All About Real Estate Website Development in 2025
The real estate rental and sales market is rapidly evolving, and competition is getting tougher. In this environment, businesses in the real estate sector must leverage modern tools — websites and mobile applications that not only attract clients but also provide them with a seamless user experience.
However, many business owners make common mistakes when developing their digital solutions, ranging from flawed design to poorly thought-out functionality. How can this be avoided? What should you pay attention to?
In this article, we will explore the key aspects of creating websites and apps for the real estate sector, including the latest trends in web design and programming. We will share practical tips and show you how to properly implement features that will make your project competitive, while ensuring a seamless user experience for your clients.
How can you develop your own real estate website or app?
Defining the type of the platform
The real estate sector is highly diverse and covers a wide range of services. Therefore, it is crucial to define your unique niche, which shapes the target audience, business model, and key customer needs. A deep understanding of this niche allows you to create a platform that not only performs basic functions but also effectively communicates the brand's values, ensures ease of use, and enhances user interaction.
Let’s take a look at the main types of real estate websites:
Aggregators are universal platforms that offer a wide range of services: searching for residential or commercial properties, rentals (short-term or long-term), buying or selling properties, and allowing users to post their own listings. These sites attract a broad audience due to their multifunctional approach.
Specialized websites focus on a specific market segment, such as commercial real estate (offices, warehouses, retail spaces) or short-term rentals. They are created to meet the specific needs of clients, providing accurate and relevant content.
Developer websites showcase the company’s portfolio, including current and completed projects, available properties, and integration with realtor services. They build trust in the brand and serve as the primary channel for presenting the developer’s offerings.
Residential complex and neighborhood websites focus on specific projects, highlighting the infrastructure, construction stages, and options for tenants and residents. These resources create a comprehensive image of the project, making it more attractive to the target audience.
Real estate marketplaces bring together the services of realtors, agencies, and developers, allowing users to compare offers in real time. They are popular due to their wide selection and ease of use.
Corporate websites of real estate agencies are aimed at strengthening the brand, showcasing the company's expertise, and attracting clients. They often include functionality for property search, service cost calculations, and consultations.
There are also other types of real estate websites that have gained popularity due to their functionality and convenience. Our team has experience working on a range of such projects, including:
CRM systems for property management
ERP platforms for efficient real estate process management
Websites for automating marketing campaigns
Platforms for property management
Web resources for managing property inventories
Asset management systems
Platforms for managing homeowners' associations (HOA)
Websites for property valuation
Platforms for construction management
Target audience research
A deep understanding of the target audience and their needs is a critical stage that determines the architecture, design, and functionality of the platform. Only by clearly recognizing the roles and expectations of users can you develop a platform that not only attracts visitors but also becomes a convenient tool for achieving their goals.
A detailed analysis helps identify the main user categories and understand how to create a personalized, user-friendly, and intuitive interface for them. In this process, we identified key audience groups that form the foundation of interaction with the web resource and explored their specific use cases.
To better understand the needs and requirements of users, various data collection methods are used to determine the specific characteristics of each user category. Below are the main methods that help analyze the audience in more depth and adapt the website to their needs:
Data collection through surveys and questionnaires from direct users.
User behavior analysis using analytics tools like Google Analytics to track their interaction with the website.
Engaging focus groups with real users to gather deeper insights through personal conversations or group discussions.
Analysis of psychographic characteristics: interests, motivations, pain points, and desires of users for precise content customization.
Competitor analysis, studying the strengths and weaknesses of their applications to identify opportunities for improvement and advantages.
Creating a personalized user experience, individual offers based on user behavior.
Determining the necessary functionality for each user category.
It is also important to pay attention to the platform type preferred by your target audience — data from the National Association of REALTORS® Research Group show that 93% of clients visit real estate websites, and 73% use mobile applications on their devices to search for properties. There is no doubt that this percentage will only increase in the future.
Defining key features and sections of a real estate website
When developing a real estate website, it is crucial to consider the main features and sections that will provide users with a convenient and efficient experience. Codeska analyzed data from the National Association of REALTORS®, where users identified the most important property criteria:
Property photos
Detailed information about properties for sale
Floor plans
Contact information for real estate agents
Virtual tours of properties
Photos and videos
For showcasing real estate properties, it's essential to use high-quality photos and videos. The images should be optimized for fast loading. The ability to zoom in on photos allows potential clients to closely examine the space. To ensure high content quality, it is recommended to collaborate with professional photographers and videographers.
Catalog
This feature is particularly relevant for companies selling or renting a large number of properties, ranging from dozens to hundreds. In this case, presenting the property inventory is easier and more convenient in a catalog format.
