Hello, I'm unable to buy Vlindrel Hall in Markarth. I'm over level 20, but I've only advanced the Dragonborn quest to before Diplomatic Immunity. Also, I haven't read Eltyr's note, thus never started the main Markarth quest. Do I need to do that whole, disruptive scenario?

I asked the Jarl if I could buy a house, he referred me to the Steward, and the Steward told me to go kill a dragon. I did that, but now I can't get any interactive dialog with the Steward. I killed a Forsworn leader for the Jarl also, but still no additional house buying dialog from him and no dialog from the Steward.

Thanks for any input. I was hoping to avoid shaking up Markarth and just moving in there.

Keep doing quests until the Jarl tells you to retrieve his father's shield. Do the quest, then you can buy the house.

When you talk to the Jarl's steward, does he just say "Im Igmund's uncle..."? Did you do the father's sheild quest yet?