Please tell me that doing the civil war questline is not required! This house is perfect for my character for RP reasons, and I'm not really interested in the civil war (nor is he). I've already done the Stormcloak side and it was rather underwhelming.

Thanks.

Sorry, but you'll have to do Civil War quests to purchase it. If you side with the Stormcloaks, you have to go as far as clearing Fort Neugrad before you can buy it. If you side with the Legion, you have to finish the entire questline by defeating the Stormcloaks.