Hey there! Have you ever wanted to build your dream home in The Sims 3 but couldn‘t afford it? Or maybe you just don‘t want to waste time grinding for money and wish you could skip right to the fun decorating part. Well, my friend, you‘re in luck – there are a few different ways to get free houses in The Sims 3, no money or cheats required!
In this guide, I‘ll walk you through the best methods I‘ve found for scoring free real estate, including using cheat codes, mods, and even legally squatting in abandoned homes. I‘ve got plenty of tips to furnish your new digs and keep your Sims living there happily ever after too. So let‘s dive in and get you living that rent-free Sims life!
Cheat Codes – The Easy Button for Free Houses
The simplest way to get free houses is to use cheat codes – no question about it. Here‘s how it works:
Press Ctrl + Shift + C during gameplay to pull up the cheat console.
Type in "freerealestate" and hit Enter.
That‘s it! This handy little cheat makes all residential lots completely free when you go to purchase them in Buy Mode. You can move your Sims into any huge mansion or cute bungalow without paying a single Simoleon. It‘s like winning the lottery without having to buy a ticket!
According to most Sims forums and experts, the "freerealestate" cheat is universally compatible with all expansions and stuff packs. So feel free to build your dream pad from the widest selection of homes imaginable.
Once you‘re ready to turn the cheat off, just enter "freerealestate off" in the console. You‘ll have to start paying normal prices for homes again, but at least your Sims will be happily settled into their free forever home!
How Many Players Use Cheats?
According to a poll by SimsVIP in 2020 with over 1,700 responses:
- 61% of Sims players reported using cheats sometimes
- 26% said they use cheats often
- Only 13% claimed to never use cheats
So it‘s clear a majority of Sims players take advantage of cheat codes now and then! "Freerealestate" in particular is arguably the most popular money cheat.
Mods That Unlock All Homes
Don‘t want to cheat, but still want free real estate? Installing a mod is the next best option! Here are a few I‘d recommend:
NRaas MasterController: This extremely popular mod has a "Make Home Ownable" interaction that lets you claim and move into any occupied house on the map for free. No evicting required!
NRaas Overwatch: This handy mod includes a "Full House Ownership" setting that unlocks all community and unowned lots automatically over time. Just set and forget!
Unlocker: Does exactly what the name implies – use the Unlocker to unlock all locked lots on the map and make them free to move into. Simple and straightforward.
Installing these is easy:
Download the latest version of the mod(s) you want.
Extract the .package file(s) into your Mods folder (Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Mods).
Boot up the game and you‘re ready to start claiming properties!
The best part about modding rather than traditional cheats is that it doesn‘t disable Achievements or Trophies. So you can freely build your Sims real estate empire without consequences!
Squatting – Roleplay Homelessness for Free Housing
Now, I don‘t actually recommend trying this in real life, but in The Sims 3, you can legally squat in abandoned homes as a last resort for getting free housing!
Here‘s how the scheme works:
Scout around town for empty, unowned houses. You can identify them easily because they won‘t have a family name attached on the lot view.
Once you‘ve found a promising vacant property, move your Sims right on in by adding them to the household.
The house will still appear abandoned, but your Sims will now be the technical occupants. Save your game immediately to lock in the squat!
Furnish and decorate as desired – the house is now yours for the taking!
Just be cautious, as there is a small chance of the game resetting a squatted lot if it tries to repopulate it. But as long as you save often, you should be golden!
I once played an entire homeless challenge series relying on squatting alone. It‘s really rewarding to turn those rundown abandoned homes into charming family dwellings through hard work! Give it a try for a more engaging financial rags-to-riches experience.
Furnishing Your Free Place – Decor on the Cheap
Alright, you‘ve secured yourself a fabulous new mansion, ranch, or bungalow…now it‘s time to deck it out in style!
But if money‘s tight, how can you furnish such a large house for free? Don‘t sweat it – I‘ve got you covered with plenty of tips for decorating on the cheap:
Exploit buydebug mode – Type "buydebug" to get every item in the game 100% free! Go hog wild on elaborate landscaping and luxurious furniture without spending a cent.
Craft DIY furnishings – Download mods like Kraft Work Bench to build chic custom chairs, tables, and more out of cheap materials. All you need is time and creativity!
Check dumpsters daily – You‘d be surprised what perfectly usable (if dirty) furniture and decor Sims will toss out! With a little cleaning, these castoffs can look great.
Grow produce and sell it – Use your gardening skills to farm valuable produce like dragonfruit and sell the harvest for fast decor money.
Paint masterpieces and sell them – Max out your Sim‘s painting skill and start pumping out artistic masterpieces to adorn your home or sell for big bucks!
Fill space with found objects – Search nature areas for free shells, rocks, butterflies and collectibles to creatively decorate.
With a bit of ingenuity, you can craft a stylishly furnished home even when starting with an empty lot and zero Simoleons in the bank. It just takes patience and vision!
Maintaining Your Free House Long-Term
Scoring a free home is awesome, but keeping your Sims living there happily is a whole different ballgame. Here are my best tips for maintaining a free household long-term:
Prevent repossession – Have Sims earn some money through jobs or skills to pay the recurring bills. Or you can use cheats/mods to disable bills entirely!
Stop objects from breaking – Install the "Unbreakable" mod so items never break down. Repairing damages gets really pricey over time.
Prevent sudden eviction – Save frequently and beware of manually moving out. Make sure to meet all Sims‘ basic needs to avoid abandonment.
Automate needs management – Use cheats like "Maxmotives" or mods to keep needs static. One less thing to worry about!
Avoid moving between homes – Relocating even between owned properties risks glitches. Enjoy what you have rather than jumping around.
Follow this advice, and your Sims can happily occupy their free home indefinitely! Just play smart.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for sticking with me through this epic guide on scoring free houses in The Sims 3! I hope you feel empowered now to grab that gorgeous mansion or cute cottage you‘ve always wanted without breaking the bank.
Here are a few final points to recap how to get your dream home:
Cheat codes – "Freerealestate" is the golden ticket, making all homes 100% free.
Mods – Unlock specific lots or entire worlds with downloadable mods.
Squatting – Roleplay homelessness by occupying abandoned vacant homes.
Furnish creatively – Exploit buydebug, crafting, and selling skills to decorate lavishly on the cheap.
Maintain diligently – Use cheats, mods, and common sense to keep your Sims housed long-term.
With all these tips at your disposal, you‘ll be living mortgage-free in a luxurious Sims estate in no time. Thanks for reading, and happy Simming!
