Just let everyone plop a house on their Island Sanctuary

[Carin-Eri]

Instanced Housing is quite a popular alternative. Elder Scrolls Online does this and it prevents situations like in FF14 where getting a house can be tougher than in real life.

Really?!

I have to respectfully disagree! The choices are generally FAR more limited IRL, unless you buy a new-build you are basically moving into a house that is laid-out the way someone else wanted it (and yes you can change it, but you're not starting with a clean slate).

And when you DO find a house you like? You have to arrange to view it. Then you have to put in an offer IF you like it (not a given, the pictures don't always match the reality!). Then you're left waiting and hoping that someone else doesn't make the lender a better offer. Which they all too often do.

And if your offer IS accepted? You have to employ a solicitor due to all the legal nonsense house purchases entail, pay stamp duty (in the UK anyway) and sign countless items of paperwork pertaining to ownership and the mortgage.

And THEN you have to wait for the previous owner of the house to move out, which can take a while if they haven't already found another property themselves!

So respectfully, FFXIV housing is a damn cakewalk compared to buying one in real life, which is often cited as one of the top most stressful things a person will do in their lifetime.