Updated Jan 16, 2026

How To Create a Real Estate App for Android and iOS?

Table of Contents

Creating a real estate app for both Android and iOS is simpler than you might think, especially with tools like Adalo. Here's the key takeaway: You can design and launch a single app that works on both platforms without needing to rebuild for each. This saves time and effort while ensuring you reach the widest audience possible.

Why Build a Real Estate App?

93% of homebuyers in the US use online tools, and 51% start their search on mobile apps.
Mobile apps drive 52% higher engagement rates than websites.
With nearly 300 million smartphone users in the US, supporting both iOS and Android is essential.

Key Features Your App Needs:

Property Listings: Include price, address, square footage, images, and status.
Search & Filters: Let users narrow properties by location, price, and more.
Interactive Maps: Help users visualize property locations and neighborhoods.
User Profiles: Save favorites, browsing history, and preferences.
Contact Forms: Connect buyers with agents easily.

Why Use Adalo?

Adalo

Adalo lets you build apps without coding. Its drag-and-drop interface and pre-built templates simplify the process:

Create one app and publish it on both iOS and Android.
Use features like image carousels, map integrations, and search filters.
Reduce development time from months to weeks.

Steps to Build Your App:

Plan Core Features: Start with property listings, filters, maps, and user accounts.
Design with Usability in Mind: Focus on mobile-first layouts and clear navigation.
Set Up a Database: Organize properties, users, and agents with Adalo’s database tools.
Test and Optimize: Use beta testing to ensure smooth performance.
Publish: Submit your app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

By leveraging platforms like Adalo, you can create a professional real estate app that connects buyers, sellers, and agents - all without writing a single line of code.

Real Estate App Market Statistics and User Behavior Data

Choosing Core Features for Your Real Estate App

To create a smooth and intuitive experience on both Android and iOS, your real estate app needs to include features that users expect when searching for properties. At the heart of the app are property listings. Each listing should include essential details like the address, price (e.g., $450,000), square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, an image gallery, and the property’s status (e.g., for sale, pending, sold). Additionally, users rely on search and filter tools to narrow down properties based on location, price range, property type, and specific preferences - like "3+ bedrooms under $500,000."

Interactive maps are another must-have. They allow users to browse properties by location, visualize neighborhoods, and assess proximity to schools, workplaces, or other key areas. Features like radius searches add even more value. Personalized user profiles and login options enhance the experience by enabling users to save favorite properties, review their browsing history, and receive alerts for new listings that match their preferences. Finally, contact forms or inquiry systems are critical for connecting potential buyers with agents, turning casual browsing into actionable leads.

Features Your App Should Include

Feature	Purpose	Why It Matters
Property Listings	Display addresses, prices, specs, images, and status	Core marketplace function; 97% of homebuyers start here
Search & Filters	Narrow by price, beds/baths, location, and type	Reduces search time by 50%; essential for high-volume data
Map Integration	Show property locations with interactive markers	Critical for location-based decisions; widely cited as a must-have
User Profiles & Login	Save favorites, browsing history, and preferences	Increases repeat visits by 35%
Contact Forms	Connect buyers with agents/sellers	Facilitates lead generation and conversions
Image Galleries	Display multiple photos with carousel navigation	Primary driver of buyer interest

Picking Features for Your First Version

When developing your app’s first version, focus on the core features that will meet most user needs. Start with property listings, basic search filters, map integration, user login, contact forms, a favorites list, and a simple dashboard. This Minimum Viable Product (MVP) can address about 90% of user expectations and can be quickly launched using tools like Adalo’s pre-built templates.

To ensure your MVP is effective, prioritize solving the most common user challenges, such as property discovery. Adalo’s templates support key components like image sliders and filters, which can save significant development time. Before building, survey at least 50 potential users to validate your feature choices. Once the MVP is live, use analytics to track which features are most engaging. From there, you can expand your app by adding advanced options like push notifications, virtual tours, or payment processing through Stripe for USD transactions. Experts also recommend testing the app with 100 beta users on both Android and iOS to confirm it can handle large-scale data - like 10,000+ property listings - without performance issues.

Designing Your Real Estate App

Creating a real estate app that feels professional and user-friendly requires careful attention to design. It should look polished and work effortlessly on both Android and iOS devices. Start with mobile-first layouts - design for smaller screens first, then scale up for tablets and desktops. Establish a visual hierarchy by emphasizing key details like property prices (e.g., $450,000) with bold, large text, and use clear headings like "Property Details" or "About This Property." Opt for a color palette that builds trust - shades of blue or green work well - and pair it with modern, easy-to-read fonts like Inter or Roboto.

