Real Estate App Development in 2024: Types, Features, and Beyond

Buying or selling a property is something almost everyone ends up doing sooner or later. And modern consumers are looking for more advanced ways to hunt for their dream homes rather than spot yard signs or print newspaper ads.

In fact, a recent NAR report claims that 75% of homebuyers in the 24 to 42 age bracket are using their mobile devices to scout out properties. Given the high demand, the niche started undergoing serious tech makeovers, experiencing a surge in real estate app development.

But it's not just homebuyers catching onto the mobile trend – even big-shot leaders admit that the niche has always seemed a bit conservative. Deloitte’s real estate outlook shows that 60% of the industry’s movers and shakers believe that proptech solutions can become the real game-changers for their businesses.

It seems that real estate app development companies will have a lot of work ahead in 2024. In this post, we’ll explore the types, features, and exciting tech transformations that are reshaping the future of the real estate scene.

Real estate app types

Real estate apps cater to different needs, whether you're in the market for a new home, managing properties, or just exploring the possibilities. Let’s discuss the most popular ones:

Property search apps

Want to browse homes as if you’re scrolling through social media? Property search apps make it happen. Platforms like Zillow have revolutionized the way we explore potential properties by offering an extensive database of listings, from cozy apartments to sprawling estates.

These apps not only let you filter through homes based on your preferences but also provide valuable insights into neighborhoods, school districts, and local amenities.

• Example: Zillow

Real estate investment apps

Real estate investment apps have emerged as powerful tools, providing users with a streamlined way to explore, analyze, and invest in real estate opportunities.

One of the standout features of such apps is the ability to invest with relatively small amounts of money, known as fractional investing. This democratization of real estate allows users to own a fraction of a property, sharing in potential returns without the need for hefty upfront investments.

• Example: SmartCrowd

Property management apps

Juggling multiple properties can be exhausting, but property management apps make it a breeze. In fact, this type of real estate app acts as a digital assistant, bringing transparency to the rental process and facilitating communication between landlords and tenants. 

With the convenience of mobile access, tenants can submit maintenance requests, pay rent online, and more. Landlords, on the other hand, benefit from automated processes, such as rent collection, financial tracking, and other aspects of property management. 

• Example: TenantCloud

Mortgage calculator apps

Crunching numbers is a crucial part of the home-buying journey. Mortgage calculator apps help you figure out the financial nitty-gritty such as estimating monthly mortgage payments, analyzing different loan scenarios, and planning budgets with precision. 

The key advantage of mortgage calculators is their versatility. Users can input various parameters such as loan amount, interest rate, and loan term to instantly generate estimates of monthly payments.

• Example: Rocket Mortgage

Real estate app development: most essential features

What functionality defines a user-friendly real estate app? Here are the core features:

1. User profiles

User profiles are the crucial step in the real estate mobile app development, as they offer a personalized experience for buyers, sellers, and agents alike. With individual profiles, users can save preferences, track property searches, and receive tailored recommendations. For sellers and agents, a dedicated profile serves as a professional storefront, showcasing expertise, past transactions, and client testimonials. 

2. Property listings

Every real estate app needs a comprehensive database of available homes and commercial spaces. These listings offer vital details such as property size, amenities, pricing, and more. The ability to present properties in a clear, organized manner ensures that users can easily explore and evaluate potential options.

3. Filtering options

In essence, filtering options transform a real estate app from a mere listing platform into a personalized discovery tool. Whether it's searching by location, price range, property type, or amenities, filters empower users to narrow down the search by their preferences, save time, and minimize frustration. 

4. Property profiles

Property profiles serve as the digital resumes of real estate listings as they provide the necessary information for users to make informed decisions. From the number of bedrooms to special amenities, this feature helps to showcase the unique selling points of a property and attract potential buyers or tenants.

5. Saved favorites & history

The ability to save favorites and view search history adds convenience to the search process by allowing users to reflect on their preferences and revisit potential choices. For sellers and agents, this feature provides insights into customer preferences, helping them tailor recommendations and understand the evolving needs of their audience.

6. Map integration

Can you even imagine searching for your future home without a map? This is rather a rhetorical question. Map integration is a must-have feature in any real estate mobile application development. Like a visual compass, maps allow users to explore properties based on location, proximity to important infrastructure, and the surrounding environment.

7. Real-time notifications

Push notifications keep users in the loop about relevant updates in this competitive market. Whether it's new property offers, price changes, or messages from potential buyers, this feature ensures timely communication. It is unlikely that anyone wants to miss a sweet offer or let competitors steal another deal, right?

