Who Exactly Owns the Free Company House in FFXIV?

If you‘ve ever wondered who actually owns the Free Company (FC) house in Final Fantasy XIV, you‘re not alone. Many players are confused about FC housing ownership. The short answer is: the FC itself owns the house, not individual members.

But there‘s more nuance to fully understand FC property rights. In this detailed guide from a long-time FC leader, we‘ll dive into all aspects of FC housing ownership in FFXIV. I‘ll explain how it works so you can make the most informed decisions for your FC.

It‘s All About the FC Name on the Deed

Let‘s start with the basics. Who owns the Free Company house in FFXIV?

The important fact is that the Free Company as an entity owns the FC estate. This remains true even if a specific FC member places the winning bid on the house.

Some key evidence that the FC owns the property:

• The deed and ownership documents will be under the FC name, not individual members.
• Assets like the house are recorded on FC financial statements, not personal ones.
• The FC gets property tax bills, not individual members.

So while FC members live in the house, no one person owns or controls the FC estate. Legally and financially, it belongs to the Free Company.

Like a Corporation, the FC Has Shared Ownership

A helpful way to think about FC ownership is to compare it to owning a house through a corporation.

If a company buys a house, no single employee or shareholder personally owns it. The corporation owns the asset. FC property rights work the same way.

The FC leader is like the CEO – they control decisions, but they don‘t personally own the assets. The FC estate is a shared asset that no one member controls completely.

The Buck Stops with the FC Leader

That being said, the FC leader has ultimate authority over housing decisions and permissions.

Think of it like a CEO‘s powers in a company. The FC leader can‘t personally profit from selling the house, but they decide who has access, when changes are made, and if members are kicked out.

Some examples of FC leader housing powers:

• Assigning or removing housing permissions from members
• Choosing when to relocate and bid on new plots
• Evicting problematic members who damage property

So while they don‘t fully own the house, FC leaders do act as ultimate decision-makers regarding FC estates.

Requirements to Purchase FC Housing

Now that we‘ve covered ownership, let‘s look at the requirements to purchase an FC house in the first place:

• The FC must reach rank 6 or higher
• There must be at least 4 active members
• 30+ days of membership to bid on houses
• Permission to purchase land from FC leader
• 300,000 gil minimum for a small house bid

Earning these qualifications takes hard work and an engaged community. Let‘s break down each requirement‘s role.

Reaching Rank 6 Unlocks Ability to Purchase Land

The first task is grinding your FC to rank 6. This shows your group is committed and organized enough to earn housing.

How do you rank up your FC? Here are some top tips:

• Host fun contests and events to drive recruitment
• Maintain an active Discord community hub
• Forge alliances with other FCs to collaborate
• Reward top crafters and raiders with promotions
• Celebrate achievements and member milestones

Building an engaging FC pays off when it comes time to buy real estate!

Minimum of 4 Members Ensures Activity

Requiring at least 4 members prevents ghost town FCs from holding houses. It ensures regular player activity to justify owning limited housing.

To recruit effectively:

• Spread the word about your helpful, social FC
• Make new players feel welcome with starter packages
• Host community game nights on Discord
• Build a stellar FC reputation by giving back

Aim for a tight-knit group of supportive friends. Quality over quantity!

30 Days Ensures Commitment from Bidders

Bidding is restricted to long-term loyal members who have been in the FC for over 30 days.

This prevents players from unfairly joining just to bid. The 30-day rule:

• Rewards loyal, active members who helped build the FC
• Encourages participating in the community before bidding
• Weeds out players just interested in assets, not teamwork

Nurture collaboration so bidding feels like a community success.

Leader Permission Adds Oversight

Requiring FC leader approval to purchase property provides oversight on major decisions impacting the FC.

As FC leader, consider these factors when granting bidding permission:

• Does the member regularly participate and give back?
• Are they financially ready for housing bills?
• Do they roleplay responsibly if an RP FC?

Grant permission carefully – you can‘t easily undo housing!

Each Player Can Only Personally Own 1 House

We‘ve covered FC ownership rules. But what about individual members – how many personal houses can they own?

The limit is:

• 1 private home per individual
• 1 FC home if they lead a Free Company

So a single player can own one private mansion, plus a house for their FC. But no one can hoard multiple homes.

