4.2 housing system update and what's wrong with it

Am I the only one who still sees an issue with the new house purchasing system? I love the fact that they decided to put an RNG timer on relinquished plots so that everyone has a fair chance of obtaining desired plots, but this RNG timer is only going to hurt the new players.

All it does is stop people from outright purchasing the plot, it does not stop people who already own a home from relocating. This isn't fair to the people who still want to own their first home and I highly suggest making people who relocate wait for the same RNG timer like the rest of us. Square Enix wants to discourage people from reselling homes, but there are still people out there flipping and selling plots on reddit and discord. How are they still able to do this? Because people who already own homes have the privilege to still relocate and bypass the RNG cooldown timer altogether. So please rethink certain aspects of this new housing system before it goes live next week.

Though i am still waiting to see where things go with this i don't for see it being as big of an issue as you make it out to be. as people relocate to better plots or larger houses what do you think happens to their old house? it goes on a relinquish timer. you are probably still seeing house flipping currently because the new housing system doesn't go into affect until next week? or is that just for the opening of the new wards? i'm not 100% sure. but the addition of wards is going to help the issue, though not cure it.

First off: We're not a 100% certain on how the whole system is going to work since that information hasnt been released yet.

Second: When someone relocates their home the amount of open housing plots stays the same, so that feature isnt preventing you from owing your first house ever, the general shortage of housing along with the fact that the initial buying of houses will be FC-only for a while, is.

Third: Until tomorrow those changes arent in effect yet, so obviously til now you've seen people flip and resell houses. Because til the servers went down for maintance this morning, nothing had changed yet.

The RNG timer is going to hurt house flippers, not new players - unless ofc that new player was relaying on someone flipping or giving up their house...
The housing system isnt perfect, but those are steps into the right direction. Relocating a plot will automatically free up another one - so thats not preventing you from getting a house either.

This change curtails most, if not all, houseflipping.

Going forward, folks can no longer purchase up huge swaths of houses with the intention to flip, and unless they set up a sale to someone looking to relocate, they are stuck with the inventory they currently have.

And while folks with existing homes will be able to bypass the timer or make a deal with a theoretical flipper, their original house will then be vacant and therefore purchasable by someone new unless they've also somehow set up a deal with someone else to relocate. If someone else relocates to that space? Then their existing home will be vacant and so on and so forth.

With this system, someone looking to relocate isn't taking anything from a potential new home owner except a particular location/plot. There will still be a new plot available somewhere.

Certain housing is also being assigned FC use only, i suspect that will be the larges. So, you probably won't have many that are relocating if larges are not available for personal use

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Originally Posted by Bloodkraft

Certain housing is also being assigned FC use only, i suspect that will be the larges. So, you probably won't have many that are relocating if larges are not available for personal use

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My suspicion is that certain wards will be designated as FC only and not housing plots. I could be wrong and I suppose we'll fine out pretty soon.

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Originally Posted by LaylaTsarra

My suspicion is that certain wards will be designated as FC only and not housing plots. I could be wrong and I suppose we'll fine out pretty soon.

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From 4.2 notes -

"Plots designated for free company use will be limited to purchase by free companies with at least four members."

yeah we will see new rules after update - will be fun

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Originally Posted by Bloodkraft

Certain housing is also being assigned FC use only, i suspect that will be the larges. So, you probably won't have many that are relocating if larges are not available for personal use

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I see something SE did not fix and should have. For an FC to own housing, they must have 4 members. What stops those that just want a house with FC amenities, to invite 4 of their friends, call their nonsense FC some silly name and purchase whatever size plot they want, with friends eventually leaving the FC and the house sits used or barely used as was first proposed by the initial buyer?

They should have upped the member restrictions based on size of each plot. Like 4 "active" members for small, 7 for medium, 10 or more for Large. This should not include members who have been inactive in their FC more than 3 months.

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Originally Posted by ArcticIceDragoon

Am I the only one who still sees an issue with the new house purchasing system? I love the fact that they decided to put an RNG timer on relinquished plots so that everyone has a fair chance of obtaining desired plots, but this RNG timer is only going to hurt the new players.

