No longer able to preview new houses without owning the chapter?

This is sad. First tried to port to Merryvine from the crown store to look around. Could not. Then rode to Zhan Khaj Crest to enter by the door, got the house loading screen... and then was thrown into Elden Root? :D I'll get the chapter eventually, just not today. Really fail to see what's bad about sneaking a peek at the new houses in the meantime (They've been on PTS forever and youtube videos abound. I don't have room on my computer for PTS.). I don't think it's been this way with new houses in the past, even when they are in the new zone? And Zhan Khaj at any rate is not even in the new zone :'(