A friend and I run an FC with 8 members. We have housing, an airship, and are Rank 8 and nearly max rank with the Immortal Flames and we didn't start it until about a month before Heavensward was released. You only need 3 people to start one, also. Only good friends are here, and we may expand membership if more friends become interested, but there are no driveby invites, no advertisements, that sort of thing. Everyone is really happy with it so far, and we've managed to do a lot. I WAS in a big FC a few times prior, and I hated how it just felt like I was in some crowd and I only really even talked to a small handful in them. The small FC is definitely better, and it's not like it limits your options that much. I know you said housing isn't an option, and that sucks. We kinda lucked out in my friend and her husband already securing one. Tho I'm pretty sure we'd all stick around without one because we're friends anyway. Not sure there's much to advise on beyond try to get people who like playing with each other and not just randoms to fill out the roster.