I have been trying to be Thane of Riften and Falkreath. I have done a number of quests in Falkreath and for Riften, I got the option to be Thane but I had to buy the house. So I did and went to see it. Now, the Jarl of Riften does not have a thane option.

Is this game really this glitchy?

I have the same problem.

The quest arrow is poing at the Jarl to talk to him about becoming thane but there is no option to talk about becoming thane.

I'm hoping the option to become thane will happen when i've finished another misc quest that is incomplete for another citizen of Riften.

If I can't become thane I will be a bit annoyed because I need a new housecarl follower. All my other potential follower are weak because of the glitch that makes followers stuck at the level you first encounter them.

It is beginning to look like it just may be really glitchy.

Two homes now I cannot purchase because the Jarls/Stewards bug out and do not offer me a chance to discuss purchasing the homes or even doing quests to become thane of the city.

I am now stuck living in Whiterun because Markarth and Riften are both bugged out.

I am afraid to even attempt Solitude or Windhelm.

*sighs* I know exactly what you're talking about. Ran into exactly the same issue. I own the house in Riften, but can't talk to the Jarl about it. Love the game, but sometimes...

Exactly same for me. I have the house in Whiterun w/housecarl. I then did quests around Riften and was offered and bought the house, but the Jarl does not offer Thane status during any subsequent chat menus....well at least I have a bigger weapon rack and a chant table!

When I bought my second house the follower was sitting in a chair waiting for me. So I wonder is your follower inside your second home.

I'm playing on the PS3.

I am encountering the same problem as TC in regards to being thane of Rfiten. Did the help Riften citizens quest, bought the house and now the Jarl has no dialog option to make me thane. However I have no problems completing Dark Brotherhood and Thieves' Guild quest lines. Save file is currently 9 MB+, and I run into the massive slowdown once in a while. I have also slaughtered my fair share of vampires, ancient + elder dragons, frost trolls, giants, mammoths, bandits, draugr deathlords, spriggans etc. and have no problems with the game.

Is this game glitchy? Yes. Is 95% of the game still working? Yes.