For example, like Eden Realty. This real estate website was developed by us for the Dubai market.
The simplest option is a list of all properties with minimal information, such as the name, area, price, and address. However, in most cases, it’s necessary to enhance the catalog to a more efficient version with extended functionality.
Personal account
Visitors can register and create a personal account to save important information, such as properties they like. Alternatively, they can correspond with the company and use its internal services.
A personal account is especially useful for companies that interact with their clients long-term, primarily through the website. This is particularly relevant for firms that provide services to real estate agents and property owners renting out properties, as well as in the B2B sector.
Interactive property presentation
Let’s consider a simple example: a real estate agency collaborates with several residential complexes. In this case, it makes sense for them to create an attractive presentation for each space on the website to stimulate the target audience’s interest. For instance, developing an online tour of the complex.
This feature allows potential clients to explore the surroundings of the property in a format close to a panoramic map view. To achieve this, high-quality photos from different angles need to be prepared, a 3D model needs to be designed, and the presentation scenario needs to be thought through. As a result, users opening the property page can visually walk through the surroundings, view the yard, nearby streets, entrances, playgrounds, parking spaces, etc.
For example, this is what an online tour of an apartment looks like:
Calculator
Calculators for calculating various metrics are not only useful for clients but also serve an important marketing purpose—gathering "warm" leads. The idea behind the calculator is that visitors to the site can enter a few important parameters in a simple and convenient format and, based on those inputs, receive a cost estimate for the desired property and/or a personalized offer tailored to their needs.
Calculators are particularly useful when the price is influenced by several variable factors, and it is not possible to provide a universal price list. In this case, the portal automatically calculates the price based on the entered conditions. For example, a user might use it to calculate the cost of an apartment in a specific area.
Furthermore, calculators help filter out unwanted clients. If it’s clear that someone cannot afford the offered product or service, it’s better not to engage with them, saving time and resources.
Choosing a monetization method for real estate platform
Monetizing a platform ensures a steady cash flow and further development. The choice of monetization method, each with its pros and cons, depends on the type of site, target audience, and business strategy. Often, it's beneficial to combine several methods to create a sustainable income stream:
Paid listings and property placement — users pay to post property listings for sale or rent on the site. This is a popular method for aggregators and specialized platforms.
Subscription and premium accounts — offering access to additional features (such as advanced search or posting more listings) through a subscription model.
Advertising — banner and contextual advertising that allows monetization of site traffic, provided the ads are relevant to the users.
Affiliate programs and referral commissions — earning commissions for referrals who use partner services, such as mortgage companies or insurance providers.
Selling analytical data — collecting and selling real estate market data or user behavior data to other companies.
SaaS models — providing software for property management or marketing tools on a subscription basis.
Integration with other platforms — earning money through affiliate integrations with other popular services, such as social media or online banking.
Selling additional services — offering services like photoshoots, 3D tours, consultations, or other services that enhance user experience.
Selling software licenses — selling licenses for the use of your system to other companies in the real estate industry.
Wireframing and platform architecture planning for real estate
Wireframing and architecture planning ensure efficient user interaction and stable platform performance. Wireframing lays the foundation for the interface, while architecture ensures scalability, performance, and security of the system.
Wireframing involves creating schematic blueprints or framework models that show the key elements and functionality of the site, such as the placement of interface elements — buttons, menus, search filters, and other interactive components. Wireframes help define the page structure and understand how users will interact with the site or app.
Key wireframing tasks:
Structuring content and defining key informational blocks.
Enhancing navigation and creating intuitive menus.
Optimizing interaction and planning convenient user interface elements.
Ensuring correct display on different devices.
Architecture defines the overall structure and interaction between various system components. It helps ensure high performance, stability, and security, while providing a seamless experience for end users.
Key wireframing tasks:
Information Architecture — Organizing data for easy navigation.
Database and CMS — Choosing the optimal solutions for storing and managing content.
Functional Modules — Creating separate modules for search, user registration, and integrations with CRM and other systems.
Scalability and Performance — Designing architecture to handle an increasing number of users and data.
Security and Data Protection — Implementing modern protocols to protect personal data.
Integration — Ensuring compatibility with payment systems, maps, and other platforms.
UX/UI design development for real estate websites
The design of a real estate website plays a crucial role in creating a first impression for potential clients. A modern and user-friendly design attracts users and keeps them engaged on the site, increasing the likelihood of closing a deal.
