Quote Originally Posted by ArkhamNative View Post
It's not like you just create an alt and buy a house. The founder needs to at least have done the dungeons and story to join a GC and get to Lv 25. Then of course find 3 others, found the FC, and then get it to rank 6. Plus raise millions of gil. After all that, I say they have earned the house.
People can also buy already formed, seasoned guilds that are dying from other players.

SE also said the housing servers weren't ready to support lots of houses at first, so the high prices were also to keep the total numbers low, regardless of who might buy them.
That makes sense, but I think they went a little overboard at first. Last time I looked there were only five or so houses. Of course, that is just my opinion. I have no clue if the servers are already having trouble with just those.