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Buying a house?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
olg
Apr 22, 2009 9:24:28 Hello gamers

My group of players,3 humans, wish to buy a house in Alaghon(capital of Vilhorn Reach) I know(though not for shure!) that I've seen a price somewhere but I cant find it any more I have checked all my books and still no prices on any house!!

So here is my Q:
What would be a reasonable price for a normal 1 or 2 story house in a capital in FR? There is no apparent demands or needs, besides at least 3 rooms and a living room + kitchen!

Please reply with reasonable prices, eventhough they have quite alot of cash.

Evil O
#2
lord_karsus
Apr 23, 2009 0:18:20 -Prices specifically for Alaghon, I don't know if any such quotes exist. There are prices for houses and such in the DMG/PHB (I think), and Ed Greenwood and/or Steve Schend's responses concerning property values in Waterdeep. Being as that those are probably the only while numbers availible, I'd use those.
#3
markustay63
Apr 23, 2009 14:59:09 Also, older sources (like the Volo's guides) used to inlcude a price-check percentage for nearly every settlement, which told you exactly how much more (or less) stuff would cost from the DMG prices.

That was really meant for things like supplies (including weaons and armo), but I can see itbeing applicable to housing as well, since its the closest thing to an 'economic index' we have for certain regions.

Then again, that might actually be a bad idea... things tend to be cheaper in cities, yet housing tends to run much higher. You may want to take what percentages you find and invert them.
#4
lord_karsus
Apr 25, 2009 16:15:58
Then again, that might actually be a bad idra... things tend to be cheaper in cities, yet housing tends to run much higher. You may want to take what percentages you find and invert them.

-That's definitely not a cardinal rule, when take into account taxes and things like that. Bookstores in Manhattan, for example, sell things about two dollars more expensive than other places in the city, because of the fact that it's Manhattan. I hate shopping in Manhattan; I don't do it.
#5
markustay63
Apr 26, 2009 12:06:24 You'd have to be a rich jerk to shop in Manhattan.

Which describes most of the folks that live on the Upper-East side. :P

Anyhow, if FR cities had 'rent-stabilized' housing, then the property could be cheaper too. :D

Also, in a city, you wouldn't buy 'a house', so I think the OP must be referring to smaller settlements. FR cities have 'Row Houses', which are similar to Brownstones, with shops on the bottom floor and living space on the floors above. You'd have to buy the entire building if you wanted to own some property there.
#6
bloddsbane
Apr 26, 2009 18:48:42 How much would a home/shop go for?
#7
sfdragon
Apr 27, 2009 2:04:48 which part of town??

and wouldnt most merchants live out of their shops???
#8
Bluenose
Apr 27, 2009 3:39:37
How much would a home/shop go for?

As a rough estimate, work out how much the person in question would earn in a year. That's roughly what they could afford to pay for a house. A tradesman would probably need something fairly large, with enough room for:

A shop at the front;
A workshop behind;
Living quarters for the craftsman and family (even if he/she isn't married provision yet it is likely to be there);
Space for two or three apprentices to bunk;
A hearth for cooking.

Given the typical wages listed in sourcebooks of a few silver pieces every day, this comes to 200-1000gp. The row-house that MT suggests would be at the lower end of this with the "owner" living on the ground floor and perhaps having a shop at the front, and any rooms on higher floors rented out to other workers. In the country a cottage for a common labourer wouldn't be more than 50gp.

Wealthier people are certain to pay more. The cheapest home that a moderately successful merchant would be likely to consider would probably be twice as expensive as a tradesman's place. At a minimum, there'd be an entry chamber, a kitchen/store, and a chamber for living in. Larger places would probably include a hall, possibly a room on the ground floor for entertaining, a kitchen, a buttery, and two/three chambers on an upper floor, at a minimum of three or four times the price.
#9
olg
Apr 28, 2009 4:49:37 Hi, sorry for my late reply but I just came home from hospital(nothing serious though ;p )

I only need a guideline, price estimate for a house with room for 3 human males needing to establish a "base of operation" in Alaghon, Vilhon Reach.

From previous releases I've seen drawings and "know" there is houses without storefronts and shops at the ground level.

It is only so that I don't charge them 5000gp if we later find out that the price might only be around 1000gp or maybe only 500gp.... That is my concern, not cheating the players.
So what is your estimate on a reasonably well-kept house not placed in either Higher or Lower part of Alaghon?

EvilO
#10
lord_karsus
May 04, 2009 23:34:03 -I'd go with an even 2,500 GP. In terms of the rest of the world at large, it might be a little inflated, but with D&D having lots of money floating around, in terms of magical item loot resale, and all of that, it's enough to be obtainable, but need a little work to get there. And then, monthly rent, of course. Or insurance. Whatever you want to call it. ;)
#11
Stigger
May 06, 2009 4:57:32 Steven Schend did a "Property Values in Waterdeep" piece a while back, though I'll be damned if I can remember if it was here on the WotC site, or on some 3rd party site. You might try googling the title to see if it turns up anyway...

