A home in Skyrim gives you a safe place to store loot, sleep for the Rested bonus, and (with Hearthfire) raise a family. There are five buyable houses, one in each major city, plus three buildable Hearthfire homesteads. This guide covers the five you simply buy — see the Hearthfire building guide for the homesteads you construct yourself.
The five buyable houses
Every home is bought from that hold's steward — the official who stands beside the Jarl — once you've earned the Jarl's favor. Browse them all on the Skyrim houses list.
- Breezehome — Whiterun, 5,000 gold. Bought from Proventus Avenicci. The cheapest and easiest first home.
- Honeyside — Riften, 8,000 gold. Bought from the steward Anuriel; has a private dock onto the lake.
- Vlindrel Hall — Markarth, 8,000 gold. Bought from Steward Raerek after you become Thane of the Reach.
- Hjerim — Windhelm, 12,000 gold. Tied to the murder-mystery quest Blood on the Ice; bought from Jorleif.
- Proudspire Manor — Solitude, 25,000 gold. Bought from Falk Firebeard; the grandest home in the base game.
How to unlock each house
- Travel to the hold's capital and do the small favor the Jarl asks (clearing a nearby dungeon, retrieving an item, or simply assisting the city).
- The Jarl names you Thane of the hold, which signals the steward to offer the house for sale.
- Speak to the steward, choose to buy the home, and pay the gold. Furnishings are then bought separately from the same steward.
Short on gold?
If you'd rather not grind for septims, add gold instantly with player.additem 0000000F <amount> — see the add gold guide. Remember that console commands disable Steam achievements for that save.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest house in Skyrim?
Breezehome in Whiterun, at 5,000 gold. It's the first home most players buy — you can purchase it from Proventus Avenicci once you've completed the early quest Bleak Falls Barrow and the Jarl names you Thane.
What is the most expensive house in Skyrim?
Proudspire Manor in Solitude, at 25,000 gold, is the priciest home in the base game. You buy it from Falk Firebeard after helping the city and the Jarl of Solitude.
How do I become Thane to buy a house?
Each hold's Jarl names you Thane after you help the hold — usually by completing a favor quest for the Jarl and buying property there. Becoming Thane is what unlocks the option to buy that hold's house from its steward.
Can I buy a house without doing quests?
Some homes (like Breezehome) only need the steward to offer them, which happens after a short main-quest step. If a house won't unlock due to a bug, you can still teleport inside with the coc console command and use the home normally.