The real estate industry is meeting tech-savvy users where they are—on mobile.
In fact, 76% of homebuyers use their cellphones to buy, rent, and manage properties. We’re positive that this number will keep growing.
So, no better time than now to build a real estate app. With the right real estate app development services, you can make property search, management, and investment easier and faster. We at Ascendix, a real estate app development company, know a thing or two about building apps that deliver results.
In this article we’ll:
Real estate mobile apps cover the needs of real estate professionals and clients. In real estate app development, understanding these needs is essential. For instance:
In real estate mobile app development, focusing an app on a specific audience creates a better user experience and shapes the business model and features. Here are some of the most common types:
Nowadays, there’s a real estate mobile app for everything.
Say you’re searching for your dream home—Zillow has you covered. Need help managing rental properties? Apps like Buildium are a reliable option. Even calculating mortgage payments is a breeze with apps like Rocket Mortgage.
With many options available, it’s important to know the different types of real estate mobile apps. Let’s explore the main categories and their advantages.
Types of real estate mobile apps | Source: Ascendix
Real estate apps for landlords and agents make day-to-day operations more efficient. Such apps allow landlords to send rent reminders, collect payments online, and address maintenance requests with just a few clicks.
Property management apps simplify tasks for landlords, so they can track rent payments, manage maintenance requests, and communicate with tenants. These applications enhance operational efficiency and tenant satisfaction.
“ Implementing features like automated rent reminders and maintenance tracking through thoughtful real estate application development can boost landlord’s operations. ”
Property management real estate app | Source: Zoho
Need to stay in touch? Tenant communication apps keep landlords and tenants connected. The real estate mobile applications improve response times for queries or maintenance issues.
“ By partnering with a real estate app development company, landlords can integrate features like real-time messaging and maintenance tracking. For example, a custom app can allow tenants to instantly report issues with photos, schedule repairs, and receive updates—all in one place. ”
Investors need powerful tools to analyze opportunities, manage portfolios, and stay ahead in dynamic markets. Custom real estate apps for investors provide data-driven insights to support strategic, profitable decisions.
Real estate investment apps help find great deals and track portfolios. These apps show investors property prices, rental income potential, and market trends. This makes it easy to compare options and manage investments effectively.
“ A well-designed real estate investment app can give investors crucial tools like real-time market analysis, risk assessments, and portfolio tracking. ”
Real estate investment app | Source: Property Investor
Property analytics apps help investors evaluate property values, estimate rental income, and track market trends. With clear data and forecasts, these tools make it easier to develop effective investment strategies.
“ Advanced analytics powered by effective real estate mobile app development can help investors identify high-yield opportunities and mitigate risks. Getting help from real estate app development services can facilitate the integration of predictive modeling and data visualization, providing a competitive edge in investment decisions. ”
Real estate apps for brokers and realtors are essential for enhancing efficiency, improving client relationships, and optimizing marketing strategies.
With advanced search and filtering, real estate marketplaces like Doorvest, Roofstock, and Doorsey are online platforms where sellers and buyers or investors connect and manage their residential/commercial real estate deals.
“ A marketplace app created by expert real estate app developers can significantly enhance user experience with features such as virtual property tours, powerful search filters, and communication tools. ”
Solutions like Bright MLS are real estate databases operated by real estate associations and containing relevant property data. For brokers and agents, a product of real estate MLS software development is a centralized source of truth with up-to-date property information and a network where real estate professionals share property data and collaborate.
“ For MLS platforms, accurate data and timely updates are paramount. Through thoughtful real estate application development, features like AI-driven recommendations for new listings or data analytics for market insights can be incorporated in MLS. Such enhancements can make these platforms not only reliable but also innovative tools for brokers and agents. ”
A brokerage client relationship management system like AscendixRE CRM is a tool used by brokers and agents to nurture relationships with clients. CRM helps brokers capture leads, efficiently manage the sales funnel, and turn leads into loyal customers.
