There's a huge disconnect between OP's statement, "It only cost $35 which seems like a nominal amount for an upgrade to the townhouse" and MSPeconomist's reply, "... significantly beyond the normal Diamond upgrade and probably beyond a Diamond suite upgrade ...".

I wish someone would have told me, preferably _before_ I spent the time and money to qualify as a Diamond, that a $35 upgrade is "significantly" beyond what a Diamond normally gets and also "significantly" beyond a Diamond suite upgrade.