Can You Buy Land in The Sims 4?
Yes, absolutely! The Sims 4 includes a Lot Expansion system that lets you purchase adjacent vacant land to grow your existing lots. This guide will explore everything about buying plots, permitting builds, maximizing space, and more. Read on for the full scoop!
An Overview of Lot Expansion Basics
Lot Expansion unlocks new vacant plots next to your current lots as you meet two key requirements:
Household Value: As the total value of your Sim household increases, new expansion plots become available based on hitting value thresholds.
Sim Level: Advancing your individual Sims‘ player levels also opens up access to new adjacent land over time.
| Unlock Requirement | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Household Value | Total combined value of all objects, possessions, assets owned by your Sims household |
| Sim Level | An individual Sim‘s advancement in skills, careers, relationships, etc. |
Once you meet the correct combo of household riches and Sim progress for a particular plot, it becomes available for you to purchase.
Important Note: Buying an expansion plot only secures that land for you to build on later. You still must successfully apply for a construction permit before actually placing structures, landscapes, etc.
Now let‘s explore all the essential info around maximizing land usage…
Limits to Expanded Lots
While The Sims 4 does let you annex adjacent vacant plots through Lot Expansion, some caps are in place:
3 plots max: You can only purchase up to 3 expansion plots in addition to your starter lot. So 4 lots total that you own.
5×5 tiles max: Each expansion plot measures 5×5 tile spaces. You cannot combine multiple plots for larger layouts.
These technical limits force you to be smart about how you utilize added land. But the good news?
Each expansion lot operates just like your fully-functional original home lot! You can…
- Construct multiple buildings
- Move in different Sim households
- Hold various events & gatherings
So while limited in total area, annexed land greatly expands your gameplay possibilities!
Now let‘s tackle the answer to another common question…
How Do You Buy Empty Non-Residential Lots?
Perhaps you prefer purchasing stand-alone retail, restaurant, or park spaces instead of residential expansion plots. How does empty lot buying work?
It‘s simple! Just enter Build Mode on your desired empty lot, then:
- Access the Lot Info panel (marked by a blue house icon)
- Click the "Lot Type" menu
- Browse the various type options like lounge, gallery, vet clinic etc.
- Select your preferred commercial lot type
And you‘re set! That space now transforms into a build-ready site assigned to your chosen unique purpose.
Which Worlds Offer the Most & Largest Lots?
With a solid understanding of Lot Expansion fundamentals, which Sims 4 worlds provide the most (and biggest) vacant land opportunities?
Based on community crowdsourced data, the top 3 worlds ranked are:
Willow Creek – Base game world boasting a whopping 21 lots. Plus it‘s the longtime home of iconic Sims like the Goth family.
Oasis Springs – Desert-themed world introducing the most base game lots at 25 total. Great for those seeking more elbow room.
Newcrest – Blank slate world completely customizable by players with 16 starter lots ripe for expansion.
Data sourced from TheGamer and compiled August 2022
Now let‘s tackle a hot money-saving tip…
Use "Free Real Estate" for No-Cost Land
Constant land purchases draining your Simoleons? Utilize testingcheats then input the "Free Real Estate On" cheat code prior to buying vacant plots or lots.
This trick allows you to snag unowned spaces 100% free! Turn it off afterwards with "Free Real Estate Off" to restore normal costs.
An easy way to quickly amass a real estate empire without going broke.
Now for some rapidfire knowledge bites around land ownership…
Assorted Tips & Tricks
Child Sims can‘t purchase property – Adult or Teen status needed
Invest household funds for higher daily Interest income
Always browse the catalog‘s Designer Homes first for move-in ready builds
Use the "Motherlode" code if you need fast cash for a plot
Construct rentable Tiny Homes to diversify household revenue streams!
Wrapping Up
Hopefully this deep dive has provided loads of guidance, tips, and insights around expanding land ownership in The Sims 4! To recap:
- Lot Expansion system unlocks new adjacent 5×5 plots
- Household value and sim levels allows acreage annexing
- Total ownership limited to 4 lots max per save file
- Non-residential empty lots simple to purchase
- Bigger worlds like Willow Creek offer more elbow room
- Free Real Estate cheat nets free land ‘purchases‘!
Armed with this knowledge, go forth and begin staking out new virtual territories for your ambitious Sims! Just beware highly addictive land grabbing sprees ahead. 😉
What other Sims 4 land or real estate questions do you have? Let me know in comments!
