Build-a-Lot games are lighthearted real estate management simulations with three keys to success: location, location, and location. To climb to the top of the property-management ladder in each new town, players use their limited cash and abilities to purchase under-valued lots, make affordable improvements, and then sell for a profit. Improving the desirability of an area, with a fresh coat of paint or a new neighborhood park, can cause property values to rise. Complying with quirky requests from local politicians can also grease the wheels of progress. In the Town of the Year versions of the game, players can "flip" houses for quick cash. Passport to Europe features several additional building types, including fixer-upper mansions with potential for big profits.