Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-92.235.113.220-20130224201310/@comment-108.73.61.155-20130301024207

You don't need to be Thane, you just need to have killed the un-paying bandits for Seggedir, ended Dawnstar's bad dreams, or investigated the fire in Morthal. After one of those quests, talk to that hold's steward, and you should be able to buy the plot of land.