Adalo’s drag-and-drop building canvas simplifies the process of arranging elements like buttons, images, and forms without needing to write a single line of code. You can tweak colors, layouts, and styles using the editing dashboard on the left-hand side. For a head start, Adalo offers a Real Estate Agent App Template with pre-made screens for property listings, details, and inquiry forms. This saves you time while ensuring your app has a polished foundation. Use the green "Preview App" button to test how your design looks on different devices, such as an iPhone 15 or Samsung Galaxy S20. This ensures your app adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes and aspect ratios. Below, we’ll dive into tips for designing intuitive screens and keeping your app consistent across platforms.

How to Design User-Friendly Screens

Designing screens that are easy to navigate starts with focusing on usability. For property browsing screens, consider grid layouts or scrolling cards with prominent images. This format allows users to quickly scan multiple listings without excessive scrolling. Each property card should include a thumbnail image, the address, price (e.g., $450,000), square footage (in imperial units), and key details like "3 beds, 2 baths." At the top of the home screen, include a prominent search bar with a placeholder like "Enter city, neighborhood, or address" to guide users as they start their search.

On property detail screens, showcase a large hero image at the top, followed by an image carousel with swipeable dots for browsing additional photos. Highlight essential details - price, square footage, and bedroom/bathroom count - clearly near the top of the screen. Add a sticky action bar at the bottom with key buttons like "Save to Favorites" or "Contact Agent", ensuring they stay accessible as users scroll. To enhance usability on mobile, make sure all tappable elements are at least 44x44 pixels.

For inquiry submission screens, keep the form simple and straightforward. Include fields for name, email, phone number (formatted for the US: +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX), and a message, along with an auto-filled property reference. Adalo’s form components with real-time validation make this process smooth. Add a large "Submit Inquiry" button in a contrasting color, such as green, to draw attention. You can also include optional fields for preferred contact times using AM/PM format to align with US conventions. Place the form on a clean background, with a property image as a header, to maintain context while users complete their inquiry.

Keeping Your Design Consistent Across Platforms

Consistency is key when designing for both Android and iOS. Adalo’s centralized branding tool helps you set your primary and secondary colors, along with font choices, right at the start. This ensures that every new element you add matches your app’s overall style. With Adalo’s "Build Once, Publish Anywhere" feature, you can create a single design that works across both operating systems without extra effort.

Use Adalo’s device preview toggle to see how your app looks on different platforms. This allows you to fine-tune padding, margins, and element placement to account for platform-specific differences. For example, Android often uses edge-to-edge layouts, while iOS incorporates safe areas for notches and home indicators. Aim for consistent spacing (16px padding is a good standard), uniform button heights (48dp for Android, 44pt for iOS), and rounded corners (8-12px) on interactive elements to ensure a cohesive design.

For maps displaying property locations, Adalo integrates with the Google Maps Styling Wizard, allowing you to customize the map’s appearance to match your app’s design. This ensures the map blends seamlessly with the rest of your interface. Use conditional visibility rules to tailor the user experience - for example, show a "Remove from Favorites" button only if a property is already saved, or hide "Add Listing" options for buyers. Group related elements in Adalo’s canvas to maintain their relative positioning across different screen sizes, ensuring your layout stays intact no matter the device.

Setting Up Your App's Database

A well-structured database is the heart of your real estate app. Adalo uses Collections to organize information, functioning like individual spreadsheets for different categories such as properties, users, agents, and inquiries. Each collection contains specific data fields (like price or address) and their corresponding records (e.g., a house at 123 Main Street priced at $450,000). The best part? Adalo's database system is pre-built yet customizable, so you don’t have to start from scratch.

To access your database, click the "Database" button in the left-hand menu of Adalo's building canvas. This opens a spreadsheet-like interface where you can manage your collections and properties. For a real estate app, you'll need at least four main collections: Users (buyer and renter profiles), Properties (listing details), Agents (contact info and bios), and Inquiries (messages between users and agents). Adalo’s Real Estate Agent App Template already includes starter collections for properties and users, giving you a head start while laying down a solid framework for your app.