This thread here, post #13 specifically, gives a recap of the information he gave, so that might come in handy.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 olg Apr 22, 2009 9:24:28	Hello gamers My group of players,3 humans, wish to buy a house in Alaghon(capital of Vilhorn Reach) I know(though not for shure!) that I've seen a price somewhere but I cant find it any more I have checked all my books and still no prices on any house!! So here is my Q: What would be a reasonable price for a normal 1 or 2 story house in a capital in FR? There is no apparent demands or needs, besides at least 3 rooms and a living room + kitchen! Please reply with reasonable prices, eventhough they have quite alot of cash. Evil O
#2 lord_karsus Apr 23, 2009 0:18:20	-Prices specifically for Alaghon, I don't know if any such quotes exist. There are prices for houses and such in the DMG/PHB (I think), and Ed Greenwood and/or Steve Schend's responses concerning property values in Waterdeep. Being as that those are probably the only while numbers availible, I'd use those.
#3 markustay63 Apr 23, 2009 14:59:09	Also, older sources (like the Volo's guides) used to inlcude a price-check percentage for nearly every settlement, which told you exactly how much more (or less) stuff would cost from the DMG prices. That was really meant for things like supplies (including weaons and armo), but I can see itbeing applicable to housing as well, since its the closest thing to an 'economic index' we have for certain regions. Then again, that might actually be a bad idea... things tend to be cheaper in cities, yet housing tends to run much higher. You may want to take what percentages you find and invert them.
#4 lord_karsus Apr 25, 2009 16:15:58	Then again, that might actually be a bad idra... things tend to be cheaper in cities, yet housing tends to run much higher. You may want to take what percentages you find and invert them. -That's definitely not a cardinal rule, when take into account taxes and things like that. Bookstores in Manhattan, for example, sell things about two dollars more expensive than other places in the city, because of the fact that it's Manhattan. I hate shopping in Manhattan; I don't do it.
#5 markustay63 Apr 26, 2009 12:06:24	You'd have to be a rich jerk to shop in Manhattan. Which describes most of the folks that live on the Upper-East side. :P Anyhow, if FR cities had 'rent-stabilized' housing, then the property could be cheaper too. :D Also, in a city, you wouldn't buy 'a house', so I think the OP must be referring to smaller settlements. FR cities have 'Row Houses', which are similar to Brownstones, with shops on the bottom floor and living space on the floors above. You'd have to buy the entire building if you wanted to own some property there.
#6 bloddsbane Apr 26, 2009 18:48:42	How much would a home/shop go for?
#7 sfdragon Apr 27, 2009 2:04:48	which part of town?? and wouldnt most merchants live out of their shops???
#8 Bluenose Apr 27, 2009 3:39:37	How much would a home/shop go for? As a rough estimate, work out how much the person in question would earn in a year. That's roughly what they could afford to pay for a house. A tradesman would probably need something fairly large, with enough room for: A shop at the front; A workshop behind; Living quarters for the craftsman and family (even if he/she isn't married provision yet it is likely to be there); Space for two or three apprentices to bunk; A hearth for cooking. Given the typical wages listed in sourcebooks of a few silver pieces every day, this comes to 200-1000gp. The row-house that MT suggests would be at the lower end of this with the "owner" living on the ground floor and perhaps having a shop at the front, and any rooms on higher floors rented out to other workers. In the country a cottage for a common labourer wouldn't be more than 50gp. Wealthier people are certain to pay more. The cheapest home that a moderately successful merchant would be likely to consider would probably be twice as expensive as a tradesman's place. At a minimum, there'd be an entry chamber, a kitchen/store, and a chamber for living in. Larger places would probably include a hall, possibly a room on the ground floor for entertaining, a kitchen, a buttery, and two/three chambers on an upper floor, at a minimum of three or four times the price.
#9 olg Apr 28, 2009 4:49:37	Hi, sorry for my late reply but I just came home from hospital(nothing serious though ;p ) I only need a guideline, price estimate for a house with room for 3 human males needing to establish a "base of operation" in Alaghon, Vilhon Reach. From previous releases I've seen drawings and "know" there is houses without storefronts and shops at the ground level. It is only so that I don't charge them 5000gp if we later find out that the price might only be around 1000gp or maybe only 500gp.... That is my concern, not cheating the players. So what is your estimate on a reasonably well-kept house not placed in either Higher or Lower part of Alaghon? EvilO
#10 lord_karsus May 04, 2009 23:34:03	-I'd go with an even 2,500 GP. In terms of the rest of the world at large, it might be a little inflated, but with D&D having lots of money floating around, in terms of magical item loot resale, and all of that, it's enough to be obtainable, but need a little work to get there. And then, monthly rent, of course. Or insurance. Whatever you want to call it. ;)
#11 Stigger May 06, 2009 4:57:32	Steven Schend did a "Property Values in Waterdeep" piece a while back, though I'll be damned if I can remember if it was here on the WotC site, or on some 3rd party site. You might try googling the title to see if it turns up anyway... This thread here, post #13 specifically, gives a recap of the information he gave, so that might come in handy.