Yes, I believe the prices are still the same for the old businesses. At least it sure seems that way to me.
I was reading some interesting stuff about the new system in my Prima Guide and it will be interesting to see if it's right! Seems like you could really become a real estate tycoon now, upgrading buildings via certain objects that need to be purchased as well as "optional" objects. I haven't tried it yet but it seems like it could be pretty cool.
Yes, the old prices seem to still be the same.
And about upgrading; I've done it on several community lots. It's available on all the community lots which aren't rabbit holes and you can't hold partnership in them, you can only buy them (but you can also buy the government buildings -police station, hospital etc- now, but you can't hold partnership in them and they're automatically level 3) . For example the beach in Sunset Valley. Those community lots start out as level one and you need to buy certain things and increase the total value of the lot to upgrade it to level 2 and 3. It seems to be basically the same requirements for all lots, you need to buy picnic tables and basic toilet equipment (I think it was a chess table too? and sun chairs?), and increase the value to a total of 30,000 or something I believe, to reach max level 3. You use the money of the current household, but the cost of the upgrading is insignificant with the amount of money you can cash in over a long time.
I don't remember exact numbers, but level 1 cashes in ~1000-1,200, and level 3 ~2,500 I think, and it's the same for every community lot. It's easy to find out, just buy lots through the computer or go around town doing it. To upgrade it you just need to click on the lot, select some option I can't remember the name of, and chose "Buy on this lot" (Or "Build on this lot"). Under that menu you also have the option to view the upgrade requirements.
I think it shows how little I've been playing Sims 3 these last few days, I have very little consistent information on this.
Anyway, upgrading is rather neat, it adds more realism to it, I think. And the fact that you can build and buy on community lots you own is very handy, you can place practically anything on them and make them almost like a second home to your sims. Without cheats!
