Upgrading Your Tent to a House
The humble tent serves its purpose for your first few days on the island, but soon you'll yearn for the comforts and customization options of a proper house. Upgrading from your tent is one of the first major milestones in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, offering more storage space, the ability to decorate interiors, and a sense of permanence on your new home.
To initiate the upgrade process, you'll need to speak with Tom Nook at the Resident Services tent. He'll offer you a loan for your first house, which will cost 98,000 Bells. Don't worry about paying it upfront; Tom Nook operates on a no-interest loan system, allowing you to pay it back at your own pace. Once you accept the loan, your house will be constructed overnight, ready for you to move into the following day.
While waiting for your house to be built, focus on earning Bells. Good ways to accumulate wealth early on include:
- Catching fish and bugs to sell to Timmy and Tommy.
- Collecting and selling fruit, especially non-native fruits if you visit other islands.
- Digging up fossils and having Blathers assess them before selling duplicates.
- Selling hot items at Nook's Cranny (check the daily hot item for a 2x selling bonus).
Once your house is complete, you'll gain access to sificantly more storage space, allowing you to hoard all those crafting materials and furniture items without cluttering your island. This initial house is just the beginning; further upgrades will become available as you pay off your loans, expanding your living space even further.