How to Organize Your Data

Start by setting up the Properties collection to house all your listing details. Key fields should include:

Title (Text)
Price (Number, formatted as $199,900 with comma separators)
Address (Text or Location)
Square Footage (Number, shown in imperial units like 2,500 sq ft)
Bedrooms and Bathrooms (Number)
Description (Text)
Images (Image List for multiple photos)
Availability Date (Date, formatted as MM/DD/YYYY)

Make sure the first field in your collection is unique, such as "Address" or "Property ID", as Adalo uses this as the primary label for each record.

Next, create Relationships between collections to keep your data streamlined and avoid duplication. For example, set up a One-to-Many relationship between Properties and Agents, and link Inquiries to both Users and Properties. Be sure to rename these relationships clearly (e.g., "Listing Agent" or "Related Property"). To set this up, click the three vertical dots next to a collection name, choose "Add Property", select "Relationship", and pick the collection you want to link.

For the Users collection, Adalo includes default fields like Email, Password, and Full Name. You can add custom fields such as:

Profile Photo (Image)
Phone Number (Text, formatted as +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX)
User Type (Text, to distinguish buyers from agents)

The Agents collection should include fields like Name (Text), Bio (Text), Agency Name (Text), License Number (Text), and a relationship to the Properties collection. To keep your app running smoothly, limit each collection to 10-20 essential fields.

Connecting Data to Your App Screens

Once your collections are ready, the next step is linking this data to your app's screens. For example, to display a list of properties on the home screen, select the screen in Adalo's canvas, add a List component from the menu, and set its data source to the Properties collection in the properties panel (e.g., "This screen > List > Data Source > Properties"). Customize the list items to show dynamic text like {Price} (formatted with the $ symbol) or {Images} for property photos. You can also add filters (e.g., "Status is Available") and sorting options (e.g., "Price: Low to High") to help users navigate listings more easily.

For individual property details, link a list item to a detail screen with the data source set to "Screen > Property." This ensures the specific record data is passed to the new screen, where you can display fields like the full description, an image carousel, and agent contact info. Adalo’s "Magic Text" feature makes this simple - just click on a text element, select "Magic Text", and choose the property field you want to display. Use the green "Preview App" button regularly to confirm everything displays correctly across devices. This step helps ensure your app functions smoothly on both Android and iOS platforms.

Next, dive into integrating these database elements with your app's core features.

Adding Key Features to Your App

Now that your database is connected to your screens, it’s time to build the features that make your real estate app practical and engaging. Core functions like search and filtering, interactive maps, and user accounts transform a basic property list into a versatile tool for buyers, renters, and agents. Using Adalo, you can easily integrate these features and launch apps for both Android and iOS.

Start by adding a Search Input component to your home screen. Drag it from the component menu and connect it to your Properties collection. In the properties panel, set it to search across fields such as Street Address, City, or Neighborhood. This allows users to quickly locate relevant listings.

For more advanced filtering, create a dedicated filter screen with a Form component. Include fields that match common search criteria: use Sliders for price ranges (e.g., $100,000 to $500,000) and square footage (e.g., 1,000 to 3,500 sq ft), Dropdowns for property types (e.g., Condo, Townhouse, Single-Family Home), and Steppers for bedrooms and bathrooms. When users submit the form, save their preferences to a Filter Settings collection linked to their user profile. On the property list screen, apply filters that reference these saved settings to dynamically update the displayed listings based on user selections.

Filter Criteria	Recommended Component	Data Type
Location/Address	Search Input / Location Input	Text / Location
Price Range	Slider	Number
Property Type	Dropdown	Text
Bedrooms/Bathrooms	Stepper	Number
Square Footage	Slider	Number
Property Status	Dropdown	Text (e.g., For Sale, Pending)

With 97% of homebuyers using online tools during their property search, offering intuitive and powerful search options is key to keeping users engaged. Once search and filtering are in place, the next step is integrating interactive maps.

Adding Maps to Show Property Locations

Interactive maps are essential for helping users visualize property locations and explore neighborhoods. To integrate maps, start by obtaining a Google Maps API Key from the Google Cloud Console. Google provides a $200 monthly free credit for its Maps Platform APIs.

In your Properties collection, ensure there’s a Location property type that stores latitude and longitude for each listing. Then, drag the Maps component from the Adalo Marketplace onto your screen and paste your Google API key into the settings. Configure the map to display "Multiple Markers" and connect these markers to your Properties collection. Use Magic Text to bind each marker’s address to the Location field.

