Housing is still working the same it always had. People don't only get houses when they add new wards.
People are going to be buying houses all the time, you just need to look out for them, and actually invest in it instead of jumping on the 'easy method' bandwagon.
I had a house in Shirogane once, didn't need to fight the server queues on a patch launch to get it.

There's "so much" gated behind having a house? Really?
You get a SIMs decorating mini game, and a few extra planting slots... that's it.
Once you have one, you'll get bored of it quickly.