Would be perfect if you have a free-creating mode where you don't have to get money or mana to create stuff, that's my prob with those games.
yes that's what I meant by "build mode", you're a god that controls every single thing and body, nobody gives a stuff about money. But it will seem as if it's just companies building those houses, and you can put prices on them or select an option on a little bubble that would pop up if you clicked on that house that would let you set the price. And you have the choice of the ways for this city to run, or pretty much do anything with it, kill anyone you want, they're all randomly simulated and have random backgrounds and will "grow" families.
Also, you'd go into a "Create-a-person" mode that will be kinda like the Sims character creation thing, but you get to choose their job and their clothing and if they're in uniform or not and what they have, so you could make a prostitute with a SMG and have her hair purple while in a slutty dress.