Add a click action so users can open a property’s detail screen directly from the map. You can customize the map’s appearance by choosing from Roadmap, Satellite, Hybrid, or Terrain views, or by using custom JSON styling from the Google Maps Styling Wizard. To manage API costs, store and use coordinates (latitude/longitude) instead of re-geocoding addresses every time the map loads. Additionally, include a button for turn-by-turn navigation that links to external apps like Google Maps or Apple Maps using the property’s coordinates.

After setting up maps, focus on creating secure user accounts to enhance personalization and ensure data protection.

With the app’s data and design ready, enabling user accounts adds a layer of personalization and security. User accounts let people save their favorite properties, manage their profiles, and - for agents - upload and manage listings. Adalo provides pre-built sign-up and login screens that you can customize with your branding and required data fields (e.g., name, email, password).

To tailor the experience further, set up user roles. Add a "User Type" field in your Users collection with options like "Buyer", "Seller", and "Agent." Use conditional visibility to show or hide features based on the logged-in user’s role. For example, only Agents or Sellers should see an "Add Listing" button, while Buyers should have options to save favorites and contact agents. This approach, known as Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), ensures users only access features relevant to their role.

Once logged in, users can access a personalized dashboard. Buyers can view saved properties, track inquiries, and update their profiles. Agents might see their active listings and recent messages from potential buyers.

To enhance security, include a "Request Location Permissions" action after login to enable "near me" searches. You can also set up automated notifications, like welcome emails or alerts for logins from new devices, to keep the experience smooth and secure. With these features, your app becomes a comprehensive and user-friendly platform for browsing, saving, and managing real estate listings.

Testing, Improving, and Publishing Your App

Once your real estate app's core features are ready, it's time to focus on testing, fine-tuning its performance, and preparing it for submission to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. These steps ensure your app runs smoothly and meets store requirements, paving the way for a great user experience.

Testing on Android and iOS Devices

Start by using Adalo's preview feature, located in the building interface's horizontal ribbon. This tool lets you simulate how your app will look and function on popular devices, helping you confirm that property listings, search filters, and maps appear correctly across various screen sizes before creating a build.

Next, recruit a small group of 5–10 beta testers to try out the app on actual devices. This hands-on testing will reveal platform-specific differences, like iOS's gesture navigation versus Android's back button, which can impact how users navigate between property details and search results. Populate your database with 50–100 property listings and 10–15 user accounts to identify performance bottlenecks. Test edge cases, such as properties with zero bedrooms (for land listings), extremely high or low prices, and lengthy descriptions, to ensure the app handles unusual scenarios effectively.

For iOS, use TestFlight to distribute your app to up to 10,000 testers, allowing for extensive beta testing before submission. For Android, generate a build using Adalo's Publish settings and share it with testers through the Google Play Console. Adalo's Version History feature makes it easy to track and implement updates based on tester feedback. These steps are essential for identifying and addressing any bugs or performance issues.

Making Your App Run Faster

Optimizing your app's performance is crucial - Apple, for instance, requires apps to run smoothly without crashing, freezing, or excessively draining battery life. Poor performance could lead to rejection during the review process.

To improve speed, compress property images to under 200KB at 800×600 pixels, ideally in the WebP format, before uploading. Limit the initial data load to 50 records and use lazy loading for map displays to reduce strain on the app. Additionally, minimize custom actions on screens to cut down on backend calls, which can boost load times by 40–60%. Always test these optimizations on real devices to ensure quick responses for features like carousels, map markers, and logins.

Submitting Your App to the App Stores

Once your app is thoroughly tested and optimized, you're ready to publish it. Submitting your app to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store is the final step to making it available to users. Keep in mind that Google Play requires a one-time $25 developer fee, while the Apple App Store charges $99 annually. Both platforms require native builds, which you can generate directly through Adalo's Publish function.

For Google Play, create a store listing in the Google Play Console. Include your app's name, a detailed description, and creative assets that meet the required file and format standards. Don’t forget to upload your privacy policy URL, especially if your app collects user data or requires location permissions. The review process typically takes 2–7 days.

For the Apple App Store, configure your app settings in Adalo's builder. This includes setting a Bundle ID (no spaces) and a Display Name (up to 30 characters). Clearly explain why your app requests permissions (e.g., for camera, photos, or location access). You'll also need to create a Distribution Provisioning Profile and upload your app archive. Most apps are reviewed within 48 hours. Apple also offers a Phased Release option, allowing you to roll out your app gradually over seven days. This gives you time to monitor its performance and address any issues that arise.

