If you lack the funds and esp if you lack the members. You don't have prio over a large FC that has both. The larger house allows for events to be held and actually fit all the members inside comfortably.
Even then you still have a shot at the house. Fc's had a heads up to get money sorted since we started rebuilding the firmament. And when the lottery system was announced that should have put the fire under people who really want to increase their odds to get the gil. It is an advantage they worked for and rightly earned. Nothing was stopping any FC from doing this. Making money in this game is not hard if you care to put the effort in.

Still, agree instanced housing would be nice. You can still have an instance that also has a garden, idk why it has to be like an apartment in your mind.
The housing as it is now is the best it has ever been, sad as it is. Until we see some change, gotta grind out that money.