After 100 hours and completing the main quest I started a second character. For some reason I don't get the dialogue to buy a house, I've done the required Bleak Barrow Falls, and have been told I can now buy property in Whiterun, am I missing something ? Do I have to see the Greybeards first mayhap.

I read that you can only purchase the house / decorations if the NPC is in the room with the Jarl, but not when he's in the backroom.

I get treated like I'm someone passing through. Oh well, who needs it, I'll crash at Faendal's house in Riverwood, seems I can store stuff there, I've put stuff in his containers to see if they stay. Since this is my second gameplay, the Whiterun house is a bore, I'm going for an upgrade.