“ CRMs are crucial for keeping brokers organized, automating follow-ups, and helping prioritize leads based on real-time data—features that directly contribute to closing more deals efficiently. Getting help from real estate mobile app development services ensures CRM systems are tailored to the real estate workflow, combining essential tools that increase productivity and client retention. ”
Brokerage CRM | Source: Finova.tech
Tools like RealtyAds assist brokers and agents in marketing campaign management and optimization. These solutions come as web or mobile apps for real estate agents and brokers but might also be used by hospitality businesses who want to improve the company´s outreach and track campaign performance.
“ Effective marketing apps help agents reach wider audiences with precision-targeted campaigns, which is vital for staying competitive in a fast-moving market. ”
We’ve been developing software for real estate for 2 decades. We know the industry vocabulary and the process flow. Request a call with Ascendix expert.
For renters and tenants, real estate mobile app development offers convenient solutions for locating and managing rental properties.
Property search apps help renters find the perfect home with filters for location, price, and features. Enhanced search functions, such as map views, 3D tours, and saved searches, make it easy for renters to organize and refine their options.
“ Real estate app development companies can create niche apps for markets like luxury rentals or student housing. For example, adding AI to offer personalized property recommendations or social features for sharing listings and feedback can significantly enhance the user experience. ”
Lease management apps provide renters with tools to manage their lease agreements, enabling online rent payments, direct communication with landlords, and tracking of maintenance requests.
“ We believe that adding features notifications for lease expiration or upcoming rent payments can improve tenant experience and encourage timely interactions with landlords. ”
Tenant screening apps simplify the tenant verification process, helping landlords conduct background checks, verify rental histories, and assess credit scores to make more informed decisions.
“ Our take : Integrating additional tools for income verification or rental history tracking can make these apps even more reliable. Instant reporting capabilities also allow landlords to access screening results in real time, expediting the tenant selection process. ”
Tenant screening app | Source: TenantCloud
Real estate apps for homebuyers and realtors assist with everything from financing to virtual property tours, making the buying process more informed and accessible.
Mortgage calculator apps help buyers estimate monthly payments by calculating based on property price, down payment, and loan terms. These apps simplify budgeting and affordability assessments.
“ Additional calculators for refinancing or affordability based on income and debt ratios can provide a comprehensive view of a buyer’s financial standing. Our real estate app developers can help you with that. ”
Mortgage calculator app | Source: Apps4world
Real estate investment apps offer investors access to potential properties, insights on market trends, and tools for managing their investments.
“ By providing data on investment projections, ROI calculations, and property trends, these apps empower investors to make data-driven decisions. Collaborating with a real estate app development company ensures advanced analytics, easy portfolio tracking, and intuitive design, making real estate investing accessible and efficient. ”
Virtual tour apps let users explore properties remotely with 360-degree video tours, virtual staging, and immersive VR experiences, eliminating the need for in-person viewings.
Virtual tour app | Source: FLOORFY
“ Adding options for virtual staging to showcase empty spaces or immersive VR features for a realistic “walk-through” experience can make a property more appealing. Interactive floor plans can also help buyers understand the property layout better. ”
Now that you’ve seen the types of real estate apps, let’s take a closer look at the features that bring them to life.
To make it clearer, we’ll use the example of a real estate mobile app like Airbnb to show which features are most valuable for users. Let’s take a closer look:
Real estate mobile app features | Source: Ascendix
Think of user profiles as the secret sauce to any great real estate app. In apps like Airbnb, users can save preferences, track searches, and get personalized suggestions.
For sellers and agents, profiles act as portfolios, showcasing past transactions, expertise, and reviews.
User profiles | Source: Airbnb
Hire AscendixTech and we’ll execute your vision and create a thriving real estate software product or bootstrap your existing solution.
Filters make real estate mobile applications easier to use. In apps like Airbnb, users can filter results by location, price, and amenities. This helps users find the right property quickly, saving time and showing only the most relevant options.
