I would love to join in next year!
I'm still very much a beginner, and the stars kind of worry me, though, LOL! So, my vote would definitely be houses.
I think, too, a lot of people make "star" quilts all the time, anyway. I think the houses would be more unique,know what I mean?
I think the BOM's are more of a sampler type quilt, too, and a lot of the star patterns depend on all the blocks making a secondary pattern. The houses would be more for a samplet quilt.
Just my two cents.