8. Cost calculator

Cost calculations are a nice-to-have feature in the context of real estate application development. Such calculators assist users in understanding the monetary aspects of property transactions and make the process more manageable. Moving costs can vary widely depending on the type of mover you choose, the size of your home, and the distance of your move.

For increased user satisfaction, ensure that the calculator is detailed and projects the final amount by displaying various aspects like the range of the initial payment, applicable taxes, and more.

9. Communication tools

Facilitating seamless communication between buyers and sellers is one of the essential aims of real estate mobile app development. As such, adding features like in-app messaging, contact forms, or scheduled callbacks can transform a real estate app from a static platform into a dynamic marketplace where users can ask questions and seek feedback.

10. Reviews & ratings

Testimonials can add a layer of trust and a community-driven environment to a real estate app. This provides users with insights into the experiences of others who have engaged with a particular property, seller, or agent. Plus, reviews and ratings encourage sellers and agents to maintain high standards of service.

11. Calendar

Calendars serve as organized planners for users, helping them manage property viewings, meetings with sellers or agents, and key milestones in the buying or selling process. This feature ensures that crucial dates and tasks are not missed.

Real estate app development process

In this section, we break down the real estate app development process into strategic stages:

#1 Discovery stage

Kicking off with the discovery phase, the primary focus is on gaining a profound understanding of the target market, competitors, and user base. It’s important to conduct extensive market research to identify trends and gaps within the real estate tech landscape.

The main goal here is not only to conceptualize an app idea but to align it with the specific needs and expectations of your potential users.

By the end of the discovery, you should have a comprehensive app development roadmap, mentioning clear goals, core functionalities, and a strategic vision for the app's journey from conception to launch.

#2 Design stage

As the app idea solidifies, the design phase takes center stage. This is where the vision of the app transforms into a tangible, visually striking interface. 

The most important aspect of real estate app design is embracing a user-centric approach. The design should prioritize intuitive navigation, providing users with an optimal experience on smartphones and tablets.

Plus, real estate mobile application development should envisage great visual elements such as high-quality imagery and, where applicable, virtual tours. Clear, aesthetically pleasing visuals can spark user interest in listed properties.

#3 App development stage

Turning design into a functional reality comes with a set of challenges. First of all, your app must be able to process large amounts of data. Since real estate apps rely heavily on up-to-date data, including property details, market trends, and location-specific information, you should ensure the seamless integration of databases.

Another challenge in real estate mobile app development is the emphasis on visual content. Make sure your team is skilled enough to create an immersive and visually pleasing experience, leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI or augmented reality.

To play on the safe side and ensure a quicker release to market, we often recommend our clients start any app development process by building an MVP first. This approach enables stakeholders to allocate resources efficiently and validate the app's concept with minimal costs.

If you’re looking for a trusted real estate app development company that provides MVP development services, don’t hesitate to drop us a line now!

#4 Testing stage 

Rigorous testing is conducted to identify any possible bugs and guarantee that the app operates smoothly across various devices and scenarios. Mobile app testing is critical for safeguarding the app's reliability and user satisfaction.

We consistently emphasize to our clients that testing should accompany every stage of the development lifecycle to optimize overall efficiency.

#5 Launch and post-release support 

The success of the app launch is often influenced by the strategic planning and meticulous execution of the previous stages. A well-executed launch involves effective marketing strategies, user engagement initiatives, and leveraging the feedback from the MVP phase to make final adjustments.

It’s a common misconception that the process ends with the app launch. Going forward, you should keep making your app fresh by refining the existing features and adding new ones along the way. Thus, you’ll be able to build long-term relationships with users and position the app as a responsive solution in the competitive real estate market.

Real estate app development [SolveIt experience]

Now let us share one of our unique cases in real estate mobile application development. In the summer of 2023, we embarked on a distinctive project, collaborating with Hemie.se to create an online property rental platform.

At SolveIt, we prioritize a holistic approach so we aimed to review the code and tech stack for scalability as well as modernize front-end components. One of the standout features we introduced was a groundbreaking third-party exchange, redefining how users rent properties by facilitating direct exchanges between landlords.

Remarkably, within a concise timeframe of 2.5 months, we successfully delivered fully-fledged iOS and Android apps. The project resulted in a revamped app with minimalistic Scandinavian visuals and improved user experience. This made Hemie a user-friendly and visually appealing platform.

Wrapping up

As we explored the essentials that define the current state of real estate application development, it became evident that the key lies in making strategic user-centric choices.

Consider the option of hiring a dedicated team to build a real estate app? SolveIt stands ready to be your partner in this journey, offering expertise, innovation, and a commitment to delivering apps that stand out. Let's discuss your project today!