Let’s highlight the main aspects to consider when developing a design concept for a real estate platform:
Responsiveness across all devices
The real estate website should work seamlessly across all devices, from computers to smartphones. When designing for Real Estate, it’s important to consider a mobile version where all elements, including buttons and menus, must be large enough and user-friendly for touch navigation. Additionally, optimizing content and images for fast loading, even on mobile devices with slow internet speeds, is crucial.
Intuitive navigation
The organization of navigation on a real estate website should be as simple and intuitive as possible so users can easily find the information they need. The menu with main sections and subsections should be structured in such a way that users immediately know where to look for properties, contact information, news, and other content. A prominently displayed search section allows users to quickly filter properties by key parameters: location, price, or property type.
Content structuring
The information on a real estate website must be clearly structured so that users can easily navigate through various property categories. Each property should have a detailed description, including key characteristics, floor plans, photographs, and video materials. The content should be regularly updated to ensure that visitors only see current and accurate information.
As an example, let’s consider another property that Codeska works with – M.O.V.A. Real Estate. For potential clients, the main property features are immediately highlighted. Additionally, users can easily schedule a viewing directly on the site, either in person or through an online format, providing a seamless and user-friendly experience.
Color Scheme
The colors used on the real estate website should be harmonious and aligned with the business's brand identity. A good choice would be neutral and calming tones, such as blue, gray, or green, which are associated with stability and professionalism in the real estate industry. Fonts should be easy to read. It's important to avoid overly decorative or small fonts, as they can cause frustration for users.
The UX/UI design development stage focuses on creating a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing interface. UX (User Experience) centers on the logic of user interactions with the product. For example, ensuring that customers can easily find the property they are looking for or submit an inquiry. UI (User Interface) deals with the visual elements of the product, such as color schemes, icons, fonts, and button designs. Designers create prototypes and mockups to showcase how the website or app will look and function. The result of this phase is an interactive prototype that demonstrates both the functionality and visual design of the platform.
A prime example of successful modernization is the globally recognized marketplace for short-term home rentals, Airbnb. The company underwent a redesign of both its app and website, introducing a new design system that ensures consistency across all platforms. A new UI style guide was created, with the primary goal of standardizing design and improving teamwork. Starting with the core color palette and fonts, Airbnb gradually updated key interface elements. Over time, this guide evolved into a comprehensive library of web pages and screens for both iOS and Android platforms.
Front-End development
The front-end development stage is pivotal in creating a website or application, as it involves building all the elements users interact with. Front-end developers transform design concepts into functional interfaces using technologies like HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript. This process includes creating pages, buttons, search forms, property cards, and other interactive elements. Special attention is given to responsiveness, ensuring the site looks equally good on smartphones, tablets, and computers. Functional features, such as search filters and image sliders, are also integrated to enhance the user experience.
Back-End development
Back-end development handles everything happening "behind the scenes." Common programming languages for this phase include Python, JavaScript (Node.js), Ruby, and PHP, valued for their flexibility and performance. Databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB store information about properties, users, and transactions. To facilitate seamless data exchange between the front-end and back-end, APIs are developed using REST or GraphQL. Tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud services like AWS and Google Cloud help scale the system effectively.
Testing
Testing occurs throughout the development process but becomes especially crucial after completion. The QA team thoroughly inspects the website and app for bugs, performance issues, and user experience challenges. They test every feature, from the contact form to the property search functionality. Testing is performed on various devices and browsers to ensure the product functions correctly under all conditions. The primary goal of this phase is to deliver a stable and launch-ready website and, if required, a mobile application.
Launch and technical support
The development of a real estate website doesn’t end with its launch. Continuous support is provided to address technical issues and implement updates or modifications as needed. New features can be added, content refreshed, and additional services integrated.
Implementing a CRM system is essential if the website expects a high volume of daily customer inquiries. CRM systems ensure timely processing of requests while reducing errors caused by oversight. Moreover, connecting a CRM simplifies database management—registered clients are added automatically, eliminating the need for manual data entry. For instance, in the Eden Realty project, we integrated a script that automatically updates site content based on changes in the CRM system.
Additionally, developers monitor website and app security, ensuring stability and smooth operation. Companies like Codeska offer a free technical support period, giving clients time to adapt to their new product with peace of mind.
Preparing the website for promotion
The real estate sector is highly competitive, with large players dominating top search results thanks to significant marketing budgets. To outrank competitors and attract traffic, a well-planned SEO strategy is crucial. This strategy must consider the company’s market position and business goals.
An important technical element for SEO is the robots.txt file, which is designed for search engines. It includes hosting details and the sitemap, guiding search engines to index the site effectively.
