How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Real Estate App Like Zillow?

Real estate apps have changed consumers buying, selling, and renting behavior in recent years. Apps like Zillow have evolved into a necessary tool in the real estate sector thanks to their simple interfaces, current listings, and strong search engines. One of the first questions you will probably have if you are considering developing a real estate app like Zillow is: How much would it cost?

We will address that issue in this blog article, dissecting the several elements influencing the price of creating a real estate app like Zillow. From design and features to the development team and continuous maintenance, we will give a whole picture of what you could be expected to pay for. 

What is a Real Estate App Like Zillow?

Understanding what real estate software like Zillow entails helps one better appreciate the development expenses. Providing a range of services to both buyers and sellers, the Zillow app has grown to be among the top sites in the real estate sector. 

Users of the app can arrange viewings, search for houses, investigate listings including comprehensive information, and contact real estate agents. Even if every real estate app has special capabilities, these basics are what makes sites like Zillow so popular. Considering this basis, let's investigate the several elements influencing the cost of creating a similar program.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Developing a Real Estate App

Several elements influence the cost of the development process when considering building an app similar to Zillow. Let's examine the most crucial ones closer up.

Platform Choice: iOS, Android, or Cross-Platform

The first choice you will have to make is which platform(s) you wish for your app to show on. Usually designed for both iOS and Android, real estate apps present two main choices:

• Native iOS or Android Apps: Separating apps for iOS and Android can be expensive since each calls for a different development team Android developers for Android apps, and iOS developers for iPhone apps.

• Cross-Platform Apps: Tools like React Native or Flutter let you construct one app that works on both platforms if you decide to create a cross-platform app, therefore lowering development time and expenses.

Generally speaking, a cross-platform app will cost less than creating two distinct native apps. Native apps can occasionally, however, provide improved speed and user experience.

App Complexity: Basic vs. Feature-Rich

The cost of your software is significantly influenced by its degree of complexity. For example, a basic real estate app with only a few features like property search, listings, and basic user profiles will cost much less than an app that includes advanced features like virtual tours, AI-driven property suggestions, and video streaming.

The many tiers of app complexity are broken out here:

• Basic Features: Property search, filtering, fundamental property information, map view.

• Advanced Features: Mortgage calculators, virtual tours, interactive floor plans, agent live chat, and in-app messaging.

• Premium Features: Property recommendations driven by artificial intelligence; property price prediction; integration with outside services augmented reality.

Your app will take more time and resources to develop the more complicated it is, which will increase its general cost.

Design Requirements

Regarding the design of your real estate app, its success depends much on the user experience (UX) and interface design (UI). A basic template-based design will cost far less than a custom design produced from the start.

The design needs to be aesthetically pleasing, easily navigable, and simple. Your users will expect a seamless experience when browsing listings, so investing in a great design is essential. The cost will differ greatly, though, depending on whether you choose a more customized or a basic design. 

• Template Design: Faster to develop and less expensive.

• Custom Design: Unique branding, specialized layouts, and a tailored experience, but more costly.

Backend Infrastructure

Your apps backend architecture is the server-side components of data storage, user administration, and APIs pulling property data from many sources that run it. You will need a robust backend architecture to effectively handle these demands whether you intend to use real-time updates or connect with several data feeds.

Popular possibilities for backend infrastructure are cloud hosting solutions including Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, or AWS. These services, however, also come with continuous prices depending on consumption, which will increase your long-term outlay. 

Development Team Location

The location of your development team will also affect the cost of creating your real estate app. Hiring developers will cost significantly different based on where they live.

• Developers in North America or Western Europe: Usually charge more since the expense of living and the knowledge needed for excellent app development call for higher prices.

• Developers in Eastern Europe, Asia, or South America: Usually give reasonable prices and yet produce excellent jobs.

Selecting a development team in a place with lower labor prices will assist you cut your general expenses.

Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

The expenses never end once your app is launched. Budget for upgrades, bug repairs, and continuous maintenance. This comprises:

• Bug Fixes: Regularly updating the app to fix issues or crashes.

• Security Updates: Keeping the app secure and compliant with new regulations.

• Feature Updates: Adding new features or making changes based on user feedback.

Usually, these continuous expenses will be 15 to 20 percent of the annual development budget.

Estimated Costs of Developing a Real Estate App Like Zillow

Having discussed the elements influencing cost, let us now dissect the projected price range for creating a real estate app.

Basic App Development Costs

You should budget between $30,000 and $50,000 for a basic real estate app with listings, user profiles, and property searches. This estimate comprises:

• Design and user interface

• Basic search functionality

• Simple property listings

• Map integration

Small real estate companies or anyone wishing to establish a basic platform will find this kind of app perfect.

Advanced App Development Costs

With virtual tours, live chat, and AI-driven property recommendations features of a more feature-rich app like Zillow you are looking at a development cost between $80,000 and $150,000. These more complicated applications demand major design and development efforts.

You might also have to weigh expenses for other connections including APIs for property data, video streaming services, or map data. 

Development Team Breakdown

Your choice of development team will also impact the price:

• Freelancers: If you hire individual freelancers, you might save money, but the quality and coordination can be challenging. Freelancers can cost around $25 to $100 per hour.

• Development Agency: Hiring a professional development agency ensures a high-quality product, but the cost is higher. Agencies usually charge $100 to $250 per hour.

Should you choose an in-house staff, office expenditures, salaries, and perks can cause the expenses to climb even more.

Additional Costs to Consider

• App Hosting & Server Costs: Expect to pay $100 to $500 per month depending on traffic and usage.

• Marketing & Launch Costs: Including app store fees, digital advertising, and promotional events, which can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 or more.

• Legal Fees: You may need legal consultations for privacy policies, user agreements, and data security compliance, which can cost between $1,000 to $5,000.

How to Save Money on Developing a Real Estate App?

Creating real estate software like Zillow calls for a large outlay, but there are methods to cut expenses. Starting with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), one strategy emphasizes the basic functionality and progressively adds more as the user base grows. 

Using open-source libraries and frameworks also greatly lowers neobank app development and time. Finally, creating the appropriate team is vital choosing developers with a background in real estate app development will help to guarantee effectiveness and simplify the process.

Conclusion

Creating a real estate app like Zillow calls for meticulous planning, a strong development team, and a clear awareness of the features you wish to have included. For a basic app, costs might run from $30,000; for a feature-rich platform, they might go from $150,000 or more.

Finally, keep in mind that continuous maintenance and upgrades are crucial to maintaining your software competitive in the market and functional when starting the development process. Having said that, be sure your app's performance depends on your budget including the long-term expenses as well as the upfront ones.

Should you be prepared to realize your real estate app idea, we can assist you through the development process. Whether your study is just beginning or you are ready to start development, contact our team right now to go over your project and how we might help you create the ideal solution for your company.