm. However, acquiring it can be a bit more involved due to a questline involving a serial killer.
- Cost: 12,000 gold (Reduced to 8,000 if you are of a specific race).
- How to Acquire: You must progress through the Civil War questline to the point where Windhelm is controlled by the Stormcloaks (or complete the entire Imperial questline). Additionally, you may need to complete the quest “Blood on the Ice” or at least trigger it before being able to purchase the house. Speak to the steward, Jorleif, in the Palace of the Kings to purchase the house.
- Upgrades: Extensive upgrades are available, including cleaning up the gruesome crime scene (a must!).
- Honeyside (Riften): A charming house located in Riften, known for its canals and Thieves Guild presence.
- Cost: 8,000 gold.
- How to Acquire: Become Thane of Riften by assisting the citizens of Riften and completing quests for the Jarl, Laila Law-Giver (or Anuriel if the Imperials control Riften). Once you have gained her favor, you can purchase Honeyside from her steward, Anuriel (or Hemming Gold-Blade if the Imperials control Riften).
- Upgrades: Includes a garden and a balcony overlooking the city.
- Vlindrel Hall (Markarth): A stately house located in Markarth, known for its Dwemer architecture and Forsworn presence.
- Cost: 8,000 gold.
- How to Acquire: Become Thane of Markarth by assisting the citizens of Markarth and completing quests for the Jarl, Igmund (or Raerek if the Imperials control Markarth). You also need to complete the quest “Kill the Forsworn Leader”. Once you have gained his favor, you can purchase Vlindrel Hall from his steward, Raerek (or Betrid Silver-Blood if the Imperials control Markarth).
- Upgrades: Features a unique Dwemer-themed interior.
- Proudspire Manor (Solitude): The most expensive house in Skyrim, located in the capital city of Solitude.
- Cost: 25,000 gold.
- How to Acquire: Become Thane of Haafingar by assisting the citizens of Solitude and completing quests for the Jarl, Elisif the Fair. You also need to complete the quest “The Man Who Cried Wolf” and “Fit for a Jarl”. Once you have gained her favor, you can purchase Proudspire Manor from her steward, Falk Firebeard. You may need to purchase the house before completing the quest “Fit for a Jarl” for the option to become Thane to appear.
- Upgrades: Offers a luxurious interior and a stunning view of the city.
- Hearthfire Homes (Multiple Locations): With the Hearthfire DLC, you can build your own houses from the ground up. These homes are located in The Pale (near Dawnstar), Falkreath Hold (near Falkreath), and Hjaalmarch (near Morthal).
- Cost: Varies depending on materials and upgrades. Starting costs are relatively low, but acquiring materials can take time and effort.
- How to Acquire: After installing the Hearthfire DLC, you will receive a letter from the Jarl of Falkreath. Complete the quest “Kill the Bandit Leader”. Then, you can purchase land from the Jarl of Falkreath, Siddgeir (or Dengeir of Stuhn if the Stormcloaks control Falkreath). Once you’ve purchased the land, you can begin building your house. The other plots of land in The Pale and Hjaalmarch can be purchased after becoming Thane.
- Upgrades: Highly customizable, allowing you to build everything from a small cabin to a sprawling manor. You can also add features like gardens, apiaries, and even adopt children.
Other Considerations:
- Quest Requirements: As you can see, acquiring some houses requires completing specific quests or becoming Thane of a hold. Check the requirements carefully before setting your sights on a particular property.
- Civil War: The outcome of the Civil War can affect which Jarls are in power and, consequently, who you need to please to buy a house.
- Thane Status: Becoming Thane grants you certain privileges and responsibilities within a hold. It’s a good way to gain the Jarl’s favor and unlock the option to purchase property.
Step-by-Step Guide to Buying a House in Skyrim
Now that you know your options, let’s break down the process of buying a house in Skyrim:
- Choose Your House: Research the available houses and decide which one best suits your needs and preferences. Consider location, cost, upgrades, and quest requirements.
- Gather Gold: This is arguably the most challenging part. Houses in Skyrim aren’t cheap! Here are some tips for earning gold:
- Questing: Complete quests for various NPCs and factions. The rewards can be substantial, especially for longer or more difficult quests.
- Looting and Selling: Explore dungeons, ruins, and caves, and collect valuable items to sell to merchants. Focus on items with a high gold-to-weight ratio.
- Crafting and Selling: Craft weapons, armor, potions, and enchantments, and sell them to merchants. This can be a lucrative way to earn gold, especially if you invest in the appropriate skills.
- Mining and Selling: Mine ore and sell it to blacksmiths or merchants. Iron, silver, and gold are all valuable resources.
- Thievery (Use with Caution): Pickpocketing and stealing can be a quick way to earn gold, but be aware of the risks. Getting caught can result in fines or imprisonment.
- Clear dungeons: Many dungeons have boss chests with good loot. Clear these regularly to gain valuable items to sell.
- Radiant Quests: Factions like the Companions and Thieves Guild offer repeatable quests that provide a steady income.
- Meet the Requirements: As mentioned earlier, some houses require you to complete specific quests or become Thane of a hold. Fulfill these requirements before attempting to purchase the house.
- Speak to the Steward or Jarl: Once you have met the requirements and have enough gold, speak to the Jarl’s steward (or the Jarl themselves, in some cases) to purchase the house. They will offer you the option to buy the property.