All it does is stop people from outright purchasing the plot, it does not stop people who already own a home from relocating. This isn't fair to the people who still want to own their first home and I highly suggest making people who relocate wait for the same RNG timer like the rest of us. Square Enix wants to discourage people from reselling homes, but there are still people out there flipping and selling plots on reddit and discord. How are they still able to do this? Because people who already own homes have the privilege to still relocate and bypass the RNG cooldown timer altogether. So please rethink certain aspects of this new housing system before it goes live next week.

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Something called grandfather aka to avoid breach of contract, why should we get punished if we followed the rules and made an effort? If anything lost houses or demolished would no longer be available. Anything can happen.

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Originally Posted by ArcticIceDragoon

Am I the only one who still sees an issue with the new house purchasing system? I love the fact that they decided to put an RNG timer on relinquished plots so that everyone has a fair chance of obtaining desired plots, but this RNG timer is only going to hurt the new players.

All it does is stop people from outright purchasing the plot, it does not stop people who already own a home from relocating.

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I guess the way SE sees it, with relocating, it frees up a house somewhere down the line regardless, which will eventually go on the RNG timer, for first time buyers.

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Originally Posted by Arazehl

I see something SE did not fix and should have. For an FC to own housing, they must have 4 members. What stops those that just want a house with FC amenities, to invite 4 of their friends, call their nonsense FC some silly name and purchase whatever size plot they want, with friends eventually leaving the FC and the house sits used or barely used as was first proposed by the initial buyer?

They should have upped the member restrictions based on size of each plot. Like 4 "active" members for small, 7 for medium, 10 or more for Large. This should not include members who have been inactive in their FC more than 3 months.

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Your right - why I never like the way FC housing works. The upside is a FC has to be rank 6 to buy a house - so delays a bit. Also, the 4 members in the FC when buying the house, can't have any other characters on that account in a FC. Nothing stops the FC flipping!!

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Originally Posted by Bloodkraft

Also, the 4 members in the FC when buying the house, can't have any other characters on that account in a FC. Nothing stops the FC flipping!!

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How does that affect FCs and people with alts in those FCs?

Edit-
The way I read your post, it sounds like an FC wanting a house must not have anyone who owns a house in the FC? That doesn't sound right.

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Originally Posted by Acebris_Etheyr

How does that affect FCs and people with alts in those FCs?

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Understanding the 4.2 notes, a FC can't buy a house if any member of that FC has an alt on the same account already in a FC with a house.

4.2 note:

"Players will be permitted to own only one private and one free company estate per World per service account"

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Originally Posted by Bloodkraft

Understanding the 4.2 notes, a FC can't buy a house if any member of that FC has an alt on the same account already in a FC with a house.

4.2 note:

"Players will be permitted to own only one private and one free company estate per World per service account"

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I read that as the person purchasing the FC house will not be able to be in an FC with a house on any other character on that server, not that no one in the FC will be able to be in another FC with a house.

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Originally Posted by Bloodkraft

4.2 note:

"Players will be permitted to own only one private and one free company estate per World per service account"

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So, an FC member who owns a house, is in FC 1 with a house, cannot be a member of FC 2with a house on an alt?

If I were the FC master, would that mean I have to discharge that particular member to purchase a house for my FC?

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Originally Posted by MizArai

I read that as the person purchasing the FC house will not be able to be in an FC with a house on any other character on that server, not that no one in the FC will be able to be in another FC with a house.

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And this is the problem with this. The specifics weren't given and no one has any clue what is going on. I get it, with the finite housing resource, they don't want anyone planning ahead to take advantage of the situation. I support that. I don't like, as the master of a homeless FC, not knowing if I'm going to have to discharge someone from my FC simply because they have a house.

I guess we'll find out, huh?

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Originally Posted by MizArai

I read that as the person purchasing the FC house will not be able to be in an FC with a house on any other character on that server, not that no one in the FC will be able to be in another FC with a house.

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I see your point, and could be correct. It would be very easy for a FC to get a house if that is the case - just give buying privilege to a FC member with no alts in a FC. Also, makes flipping FC with houses, very easy!

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Originally Posted by Vidu

Relocating a plot will automatically free up another one...

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I strongly agree that the 4.2 patch would really helps to deal with the current house shortage issue.

