WHERE TO BUILD HOUSES IN SKYRIM
The original 2011 Skyrim release featured pre-built houses available for purchase, but with the addition of the Hearthfire expansion pack a year later, the ability to actually build custom houses was added. Thankfully, if you’ve picked up the remastered Special Edition for current generation consoles or the Nintendo Switch port, Hearthfire is already installed and ready to go.
Before you start gathering your tools and dreaming up the ultimate crib, though, keep in mind that building houses will cost you a significant amount of gold (5,000 per plot of land) and resources, so make sure your coffers are nice and full.
Unfortunately, you cannot just build a house anywhere in the game. There are three specific plots of land that can be built upon across the land of Skyrim, and to unlock each you’ll have to complete a specific quest. The locations and various quests are as follows:
Heljarchen Hall (The Pale hold)
Speak to the Jarl at The White Hall in Dawnstar, where you’ll be prompted to begin a quest to become a Thane in Pale. Depending on which Jarl holds power, one of two outcomes will occur. If it’s Jarl Skald, a quest called Waking Nightmare will commence, in which you will have to kill a nearby Giant. Jarl Brina, however, will instantly allow you to purchase a plot of land here to build your house.
Location of the plot – “Just follow the road south from Dawnstar, past Fort Dunstad, then head south. The land is near Giants’ Gap, right on the board with Whiterun Hold.”
Lakeview Manor (Falkreath hold)
Location of the plot – “Follow the road east from Falkreath, then north at the crossroads. Turn left just past Pinewatch.”
The Lakeview Manor just outside of Falkreath requires you to speak with Jarl Siddgeir in the Jarl’s Longhouse and complete the quest offered to you, and the plot will then become available from the Steward. Note that if you are the Thane of Falkreath, you may have already received an invitation offering you the plot of land for purchase where you will be able to build houses.
Windstad Manor (Hjaalmarch hold)
Speak to the Jarl in Highmoon Hall at Morthall. Complete the quest “Laid to Rest” and then you will be able to speak with the Steward who will offer you the plot of land on which you can build houses.
Location of the plot – “On the coast, across the Karth delta from Solitude.”
That’s all the information you should need to locate the three plots of land across Skyrim that allow you to build houses. For more useful tips and guides, be sure to search for Twinfinite.
About the author
