How Much Does A Castle Cost?

If you’ve ever dreamed of living like royalty, you might’ve wondered if it’s possible to kick back and relax in a castle that’s all your own. With the beautiful grounds and gardens, magnificent castle walls, elaborate staircases and opulent architecture, who wouldn’t want one to call home?

Buying a castle is very possible and perhaps a more attainable goal than you think.

What Is The Definition Of A Castle Home?

The term “castle” is often used somewhat loosely – it could refer to anything from a perfect replica of Cinderella’s Castle to a modern home with four stone walls and a tower. The most generally agreed-upon definition of a castle is this: a fortified private residence, one that usually has some form of defensive walls.

Castles were first widely used during the Middle Ages to house and protect feudal lords and monarchs, and that’s why they’re often associated with tall, sturdy walls as well as other defensive features. There’s no definitive description of what makes a modern castle a castle, but this type of home – even today – generally comes with thick walls, battlements, towers and maybe even a moat.

What’s The Difference Between A Chateau And A Castle?

Can You Buy A Castle?

Buying a castle is as easy as finding a castle and purchasing the property – and you don’t have to be the long-lost heir to a throne to purchase one. You may have a perhaps surprising number of options, too. Throughout Europe are old castles and chateaus that sometimes cost little more than luxury homes in the U.S.

Europe isn’t the only place you can find castles for sale, though. Many castles and medieval-style manors are available throughout the U.S., too. They typically lack the age and history of the European castles across France and the English countryside, but they certainly don’t disappoint in the area of architectural splendor.

Where To Find A Castle

Just like traditional houses, for-sale castles are typically listed on a multiple listing service, or MLS. That means you could potentially find a castle for sale right here on Rocket Homes^SM.

One way to find a castle on home listing sites is to make use of home search filters. By seeking homes built before a certain year and that have five or more bedrooms and more than three acres of land, you can narrow your search and hopefully find the magnificent castle you’re wishing for.

Are Castle Homes Hard To Find?

Castle homes are rarer than your standard single-family house, so it can be hard to find these listings organically. That means you may have to get a little more creative with your home search.

You can use social media to find royal lifestyle enthusiasts who are passionate about buying and selling castles. Accounts such as “Zillow Gone Wild” regularly share unique home listings on Facebook, Instagram and X that can point you in the right direction.

There are also websites that aggregate castle listings from across the U.S. If you’re having no luck online, consider contacting a real estate agent. You may be able to find a REALTOR^® who specializes in unusual or unique properties and can help you track down the castle of your dreams.

How Much Does It Cost To Buy A Castle?

The price of your dream castle can vary significantly depending on its size and where it’s located. French listing site Le Figaro has hundreds of castles for sale at prices ranging from $300,000 to nearly $30 million. Depending on how recently built and upgraded the castle is, its price can vary significantly. Many castles are comparable in price to luxury homes with similar numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms, so that’s a good place to start your financial research.

How To Finance A Castle Purchase

The cost of any castle will likely determine how you go about financing it. The conforming loan limit for a one-unit property in 2024 is $766,550, broadly speaking, but it can go up to $1,149,825 for a one-unit property in Alaska, Hawaii and areas of the continental U.S. designated as “high cost.” If the castle you’re eyeing is a multiunit property, the loan limit will be higher.

In general, though, if the property you want to buy costs less than the conforming loan limit, you can get a conventional mortgage to finance it through most lenders. If it costs more, however, you may have to get a jumbo loan.

A jumbo loan can help you finance a home that costs more than the conforming loan limit, which varies with the part of the country where you live. At Rocket Mortgage^®, you can get a Jumbo Smart loan for up to $3 million on 30-year fixed loans, or up to $2 million on 15-year fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs.) Jumbo loan limits differ from lender to lender.

If your dream castle costs more money than you can get a jumbo loan for, your best option may be to buy it in cash. Not every home buyer is wealthy enough to purchase a $10 million home upfront, though, so your budget will be important to keep in mind.

Is It A Good Idea To Live In A Castle?

Is royal living really all it’s cracked up to be? It’s time to consider some of the advantages and disadvantages that can come with being the crown ruler of your personal medieval fortress.

Pros Of Living In A Castle

• Living like royalty: The best part of living in a castle is that you live in a castle. Castle homes are often exceedingly gorgeous, with extremely detailed architecture and classic, beautiful living spaces that may leave your guests speechless. The satisfaction of standing on an extravagantly elegant balcony overlooking your kingdom (yard) is hard to beat.
• Lots of space: Castles are nothing if not spacious. These homes were originally designed for royalty, so they usually have all the space you could ever need for living and entertaining.
• Making an investment: Not many people can say they live in a castle – so if you buy one, there’s some opportunity to be had in monetizing that curiosity. Some castle owners choose to document the restoration process of their home. If you’re investing in a castle, it’s possible in various ways to enjoy the fruits of your investment by sharing it with the world.

Cons Of Living In A Castle

• Expensive utilities: When you own a large home, the purchase price isn’t the only expense you’ll incur. You’ll be responsible for a number of invisible ongoing costs, too. Utility bills for large-scale houses can be something of a nightmare.      
• The potential need for a lot of work: Many castles, especially in the U.S., are more recently built and have upgrades on par with most luxury homes. Some, however, may be old and need repairs. Older, more run-down castles may not even be livable without significant renovations.      
• Potential difficulty reselling: Not a lot of people buy a castle. If you ever want to move away and get rid of your castle, it might be exceedingly hard to find a buyer.

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Castle?

The Bottom Line

Castles, manors and chateaus are unique properties that tend to require a lot of work to live in and cost a pretty penny. So, if you’re thinking about buying a castle, keep your budget in mind and research all the potential costs before making a decision.

Castle or not, if you’re ready to buy your dream home, you can with Rocket Mortgage.