Store Requirement	Apple App Store	Google Play Store
Registration Fee	$99/year	$25 one-time
App Icon Size	1024×1024px	512×512px
Review Duration	~48 hours	2–7 days
Privacy Policy	Required	Required
Screenshot Minimum	Varies by device	3 for phones + 2 for tablets

Before submitting, optimize your app's name and description with relevant keywords like "real estate listings" to improve its discoverability through App Store Optimization. Ensure your app displays prices in USD, uses square feet for measurements, and follows US English spelling conventions. If your app is rejected, review the feedback, make the necessary adjustments, and resubmit as quickly as possible.

Conclusion

Creating a real estate app for both Android and iOS has never been easier, thanks to platforms like Adalo. Without needing to write a single line of code, you can quickly develop an app that seamlessly connects buyers, sellers, and agents across all devices.

Adalo’s platform allows you to design once and publish everywhere. You can build your app a single time and launch it on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and even the web simultaneously. This not only saves time but also ensures consistent branding and functionality across platforms.

With its drag-and-drop interface, prebuilt templates tailored for real estate, and integrated database, Adalo removes the technical hurdles that often complicate app development. From customizable property listings with image carousels to map-based searches and user authentication, the platform provides ready-to-use features that can be tailored to your specific needs. This makes it easy to deliver a polished app to a wide audience.

By unifying design and functionality for Android and iOS, Adalo helps you reach more users without extra effort or cost. Updates are applied across all platforms at once, ensuring that every user enjoys the same experience - whether they’re browsing properties on an iPhone or an Android tablet. Given that 97% of homebuyers rely on online tools during their search, this cross-platform solution offers a simple way to maximize your reach and impact.

Start with Adalo’s real estate template, make it your own, test it with real users, and publish it on both app stores - all without touching a single line of code.

FAQs

What makes Adalo a great choice for building a real estate app?

Adalo is a fantastic option for building a real estate app, especially if you don’t have any coding experience. Its drag-and-drop interface makes designing and customizing your app straightforward, helping you save both time and money compared to traditional development methods.

The platform comes with all the must-have features for a real estate app: property listings, image galleries, search filters, map integration, user profiles, and push notifications. Each feature is fully customizable, so you can tailor the app to meet your specific needs. You can even connect external data sources like MLS feeds or add third-party APIs to expand your app’s capabilities. Another bonus? Adalo makes it easy to publish your app on both iOS and Android platforms without needing to manage separate codebases. It’s a simple, efficient way to bring your real estate app idea to life.

How do I make sure my real estate app works smoothly on both Android and iOS?

To make sure your real estate app runs smoothly on both Android and iOS, focus on a few critical areas:

Streamline your data loading: Design your app to fetch only the data users need at any given time. Use techniques like pagination or filtered collections to avoid loading massive datasets, keeping everything fast and responsive.
Optimize property images: Stick to resolutions like 1080 × 720 px for property images to strike a good balance between quality and load speed. Implement image compression to load thumbnails quickly, with full-size images appearing only when necessary.
Enhance map performance: Set up the map component using the correct Google API key and enable only the essential APIs, such as Maps JavaScript, Geocoding, and Places. This minimizes unnecessary network requests and ensures faster map loading.
Test on real devices: Regularly test your app on both Android and iOS devices to evaluate performance, responsiveness, and battery consumption. Address any platform-specific issues as they arise during development.

By fine-tuning data handling, image settings, and map functionality, and conducting thorough testing, you can ensure a seamless and user-friendly experience across both platforms.

What key features should a real estate app have for a successful launch?

To launch a successful real estate app, it’s essential to include features that meet the needs of buyers, sellers, and agents. Start by offering a smooth user onboarding experience and customizable user profiles. These profiles should allow users to manage their listings, save searches, and set preferences with ease.

Your app should also showcase detailed property listings that include high-quality photos, video tours, and important details like price, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and lot size. A powerful search function is a must, with filters for price, location, property type, and amenities. Pair this with map integration to give users a geographic view of properties and directions to them.

Features like the ability to save favorites, create saved searches, and receive push notifications for updates will keep users engaged. Additionally, an easy-to-use contact system for inquiries ensures seamless communication. On the backend, include analytics and an admin dashboard to track performance and refine features over time. These elements will help you deliver a user-friendly app tailored to the real estate market.

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