How To Start the Michael Mission in the GTA Online Safehouse in the Hills Update

The GTA Online Safehouse in the Hills update brings one of the biggest surprises players have been waiting for, Michael De Santa finally returns to GTA Online with a brand-new storyline. But Rockstar doesn’t make it obvious how to unlock the Michael Mission.

In fact, most players get stuck because the update mixes property requirements, setup tasks, and random triggers.

To save you hours of confusion, here’s the full, accurate walkthrough showing exactly how to start the Michael Mission in GTA Online.

Buy a Mansion to Unlock the Safehouse in the Hills Update Content

Your entry point into the GTA Online Safehouse in the Hills update is purchasing one of the new high-end mansions. Without a mansion, none of the story missions will appear.

Open Prix Luxury Real Estate on your in-game phone and choose one:

• Tongva Estate
• Vinewood Residence
• Richman Villa

Each mansion costs over GTA$11 million, and any of them unlocks the Safehouse interiors and progression system. After buying one, you’ll see a new “A” icon on your map, this leads to your mission contact, Avi Schwartzman.

Complete All Five KnoWay Out Missions

Before Michael enters the picture, you must complete Avi’s full set of KnoWay Out missions. This is the most crucial step in the update and the number one reason players fail to unlock the Michael Mission.

Approach the “A” icon and answer the ringing payphone to start the first mission. Avi assigns five KnoWay Out missions, starting with Negative Press, followed by four additional setups.

Each time you finish one mission:

• A new “A” icon appears
• You go to the new location
• You start the next KnoWay Out mission

These missions are required. You cannot trigger the Michael Mission until all five are completed.

Wait for Avi’s Phone Call (This Unlocks the Michael Mission Trigger)

Once all five KnoWay Out missions are completed, you won’t get an immediate marker or cutscene. Instead, Rockstar uses a delay system.

You must wait for a call from Avi.

This call can take:

• A few minutes
• 10–20 minutes
• Or even over an hour

It’s random, and there’s no way to speed it up, a deliberate pacing mechanic in the GTA Online Safehouse in the Hills update.

To ensure the call arrives:

• Stay in free roam
• Don’t start heists or long missions
• Don’t switch sessions
• Don’t ignore incoming NPC calls

Once the call comes through, you’ve officially unlocked the path to the Michael Mission.

Start the Michael Mission “Home Sweet Home”

After Avi’s call, you can now launch the major story job of the update: the Michael Mission titled Home Sweet Home.

This mission features:

• Direct involvement from Michael De Santa
• Story cutscenes tied to GTA V
• New Safehouse-related mechanics
• Teasers pointing to future DLC

Completing Home Sweet Home rewards you with GTA$500,000 on your first attempt. You can replay the mission whenever you want, but the main payout only applies once.

This mission is bigger, more cinematic, and far more narrative-driven than the setup missions, making it the highlight of the Safehouse in the Hills update.

What Happens After the Michael Mission

Once you finish the Michael Mission, you unlock:

• Additional lore and dialogue
• Hints about upcoming Safehouse updates
• Possible future story involvement from Michael
• A narrative direction that ties GTA Online back into GTA V’s world

Rockstar is clearly setting up a longer storyline. The Safehouse in the Hills update is only the beginning.

Also Read my Posts on Best Ways to Make in GTA V Online

FAQs