1.Yes, the Update 28 will be the base game update released with the Markarth DLC. As long as nothing changes from between now and then, such as a crippling bug with house gifting, this feature will presumably launch with the update.

2. There are limited time houses currently not available much like there are limited time costumes, crown crates, mounts, and other cosmetics currently not available. It creates an artificial scarcity for a digital good that helps drive sales when those items enter, leave, and reenter the Crown Store.

Its a marketing technique with multiple purposes. First, if you really want, say, Linchal Manor, you'll be more inclined to make an expensive impulse buy when it does come back into the store after a long absence or right before it leaves since you don't want to wait an unknown time. Second, it lets ZOS set the timetable of when they want to pull in large amounts of crowns from players, such as right before a sale or before a new crown crate season. If ZOS left all homes in the store, players would be more in control and more often wait for a sale to make their big purchases, effectively discounting some items. Third, it keeps those items "rare", which however silly that may seem, does matter to a certain segment of the players who buy them.

There's somewhat of a workaround. You can try to contact Support to buy homes not currently in the Store, but whether or not that works seems to be up to the Support Rep.

Langdon64 wrote: »

I wonder if Microsoft will allow homes to be earned in-game along with other Crown Crate items. I feel like I should just not purchase any Crown items until I see what Microsoft does. Really curious.

Are there houses in the Crown Crate rewards now? Most are bought through the Crown Store instead, and I don't believe Microsoft requires thing sold in the store to be available in game, just the loot boxes.

Now I just have to find a generous whale to gift me the Wrothgar house (not the Pinnacle).