What's the catch to getting the home in Markarth? I've done all of the major sidequests that I've found and talked to the Jarl, now I'm just doing what seems like repeatable radiant story quests for the Steward.

Is it just a case of: "do more quests" or have I overlooked something?

Did you do the quest for the Jarl where he wanted you to retrieve his father's shield from the Forsworn? I think that's the one you HAVE to finish to get the house, and I think he only gives it to you after you're level 20.

Also I'm not sure if you need to have finished The Forsworn Conspiracy and No One Escapes From Cidhna Mine, too...

Ah thanks, no I haven't done that yet. In fact I literally -just- hit level 20 while out on this last bounty quest heh.
Thanks, got something to look forward to when I start the game back up.

You have to be level 20 to get the quest from the Jarl, but you can inquire about the house before that. DO NOT ASK ABOUT THE HOUSE. If you ask, you will never be able to purchase it.

The quest itself is pretty simple, but the boss at the end can be tough. Good luck! Markarth is my favorite house.

not its not a matter of doing more quests, you only need to do 2 quests, but you have to stay focused on those two, i get the house relatively early in the game..go straight to the jarl and he will send you on a quest, then come back to him "do not get sidetracked on other missions in markarth" then he will send you on a second mission to get a shield, then bring him back the shield and he will offer you the house, so thats the trick to it, doing only those two quests, if you get sidetracked thinking just doing a lot of markarth quests is how you get it, you'll get frustrated and never get the house. just do the 2 quests he sends you on and nothing else and you'll see how easy it is to get the house, and have 8000 gold when you bring back the shield and you'll be all set, then at least you'll have the house.

I just did the first quest the jarl gave me and he offered me a home.

Why is that? Is it a glitch or is the Jarl being stubborn because you asked?

Edit: I guess it is a bug, because I can't get the steward to say anything to me.

You can't even get the option to ask about the house until after you've done the quest about getting the Jarl's father's shield for him, which you have to be level 20 for.

lol you only have to do 2 quests to get the house, only 2, doing more quests isn't how you get it, the reason people think its hard, is cause they don't stay focused on the 2 quests you need to do to get it and they try to just do every markarth quest but they still don't get the option to buy the house, as soon as you get to markarth talk to the jarl and he sends you on a quest, do that quest only, then come back to get your reward, then he will send you on a quest to go get a shield, after you get the shield he gives you the option to buy the house...if you get sidetracked and don't do those two missions but think you'll get the house by doing the other quests in markarth you won't get the option to buy the house, after you bring back the shield,then you get to buy the house, so if you haven't got the shield for him, you ain't getting the house.

Not true, at least in my game. I restarted the game and went to Markarth straight away. As soon as I approached the Jarl, the Housecarl stopped me and the house inquiry was in the list of topics. When I spoke to the Jarl, the topic to buy the house was there as well. That was level 1. Now, when I completed a job for him (the first job he gave me) and collected the reward, the topic to buy the house went away. I guess I'll see what happens after lvl 20.