Why is no one mentioning The World Machine?

Actually, aelikema, a useful alternative for you might be to go crazy and experiment with the various gaming engines. Microsoft's free Lumberyard, or the free Unreal. Both of these have been used in architecture renders, so we know they can produce good-looking renders. And there are tons of free objects, including landscapes and plants for them. Plus characters. Neither one of these has an excessive or burdensome learning curve. There are free tutorials, too. Although making scenes and renders certainly is not their intended purpose, they can be used this way, and they're kind of fun to play around with once you get the hang of it.

And they're cheaper than Houdini.

Agree that Bryce is not dead!