Better a patch with multiple content additions that keeps the player engaged for 3 months than a patch that just adds more houses so the player is engaged only for a week.
Stop and truly think about what you're asking for. We know 5.3 is bringing us:
A new chapter in the MSQ that includes both a new dungeon and a new trial (with EX version as well)
The second part of the YoRHa Alliance raid
The new Unreal Trials, which does something a lot of players have been asking for - scales old content up to max level instead of scaling down players down to the old level plus adds in a new mini-game with special prizes for those who complete the trial each week.
New beast tribe quests
A new phase of the Ishgard Restoration, including a new leaderboard competition
The next phase of the relic weapon chain, which should be fairly grind heavy
But you'd rather see SE discard all of that and just give players more houses instead. Players who don't have a house already will be able to get one, then they'll decorate it (takes a week, maybe two, when you never had a chance to decorate before and you're playing with ideas), then they'll...
Sit at their house staring into space the next 5 months because they don't have anything else to do?
House decorating really doesn't offer a lot of game play by itself. Even The Sims, the game that pops into everyone's head when someone says "housing game", figured that out. They added night clubs and amusement parks and vacation resorts (probably other things after I stopped playing it) to keep the game interesting.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy housing. I'm glad it's part of the game. There's something satisfying about being able to go into my own house (or apartment in the case of the my alts) when I log in to check my retainers, do a little crafting, instead of being stuck in one of the cities to do those things.
But without all the other content that gets added in content patches, housing would not be enough to keep me playing the game. On the other hand they could take away housing and while I would be disappointed, I would continue to play the game because that the content is what I spend most of my time doing when I'm logged in.
Fortunately, SE is capable of working on updates to housing along with all the other content. We know we've got housing updates coming when Ishgard Restoration is completed, with at least a new housing district if not the wild dream of instanced house plots. Try being patient until then. Apartments are still there if you need a housing fix. They might be small but there are players doing amazing things with apartments just as they have with houses.