[Sonic Youth 37]

Minor labor shortages are par for the course. The only way you can stop that is once you've built the city up having a small number of unemployed citizens. That takes practice and time, though. I've also always found it easier to have fewer houses, but have them as advanced as possible (if not Townhouse, a level or two below) instead of having more mid/low level houses.

Elite housing is the real challenge especially if you want cavalry soldiers. The real issue there being having horse ranches close enough to the grand agora horse vendor to operate but far enough away from houses as to not have an impact on desirability.