The issues that are attached to Housing - and the other buildings - in the game are a complicated mess. Not only because with each build in a given category the next becomes more expensive and takes more time, but because you really have no choice about whether to build, only WHAT to build - and not always that!
While you do have a choice as to what you build and when you build it on the surface, in reality there is an order to this that you should probably be observing, specifically to max the progress you make in terms of missions and Quests as well as town development.
Bearing in mind that the development (leveling) of your city is directly related to your ability to complete the many missions, Quests, and expansion content, this is not to be taken lightly.
As a general rule than, you should approach building with the following logical order in mind - that is to say that when you do not HAVE to build a specific structure, this is the order you should use to decide what you build in that case. Bearing in mind that it is, strategically, a very good policy to ALWAYS have some sort of construction build in progress at all times until the time comes when you cannot build anything.
The Strategic Build Order is:
Remember even if you do not have a family to move into a house it is okay to build that house anyway. Also remember that you want to build a variety of Housing - not all mansions, not all cheap prefab. You get the idea.
The Community Builds in your town correspond to the following structures:
The Career Builds in your town correspond to the following structures:
The Commercial Builds in your town correspond to the following structures:
The Residential Builds in your town correspond to the following structures:
In addition to the above there are also some special construction projects that will take a very VERY long time to complete. These are:
Island Volcano (Requires building all four shrines)
The Flames of Wisdom Shrine
The Riches of Terra Shrine
The Springs of Fortune Shrine
The Tempest of Bliss Shrine