Choosing the right CMS (Content Management System) during development is equally important. The CMS should allow for easy content additions and edits in the future. With these foundations in place, filling the site with content takes just a few days, enabling search engines to start indexing it immediately. This paves the way for acquiring the first clients soon after launch.
For example, projects like M.O.V.A. Real Estate and Dwa Akademica (another project in Odesa) were built on WordPress, a CMS renowned for its versatility. With plugins like Yoast SEO, WordPress enhances site optimization for search engines, increasing visibility in Google. This is particularly important for real estate projects, helping potential clients find you online. Furthermore, WordPress facilitates seamless integration with CRM systems, email marketing tools, and analytics services for efficient client base management.
Real estate trends to keep in mind in 2025
Over 70% of buyers search for properties, compare prices, and view photos online, and this trend will continue to grow in 2025. At the same time, the digital development of the real estate market is accelerating, so a competitive real estate website requires consideration of not only basic features but also global technological and behavioral changes.
Let’s take a look at the key trends to remember if you’re planning to create or upgrade a real estate website. Focusing on these aspects will help make your platform successful, attractive, and technologically advanced.
Personalized user experience with AI integration
Advanced filters for property type, budget, location, and additional amenities provide accurate results and keep users engaged longer. Artificial intelligence enhances this process by analyzing users’ previous searches and offering personalized recommendations. Integration with other applications, such as map services, financial platforms, or CRM systems, delivers even more relevant information — from property value forecasts to real-time mortgage calculations.
Additional verification of participants and listings with AI tools
The growing popularity of online platforms for property sales, rentals, and investments highlights the need for transparent and reliable processes to verify participant integrity. Verification prevents issues such as stolen photos, fake documents, or false property information.
Artificial intelligence automates this process by:
Analyzing documents with OCR (optical character recognition) to confirm authenticity.
Using machine learning to detect suspicious activities like duplicate accounts or fake profiles.
Predicting risks based on user behavior data.
Integration with databases from banks, government registries, and verification services accelerates the process and reduces costs. This approach enhances transparency and ensures a safer real estate market for all participants.
Property viewing with virtual and augmented reality
This trend is becoming increasingly popular, allowing potential buyers and renters to interact with properties without leaving their homes. Virtual reality (VR) enables users to take full virtual tours, exploring rooms and layouts. Users can "move" through the space and assess it at real scale, significantly simplifying the decision-making process for buying or renting.
Augmented reality (AR) overlays virtual elements onto the real world. For instance, using a smartphone or tablet, users can see how furniture or décor would look in a chosen space, helping them visualize the final result before it becomes a reality.
Search and display of real estate on an interactive map
The development of real estate maps allows users to easily navigate the location of properties of interest, view nearby options, and find active listings in real time. An example is the Ukrainian service LUN, which has implemented an interactive 3D map, significantly enhancing the user experience.
Advantages of integrating an interactive map:
Geolocation-based search — users can select properties within a specified radius of key points such as metro stations, schools, shopping centers, or parks. This helps focus on properties with the most convenient locations.
Location visualization — an interactive map instantly shows where properties matching the given criteria are located. This simplifies the process of comparing options in different neighborhoods.
Integration with other services — combining with mapping services like Google Maps or OpenStreetMap adds extra features, such as viewing routes, traffic conditions, travel times, and public transport availability.
Integration with financial services
By 2025, one of the main trends in the real estate market will be the integration with financial services to streamline the buying and renting process. Users will be able to access financial tools directly through the platform, reducing transaction time and complexity. Integration with financial platforms enables automatic mortgage payment calculations, allowing users to quickly assess their financial capabilities. Additionally, partnerships with property appraisal platforms provide accurate property valuation and income predictions for investments or rentals, which is particularly important for buyers and investors.
How much does it cost to develop a real estate website or app?
The cost of developing a real estate website or mobile app can vary significantly depending on several factors, such as the business size, functional requirements, design complexity, and level of integrations. Therefore, it is impossible to determine an exact price without a detailed analysis of needs and workload.
Key factors influencing development cost:
Type of platform — aggregator, specialized portal, developer's site, or other.
Functionality: Advanced search filters, CRM integrations, extra services like 3D tours or chat features.
Design and UX/UI — custom high-detail design or template-based solutions.
Location of developers — Development service rates vary significantly based on the team's geographical location.
Development time — project completion speed, additional resources for testing, and ongoing support.
Below is an approximate pricing table for various development stages based on the country of the development team:
Advantages of working with the Codeska team
Codeska is a software development company with a proven track record of successfully delivering over 50 projects. Our team collaborates with ambitious startups, well-known enterprises, and private clients, providing a full development cycle — from the initial concept to the launch and ongoing support of websites and apps.