Property profiles give a clear overview of each listing. In apps like Airbnb, they include details like rooms, features, and selling points, helping users compare properties. The more detailed and engaging the profile, the easier it is to decide.
Property profiles | Source: Airbnb
Looking to enhance your real estate platform? We at Ascendix specialize in developing custom software to fit your unique needs. Also, we are actively working on AI solutions that can provide unique preferences and behavior of your users.
Our smart search framework understands the intent behind users’ queries and delivers relevant results.
Let Ascendix’s expertise help you create a smarter, more efficient real estate mobile app. Happy to chat!
The ability to save favorites and view search history is a game-changer for real estate apps. Airbnb lets users revisit past searches and save properties. This feature also helps agents understand their clients’ preferences.
Maps are important for real estate mobile apps. They show properties and their proximity to key locations, like transit, schools, or shops. This helps users assess the convenience of each listing.
Real-time notifications keep users updated about new listings, price changes, and messages from sellers or agents.
Real-time notifications | Source: Orangesoft
Instant communication ensures users do not miss any opportunities.
A cost calculator helps users estimate things like taxes and initial payments. This feature ensures users can make informed financial decisions.
In-app messaging makes communication easy, whether it’s reaching out to agents or property owners. In apps like Airbnb, users can message hosts directly, making transactions faster and more efficient.
Communication tools | Source: Contentstack
Looking to improve communication on your platform? At Ascendix, we build AI chatbots that handle everything from simple questions to more complex tasks.
Our chatbots can answer common queries, suggest properties, and even manage bookings or payments. Whether you need to assist customers or support internal teams, we create tailored solutions that make your platform more efficient and responsive.
Leverage our expertise in AI and real estate software development to build or integrate custom AI assistants.
Reviews and ratings help build trust in real estate apps. Like Airbnb, a strong review system allows users to rate properties, agents, and sellers, helping others make informed decisions.
Calendar integration is key to scheduling viewings, meetings, and appointments. With this feature users can schedule property visits at the press of a button.
Calendar integration | Source: Contentstack
After exploring the essential features for a real estate mobile app, the Ascendix team has put together a list of advanced features. These will help take your app to the next level in today’s competitive market:
| Feature | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Tours | Users explore properties remotely, saving time and narrowing options before in-person visits. | 3D virtual walkthroughs of homes. |
| Augmented Reality (AR) Integration | Helps users visualize furniture or decor in a property, creating an interactive and engaging experience. | Furniture placement simulation in rooms. |
| Analytics Dashboard for Agents | Tracks listings and user interactions to provide insights and improve agent performance. | Real-time engagement metric tracking. |
| Local Market Insights | Provides data on trends, prices, and neighborhoods, helping users make informed buying or investment decisions. | Local real estate market data access. |
| Integration with Third-Party Services | Connects users to services like mortgage lenders and movers, streamlining the buying or renting process. | Financing and moving service connections. |
| Custom Alerts | Notifies users of new listings or price drops based on their preferences. | Price drop alerts on saved properties. |
| Social Media Sharing | Allows users to share properties on social media, increasing exposure and attracting potential buyers. | Social platform listing sharing. |
Let’s explore how to build a real estate app in terms of its architecture stages.
Real Estate App Development Stages
Real estate app development is a means to bring your business ideas to life while automating the daily time-consuming tasks. That’s why you need a software development partner with tech experience that directly suits the task. In other words, a partner with niche expertise.
And while it seems that any software developer firm with a decent tech stack in other sectors can complete the job, this is far from the truth. Some of our clients have worked with generic service providers only to find out that the onboarding and project discovery process took forever because they had to educate the team from the ground up.
When looking for a real estate app development company, look for a team that speaks your language, understands your business concepts, and can act as a trusted project guide, not an order taker.
At Ascendix, we´ve developed a 2-decade wealth of real estate expertise combined with rich software development capabilities. We know how to bring life to your ideas and ensure technology is a helping hand to your business endeavors in the long run.
