The fastest way to buy a house in The Sims 4

Open the map and click on an empty lot or a lot with a house you want to buy. Click the lot itself (not a Sim), then select "Purchase" from the menu. The game will show you the price and let you confirm the purchase if you have enough money in your household funds. Once you buy it, your Sims move in immediately — you don't need to pack or travel anywhere.

If you want to move into a house that already has other Sims living there, you'll need to use a different method. You can't simply purchase an occupied lot. Instead, you can use the "Manage Households" option from the main menu to move your household into that lot, but this will replace the existing household (they'll be gone). Alternatively, you can have one of your Sims marry or move in with a Sim from that household, which merges the two families.

The price of a lot depends on what's already built on it. An empty lot costs nothing. A lot with a small starter home might cost 20,000 to 50,000 Simoleons, while a large furnished house can cost 100,000 or more. You can also build your own house from scratch on an empty lot if you have the money and patience.

Key Takeaways

  • Click on any empty lot or house lot from the map, then select "Purchase" to buy it if your household has enough money.
  • Your Sims move into the new house immediately after purchase — there's no moving day or travel time involved.
  • You can demolish an existing house on a lot and rebuild it yourself, or buy a pre-built house as-is.
  • If you want to move into an occupied house, you'll need to marry into that household or use Manage Households to replace the current residents.

Choosing between empty lots and pre-built houses

Empty lots cost nothing but require you to build a house from scratch using the build mode tools. This takes time and money — you'll need to place walls, add rooms, install plumbing and electrical, and furnish everything. If you're new to building, this can feel overwhelming. The upside is that you get exactly the house you want, and you can start with a small cheap structure and expand it later as your Sims earn more money.

Pre-built houses come with walls, furniture, and decorations already in place. You pay for all of that upfront, but you can move in and start playing immediately without spending hours in build mode. The Sims 4 comes with several starter homes on each neighborhood map, and the game's DLC packs and Stuff Packs add more options. If you don't like a pre-built house, you can still demolish it and rebuild on that lot.

If you're short on money, look for the cheapest pre-built house available, or buy an empty lot and build a one-room shack with a bed, toilet, and stove. Your Sims can earn money through jobs and hobbies, then you can add rooms and upgrades later.

How to build a house from scratch

After you buy an empty lot, click "Build" at the bottom of the screen to enter build mode. You'll see a grid overlay and a toolbar on the left side with options for walls, doors, windows, and objects. Start by placing walls to create rooms — click and drag to draw a wall, or use the room tool to create a complete room at once. The room tool is faster if you want a simple rectangular space.

Once you have walls, add a door so your Sims can enter and exit. Then place essential objects: a bed (in a bedroom), a toilet and sink (in a bathroom), and a stove or microwave (in a kitchen). These are the bare minimum your Sims need to survive. After that, add chairs, tables, and other furniture to make the house livable. You can place objects anywhere — they don't have to stay in the room where they logically belong, though it's easier to manage if they do.

The cost of building depends on what you place. A single room with basic furniture might cost 5,000 to 10,000 Simoleons. A full three-bedroom house with a kitchen and bathroom could cost 30,000 to 60,000 depending on how nice the furniture is. You can always exit build mode and earn more money, then come back and add more rooms later.

Moving your Sims to a different house

To move your household to a different lot without buying it, click on the lot from the map and select "Move Household Here" instead of "Purchase." This option only appears if the lot is empty or if you're using the Manage Households menu from the main game menu. Moving this way costs nothing and happens instantly.

If you want to move into a house that's already occupied, you have two options. First, you can have one of your Sims develop a romantic relationship with a Sim in that household, get engaged, and move in together — this merges the two households into one. Second, you can use Manage Households to move your household to that lot, which will delete the existing household from the game. Be careful with the second option because those Sims will be gone permanently.

You can also evict your own household from a lot by clicking on the lot and selecting "Move Household Away." This removes your Sims from the house but keeps them in the game — they'll move to a temporary household lot and you can move them back in later if you want.

Saving money for a bigger house

Your Sims earn money through jobs, selling items they create (like paintings or baked goods), or completing tasks for other Sims. Early on, the fastest way to earn is to get a job — most entry-level jobs pay 50 to 100 Simoleons per hour. Your Sim works for several hours per day, so a single job can bring in 400 to 800 Simoleons per day depending on the job and your Sim's performance.

Hobbies and skills can earn money faster. A Sim who learns to cook can bake and sell baked goods for profit. A Sim who paints can sell paintings. A Sim who writes can publish books. These methods take longer per item but can eventually earn more than a regular job, especially once your Sim reaches higher skill levels.

You can also use cheats to give your household money instantly. Press Ctrl+Shift+C (on PC) or Ctrl+Shift+C (on Mac) to open the cheat console, then type "money [amount]" to add that many Simoleons to your household funds. For example, "money 50000" adds 50,000 Simoleons. This is useful if you want to skip the grinding and focus on building or decorating.

Fixing problems with your house

If your Sims are unhappy or uncomfortable in their house, the most common reason is that they don't have enough space, privacy, or nice objects around them. A Sim who sleeps in a room with five other Sims will be miserable. A Sim who uses a cheap toilet in a room with no walls will be unhappy. Add more bedrooms, give each Sim their own space, and upgrade to better furniture and decorations to boost their mood.

If your house is too expensive to maintain, you can sell objects to get money back. Click on an object in live mode and select "Sell" to remove it and get a portion of its cost back. You can also demolish entire rooms in build mode and rebuild them with cheaper materials. Selling a house means clicking on the lot and selecting "Sell" — you'll get back a portion of what you spent on the house and its contents.

If you get stuck in build mode or can't exit, press Escape or click the X button in the top right corner. If your Sims are stuck in a room or can't move, try moving them to a different lot and back, or use the "Reset Sim" cheat by typing "resetSim [Sim first name] [Sim last name]" in the cheat console.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move my Sims into a house that costs more than I have?

No. You must have enough money in your household funds to buy the house before you can purchase it. If a house costs 75,000 Simoleons and you only have 50,000, you'll need to earn more money first. You can use cheats to add money instantly, or you can buy a cheaper house and upgrade later.

What happens to my old house if I move to a new one?

The old house stays on the map with all its furniture and decorations. You can move back into it later, sell it, or leave it empty. Other Sims won't move in unless you specifically move them there using Manage Households.

Do I lose my money when I buy a house?

Yes. The purchase price is deducted from your household funds immediately. However, if you sell the house later, you'll get back a portion of what you spent (usually around 50 to 80 percent depending on the condition of the house and its contents).

Can I have multiple houses at once?

You can own multiple houses, but your active household can only live in one at a time. You can move between your houses by clicking on a different lot and selecting "Move Household Here." Your other houses will sit empty on the map until you move back into them or move a different household in.

What's the cheapest way to get a new house?

Buy an empty lot for free and build a one-room house with just a bed, toilet, and stove. This costs around 3,000 to 5,000 Simoleons and gives your Sims a place to live while they earn money for upgrades. Alternatively, use the money cheat to give yourself enough funds to buy a pre-built starter home.