So yeah, I know sympathy on this forum is going to be absolutely zero, but if I can save anyone from doing the mistake I just did then it is worth it.
I just went through every single ward to check which plots had the lowest amount of bidders. It took hours. Found one that had 0 bidders on a medium and went for it. Game asks "Are you sure, you cannot undo this" and I am indeed sure... though I wondered why I didn't get a window asking if I was bidding for the FC or Privately.
Long story short, for me who didn't read the special subsection link of the patch notes... I've just placed a bid on an FC plot that I thought was a private one as this is what the patch notes said:
And sure, this is on me for erronously believing that Unrestricted was the class for all the housing. If you click on the "learn more" link you learn that ward 25 is only for FCs. The patchnotes mentioned absolutely nothing about this."Wards 25 through 30 have been added to all residential districts.
Six wards with corresponding subdivisions have been added to all districts, for a total of twelve new wards available per district. Plots in all new wards are available for purchase via the lottery system. Apartments have also been added to all wards.
Learn more about additional housing.
* The lottery entry period for these new plots will begin on Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 7:00 a.m. (PST).
Unrestricted plots have been added to housing classifications.
When entering the lottery for an unrestricted plot, you may choose either free company or private plot classification."
What stings isn't really losing all the gil because the FC would never let me accept the plot and move houses as they prefer the Empyreum to Shirogane - but that I've lost my one shot at getting a plot on a populated server where every single plot now has bids except a few smalls in the Goblet, and next round will be for those C-rate plots against 10s of others.
And that makes me a pretty sad pancake. Don't be like me. Don't try to buy a house in Ward 25.