- Pay the Price: Hand over the required amount of gold to complete the purchase. Congratulations, you are now a homeowner in Skyrim!
- Upgrade and Furnish Your Home: Most houses offer upgrades and furnishings that can be purchased from the steward or crafted yourself. Customize your home to your liking and make it a comfortable and personalized space.
Tips for Decorating Your Skyrim Home
Now that you own a house, it’s time to make it your own! Here are some tips for decorating your Skyrim home:
- Plan Your Layout: Before you start placing furniture, consider the layout of your house and how you want to use each room.
- Choose a Theme: Decide on a theme for your home to create a cohesive and visually appealing space. This could be anything from rustic to luxurious to Dwemer-inspired.
- Collect Unique Items: Scour the world for unique and interesting items to display in your home. This could include rare weapons, armor, artifacts, or even just interesting pieces of furniture.
- Use Lighting Effectively: Lighting can dramatically affect the atmosphere of your home. Use torches, candles, and lanterns to create a warm and inviting ambiance.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Avoid overcrowding your home with too many items. Leave some empty space to create a sense of balance and prevent your house from feeling cluttered.
- Consider Functionality: While aesthetics are important, don’t forget about functionality. Make sure your home is comfortable and practical for your needs. Place crafting stations in convenient locations, and ensure you have enough storage for your belongings.
- Take Inspiration From Other Homes: Visit other houses in Skyrim, both player-owned and NPC homes, to get ideas and inspiration for your own decorating projects.
- Utilize Mannequins and Weapon Racks: Mannequins can be used to display your favorite armor sets, while weapon racks can showcase your collection of swords, axes, and bows.
- Display Your Trophies: If you’ve slain any dragons or other formidable creatures, consider displaying their skulls or other trophies in your home as a testament to your accomplishments.
- Personalize Your Space: Ultimately, your home should reflect your personality and interests. Add personal touches that make it feel like your own unique space. This could include displaying books, paintings, or other items that are meaningful to you.
Hearthfire DLC Specifics
The Hearthfire DLC adds a whole new dimension to home ownership in Skyrim. Here’s what you need to know about building your own house:
- Acquiring Land: As mentioned earlier, you can purchase land from the Jarls of Falkreath, Dawnstar, and Morthal after completing certain quests and becoming Thane.
- Building Your House: Once you have land, you can use a drafting table and workbench to construct your house. You’ll need to gather various materials, such as lumber, stone, and clay.
- Material Acquisition:
- Lumber: Can be purchased from lumber mills or chopped from trees.
- Stone: Can be mined from quarries or purchased from merchants.
- Clay: Can be mined from clay deposits.
- Iron Ingots: Can be mined as ore and smelted, purchased from merchants, or found as loot.
- Corundum Ingots: Similar to Iron, but rarer.
- Glass: Purchased from general goods merchants.
- Straw: Purchased from general goods merchants.
- Goat Horns: Looted from goats.
- Hinges/Nails/Locks: Purchased from general goods merchants or blacksmiths.
- Customization Options: The Hearthfire DLC offers a vast array of customization options, allowing you to build everything from a small cabin to a sprawling manor. You can add features like gardens, apiaries, animal pens, and even adopt children.
- Adopting Children: If you have a house with a children’s bedroom, you can adopt children from orphanages or find homeless children in various cities.
- Hiring a Steward: You can hire a steward to manage your property, gather resources, and protect your home from bandits.
- Building Wings: You can add three wings to your main hall, each with different themes and functions. These include:
- Greenhouse: Allows you to grow plants and ingredients for alchemy.
- Enchanter’s Tower: Provides a dedicated space for enchanting.
- Alchemy Laboratory: Offers a more comprehensive alchemy station.
- Storage Room: Provides additional storage space.
- Armory: Allows you to display weapons and armor.
- Trophy Room: Showcases your hunting trophies.
- Library: For storing books and researching spells.
- Kitchen: For cooking and preparing meals.
- Bedroom: Provides additional bedrooms for family members.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Sometimes, things don’t go according to plan. Here are some solutions to common problems you might encounter when buying a house in Skyrim:
- Can’t Purchase a House: Make sure you have met all the requirements for purchasing the house, including completing any necessary quests and becoming Thane of the hold. Also, ensure you have enough gold.
- Steward Not Offering Upgrades: Try talking to the steward at different times of day or after completing other quests. Sometimes, their dialogue options can be a bit buggy. If still doesn’t work, try reloading a previous save.
- House is Bugged: Skyrim is known for its bugs. If you encounter any serious issues with your house, such as items disappearing or walls missing, try reloading a previous save or consulting online resources for solutions.
- Quest Not Triggering: Some quests required for purchasing a house can be finicky. Make sure you have met all the prerequisites and try talking to the relevant NPCs multiple times. Consulting online guides can also be helpful.
- Missing Materials (Hearthfire): Double-check your inventories, surrounding chests near the property, and that the required material is not a similar-named item. Sometimes similar items can trick the player.
Conclusion
Buying a house in Skyrim is a rewarding experience that adds a new layer of depth to the game. Whether you choose a pre-built home or build your own from scratch, owning property provides a safe haven, a crafting hub, and a symbol of your accomplishments in the harsh world of Tamriel. So, gather your gold, complete your quests, and start building your dream home today!
Now you’re equipped with the knowledge to become a proud homeowner in Skyrim. Happy adventuring, and happy decorating!