This prevents greedy personal land monopolies. Housing is a limited resource, so fairness rules promote healthy server communities.

Make Sure to Clear Your Room Before Departing!

Let‘s switch gears and talk about leaving your FC. What should you do with your private chamber before quitting?

• First, empty out all furnishings in your room
• Next, manually demolish the private room
• Then you can safely leave the FC for good

Don‘t forget this step! Otherwise you abandon your belongings.

Make sure to remove your chamber before departing. You won‘t get your 300,000 gil deposit back regardless, so salvage what you can.

Lottery System Adds Excitement, Risk

Time for the fun part – bidding to win your dream home! FFXIV uses a housing lottery system. Here‘s an overview:

Entry Period

• 5 days to enter and bid on the plot you want

• Compete against other FCs and players

• No limit to number of entrants

Results Period

• 4 days to claim the land if you win

• Winners are randomly selected

• You get 85% of your gil back if you lose

The lottery format creates risky, competitive bidding wars. Some strategies:

• Stalk the area to see who your competitors are

• Bid early to discourage rivals

• Max your budget to beat other bidders

Get ready to roll the dice in this thrilling housing mini-game!

Choosing the Right Neighborhood

Picking the optimal housing ward and plot is key. Here are the neighborhood options:

Wards 1-24

• Mixed individual and FC houses

Wards 25-29

• Individual houses only

Wards 30-42

• FC housing only

A few factors when choosing:

• Target FC-only wards if buying for your FC

• Individual wards offer more privacy

• Balance aesthetics, proximity to amenities, yard space

• Stalk the area at all times of day to learn the vibe

Choose wisely – location matters for resale value!

Furnishing Limits Based on House Size

Your FC home size dictates how many furnishings you can use for decor. Here are the limits:

Creatively work within these limits when decorating. Or upgrade to a bigger home for more space.

Focus on making shared spaces like libraries and lounges inviting. And give each member enough capacity to personalize their chamber.

Cost to Create an FC from Scratch

What does it cost to create a Free Company capable of buying property? Here is a breakdown:

• 15,000 gil to officially register and found your FC
• 4 member signatures required on FC petition
• 300,000 gil for a small house bid
• Rank 6 FC requirement

So the total startup cost is about 315,000 gil, plus lots of community building!

Leaving Your Free Company

Someday you may decide to move on from your FC. To leave properly:

• Go to your FC interface and select "Leave"
• Relinquish any stabled chocobos first
• Clear out your private chamber

Then you can depart without loose ends.

Leaving is bittersweet, but a normal part of the FFXIV journey. Move on gracefully when the time is right.

Signs of Shill Bidding to Watch For

When bidding on an FC house, be alert for possible shill bidding to drive up prices. Warning signs include:

• Bidders who have placed multiple previous bids with the selling FC
• A high percentage of a bidder‘s bids are with that one FC
• Suspicious bidders with no clear FC/guild affiliation

This could indicate false bids from friends of the seller. Report suspicious bidding activity to GMs.

Sniping Last Minute Bids Can Backfire

Is bid sniping an effective housing strategy? Here‘s the truth:

Pros

• Can pay less if other bidders max out early

• Exciting to swoop in last second

Cons

• Someone can always overbid your max
• Falling short after all the anticipation is crushing

Sniping is risky and not for the faint of heart! Know when to play it safe.

Selling to the Highest Bidder, Max Style!

When a seller offers a home to the "highest bidder", it means:

• They will sell to the person who submits the largest bid
• This approach helps maximize the final sale price

Hope for wealthy rivals so you can profit as a seller!

But don‘t get sucked into overbidding as a buyer. Set a reasonable budget and stick to it.

• The Free Company itself owns FC housing
• But FC leaders control permissions and access
• Individual players are limited to 1 personal and 1 FC house
• Leaving your FC? Remember to demolish your room first
• Lottery bidding and neighborhood choices add strategy
• Furnishing limits depend on house size
• Costs about 315,000+ gil to create a property-owning FC
• Shill bidding and bid sniping introduce risks

I hope this detailed FC housing guide from a fellow FC leader gave you insight into property ownership dynamics in FFXIV. Understanding these rules will help you thrive as an FC officer or contributing member.

What other housing tips would you add for new FCs? Let me know in the comments!