Cheap Castles for Sale in United States

Castles for sale in the USA: Market Overview

Surprisingly, there are around 700 known castles in the United States, and it's estimated that around 100 castle properties are listed for sale at any given time. For a country with no medieval castle tradition, that's a surprisingly active market, comparable to long-established European ones like the United Kingdom and Ireland.

But there's a big difference between castles in the US and Europe. There was no medieval period in America; the settlers arrived after the age of castles, and huge medieval fortresses weren't a priority for the poor Eastern colonies. There were fortresses and defensive garrisons, but nothing that mirrors the medieval or Gothic buildings of Europe.

Most of the castles in the United States were built between 1880 and 1925 by industrial barons flexing their wealth. Architecturally, they are considered castle-style buildings that take inspiration from the medieval and Gothic periods without the defensive elements. The US castle is a mansion dressed up as a castle. They are modernised, insulated, less expensive to maintain and far more livable than the historic castles of Europe.

There is virtually no demand for American castles outside of the nation; it's purely national demand, compared to a place like France, where foreign demand from the US and UK outpaces local interest.

How much does an American Castle cost?

The median cost of a castle in the United States is around €700,000 or $765,000. This works out to around $1,094 per square metre, almost half the European median. And the median castle size worked out to be around 650 m², which again is smaller than the typical European castle (750 m²).

That being said, there is a prestige tier with American castles, which is not surprising given the nature of these properties. You'll see several castle properties selling in the $5–14 million range. These properties are usually big estates, with luxurious mansions and custom construction, and since the supply in the US is limited, they can command a higher asking price.

Good news if you're a foreign buyer: you'll face no federal restrictions, plus the close rate is much faster than a European castle sale. There are the typical transaction costs, 1.5 to 4% (varies by state), with some penalties for selling, but these can be avoided by setting up a trust or LLC. The best part is that American castles don't face the same heritage restrictions as Europe or the UK; they are barely regulated, so government bureaucracy won't halt planned renovations and construction.

Best regions to buy a Castle in the United States

The majority of the genuine Gilded Age castles can be found in the Northeast, around New Jersey and New York. These are also the most costly given their history, the prime coastal location, and the tax structure of the state.

There are also a number of castle properties in Texas. Big estates can be built out here since there's lots of land and lower taxes. Here you'll find big trophy castles in typical Texas style. These listings were actually some of the most expensive in the United States.

California carries the Mediterranean-Revival tradition, headlined by Hearst Castle, though that one was handed to the state and isn't for sale. It's the most expensive castle market in the country and the one with the most red tape, environmental review (CEQA) can stretch out timelines on the bigger properties. You're paying for the coast and the name here, not for value.

The Midwest is where you'll find America's cheapest castles. Across states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee and Missouri there are Victorian Gothic houses, eccentric folly castles and half-finished restoration projects, most of them under a million dollars. These are character properties more than grand estates, the kind of place you buy for the novelty rather than the location.