However, there may, and will be, more salts incoming because current house owners failed to upgrade to medium/large. For these people, 4.2 patch isn't ideally for you perhaps.

SE has handled this whole housing issue with bandaid fix after bandaid fix. The problem with housing is that everyone wants a house. Everyone eventually wants a large plot with access to 3 garden plots.

The issue is that housing is limited to wards and there aren't enough wards for every player to have the size house they want.

The only fix is to create instanced housing and allow people to upgrade their instanced house as they can afford it.

Apartment

The cheapest purchase. This is a small room, basically the size it is now. Use the front door to leave or access to an instanced outside garden or "rooftop" which allows 1 garden plot. This apartment garden allows all outside funishings and is the same size as your apartment.

Small House

This is no longer the current small house design but the first floor of the large mansion. Instead of a staircases, there are walls around the staircases. This is to ensure you do not build beyond the staircase.

Medium House

This unlocks the upper staircase and the upper rooms. The walls are removed, the staircase and the upstairs added.

Large House is the final purchase. This unlocks the downstairs staircase and the basement. The walls are removed and the staircase and basement added.

By eliminating different designs for small and large house, you can now upgrade your house and keep your furnishings where they are.

The only issue would be actually blocking people from going through the wall or floors to access the top and basement floors.

All yards for instanced housing are the same size, large house but you are no longer in a ward.

Free Companies; allow all apartments and instanced housing to become FC apartments and housing as an upgrade, not a one time only choice when purchasing.

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Originally Posted by illgot

SE has handled this whole housing issue with bandaid fix after bandaid fix. The problem with housing is that everyone wants a house. Everyone eventually wants a large plot with access to 3 garden plots.

The issue is that housing is limited to wards and there aren't enough wards for every player to have the size house they want.

The only fix is to create instanced housing and allow people to upgrade their instanced house as they can afford it.

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Yeah....that's not happening. That would mean SE has to own up to a mistake, and redesign everything, which screw folks who've spent hours designing their homes. Nice ideas though.

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Originally Posted by FulhamTarheel

Yeah....that's not happening. That would mean SE has to own up to a mistake, and redesign everything, which screw folks who've spent hours designing their homes. Nice ideas though.

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the current houses would stay. They would just stop adding in Wards and start giving people access to instanced housing. After they purchase and decorate their instanced house, they can transfer to a plot in a ward, the small and medium house would have to be redecorated, the large should easily transfer decorations from instanced to ward housing.

Unless SE is willing to add a new ward every time the large houses sell out so anyone who wants a large house can buy one, instanced housing is the only real fix.

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Originally Posted by illgot

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I wouldn't want an upgradable house like you describe. Even though it would mean re-designing the house with every upgrade, I'd prefer they either kept the current layouts for small, medium, and large or came up with a new, different, possibly better floor plan for each. And even though you think everyone wants a large house, that's not really the case. I know plenty of people who are not into gardening, at all, so they don't care about having any plots for that. On my first character, all I had ever wanted was one of the 3 small beachfront plots in the Mist for my boyfriend and myself. That was literally my end game plan for her. It's still all I would want for her. My boyfriend now has his own house. When the plots release next week he plans on going from a small in the Mist to a small in the Goblet, because he likes the location of the smalls. He'd prefer more room possibly (he considered trying for a medium), but he really wants a small based on where it is. I really don't know why everyone insists on putting their hopes and dreams onto the entire community. (Don't even get me started on that nonsense about how everyone is planning on relocating to Shirogane. News flash, it's not that great.)

Just take a look at what the housing market has become Square Enix!
https://i.imgur.com/01ezmwO.png

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Originally Posted by ArcticIceDragoon

Just take a look at what the housing market has become Square Enix!
https://i.imgur.com/01ezmwO.png

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Exactly, very few new housing owners. Just people who keep trading around. Oh you're new? Congratulations, you now don't have access to a part of the game.

The issue isn't an issue. A person relocating is always leaving a plot behind.

If you want the ability to relocate, buy any house you can and wait for a prime location to open up

A person relocated before you could buy the house? Find out where they came from and camp that plot.

On my server we have a lot of empty houses both small and medium. If a house means so much that you can't wait, move to a less busy server.

I wish instanced housing was an option, but SE doesn't seem to be working on it.