I had one last night in my game and just chose my sims apartment. He's living with Lobo in his apartment for now .. so it's a pretty big apartment. It dinged off for meet & greet even before the party went to gold. I always feel like I want to have those things .. or other parties in places I know well and can control.
I thought it was weird that I only picked one fan and but many, many showed up but figured that was just the way it worked.
I would think it's a bug or just trying to process too much kind of glitch. I always exit game and see if it helps or go to managed worlds. If that doesn't help can you play someone else in his household and bring him home?
Either way next time try having it at a smaller place and see if it runs better for you.