Let’s start with a small-scale project with no commitment to see if we suit your custom real estate software vision.
During the planning stage, you’ll agree with your real estate app development partner on the project scope, deadlines, and discuss what your app is going to be about, its core and secondary features.
Each company has a unique stack of programming languages and tools used to build an app. Here, you’ll learn more about the frontend and backend technologies as well as DevOps and deployment tools that the company will use to build a real estate app for you.
Real estate app development technologies involve a range of technologies, including:
| Component | Technologies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Frontend Development | JavaScript (React, Vue.js, Angular); HTML5; CSS3 | The frontend frameworks and languages used for building the user interface, enabling a dynamic and responsive design. |
| Backend Development | Ruby on Rails; Node.js/ Nest.js; Strapi; Java / Spring; Python (Flask, Django) | Frameworks and tools for server-side logic, data processing, and API integration, crucial for handling business operations. |
| Automation Frameworks | RSpec; Capybara; Cucumber | Tools for testing and automating the validation of your application to ensure functionality and user expectations are met. |
| Databases | MySQL; MongoDB; PostgreSQL; Firebase | Storage solutions for managing data, enabling efficient retrieval and management of user information, listings, and transactions. |
| Infrastructure | Azure; AWS; Digital Ocean; Heroku | Cloud platforms for hosting and deploying your application, providing scalability, security, and flexibility. |
| Web Application Server | Nginx; Puma | A server designed to handle concurrent requests efficiently, ensuring fast performance even under heavy traffic. |
| Containers | Docker; Kubernetes | Technologies for containerizing and orchestrating applications, enabling efficient deployment, scaling, and management of software across distributed systems. |
Developing a real estate mobile app involves leveraging these technologies to create seamless and efficient user experiences.
You can utilize the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach and create a real estate app with the core features required. After that, the company will collect feedback from users, transform the data into predefined metrics, and readjust the app´s functionality according to user research.
Your frontend development is the creation of the app´s user interface and user experience (navigation menus, buttons, forms vs the entire usability and visual appeal).
The back-end development or the server-side development includes the creation of databases, APIs, and servers that together combined are the architecture of the app.
After your real estate app is integrated with other tools or legacy systems, it goes through a quality assurance stage and is further deployed on a server or the company’s devices.
Most real estate app development companies offer post-development technical assistance (often already included in the initial app development package) such as bug fixing, security updates, and minor/major software retrofit.
The total costs will depend on the hourly software development rates (check such data before you outsource developers), the number of specialists involved in the development, and the number of hours put into work.
The complexity of the app’s design and functionality and the technology stack used for the product development are other factors that can pre-determine whether your app will cost a few or a hundred thousand dollars.
Check out the overview of the proptech consulting and software development projects we delivered to our clients.
Ascendix is a real estate app development company that helps businesses maximize their tech potential. While headquartered in Texas, we’ve developed a global delivery hand with 5 offices, helping startups and mature companies like JLL with our unique set of skills both as custom developers and authors of our own products.
So, why Ascendix?
And how can we help you?
Contact Ascendix today and learn what we can build together.
“ Ascendix are true consultants, meaning they don’t just do as they’re told without providing feedback and input where they feel it would be helpful.
They actually think through the process and are knowledgeable about commercial real estate. Not many consulting firms can offer that kind of expertise and industry knowledge. ”
Before starting a real estate app development project, it’s essential to identify your target audience and their needs. Understand the key features your app must have, such as property listings, user profiles, and communication tools. Research the competition to see what works and consider the technology stack you’ll use. Planning a clear budget and timeline is also crucial.
The most common types of real estate apps include:
The time to build a real estate mobile application varies widely based on the level of customization, the scope of features, and other factors. At Ascendix, we always discuss all the details before starting work on the project to provide a clearer timeline and cost estimate.
Darina is an expert in property and AI technology. In her content, she shares insights on how technology can optimize real estate workflows, along with proptech news and handy resources.
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