LOTRO Legendarium: Which LOTRO premium housing neighborhood is best for you?

So here’s a weird thing to consider: It wasn’t until October 2016 that Lord of the Rings Online introduced premium housing to the game with its Gondor-themed Belfalas homes. Before then, everyone had access to only the four standard neighborhoods and their much more limited space and hooks.

Now in 2025, we can settle — for a fee — in one of five premium neighborhoods, with a Rivendell one in the works for this or next year. These homes offer a distinct advantage over the older ones, from newer designs to special hooks to better services. I don’t think I’ve ever sat down to discuss the pros and cons of each neighborhood, so let’s run through the five today and see which one might be the best fit for you!

Cape of Belfalas

LOTRO’s first premium housing neighborhood kind of knocked it out of the park, even if it’s somewhat overlooked today by virtue of its age. Belfalas embraces the best of seaside Gondor vibes, with sparkling blue coastline, a tranquil atmosphere, and shining marble edifaces.

Some players may be turned off by the exteriors of the homes, however, as they look more like gigantic gold-white tombs than someone’s vacation abode. The sheer tallness of the outside and inside is probably my least-favorite aspect, as it does have the unfortunate side effect of making one feel like you’re trespassing on a giant’s domain.

However, don’t discount Belfalas entirely! The interiors are packed with hooks and straight-forward room layouts. It’s pretty easy to make them look like whatever you like, and cheap too — basic Belfalas homes are the most affordable out of all of the premium homes. You can buy into a standard house for six (!) housing writs, which is a pretty great deal all things considered.

The Abodes of Erebor

I don’t have access to any housing demographics, and as far as I’m aware, SSG has never disclosed numbers or even vague percentages on this. But I strongly suspect that Erebor housing is the least-used out of the five neighborhoods. It’s the one neighborhood that I’ve never purchased from, and I speak for all LOTRO players (I kid, I kid).

But yeah, with Dwarves not being super-popular nor their chunky indoor spaces the talk of the town, Erebor probably only appeals to a very select — and no doubt dashing — group of players. That said, if you like crystals, carved stone, and never seeing the sun, this is a very different kind of neighborhood that might appeal to you.

Eastfold Hills

The studio got pretty dang ambitious when it decided to roll out two types of premium neighborhoods for Rohan. Hey, I’m not complaining! More choice is great for the consumer, after all.

Eastfold Hills is the neighborhood for players who want a semi-wooded alpine region for a home. There’s certainly a lot of appeal in pine trees, waterfalls, and homes tucked away in light forests. The devs were definitely trying to rope in Viking or Nordic fans with these homes.

I have more to say about Rohan houses, which I’ll cover in the next part with…

Kingstead Meadows

If your Rohan fantasy is more wide-open grassy plains and frontier housing, this is the neighborhood to pick. You certainly get more of a sense of space here without a lot to block the view, and there are some nice waterways in this map as well.

Mostly it’s the exteriors of these Rohan neighborhoods that differ because you’ll find largely the same experience when you go inside. And that’s going to be a rugged, rustic house with multiple levels and a lot of staircases.

As much as I love a good log cabin and roaring firepit, the constant up-and-down of the Rohan homes became my biggest complaint. When I pop back to my home, it’s usually for a straightforward purpose and not a leisurely tour. So it’s kind of annoying to have to traverse switchback staircases to get to different rooms.

Another consideration is that these homes split their living space between separate structures, requiring you to exit and enter different instances if you want to go between all of your rooms. Not a dealbreaker, but it’s good to be aware of this.

Lyndelby

The newest housing on the market, Lyndelby is Shire housing improved tenfold. It’s a gorgeous area (honestly, all of these neighborhoods are visually appealing apart from Erebor) with all of the coziness that could be quilted by a lovable grandmother rocking on a front porch and inviting you to enjoy her freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

I can’t say enough good things about these Hobbit homes. While there are some pretty large rooms contained within, many of them are small enough and boasting a lower ceiling so that you aren’t feeling like you’re decorating a shopping mall. I packed up everything I had from my previous homes and moved to Lyndelby the second it opened and haven’t looked back since.

I like how the developers continue to push the limits of what they can do with housing in these neighborhoods. We got lighting hooks, fence types, stable hitches, ambient environments, and more. Until we get Rivendell housing, Lyndelby will stand as the most advanced in regard to its features.

So what’s your favorite premium housing neighborhood, and what kind of home did you purchase? Share with your fellow Middle-earthers in the comments!