How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like Livein?

The real estate and rental market has rapidly embraced the power of mobile apps, with platforms like Livein making it easier for individuals to find, rent, and manage properties seamlessly from their mobile devices. An app like Livein provides users with the ability to explore listings, interact with landlords, and complete payments—all in a streamlined, user-friendly manner. However, building an app of this scale requires not just understanding the tech but also the user experience, legalities, and infrastructure involved in handling sensitive data and large-scale operations.

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A Livein-like app, focusing on real estate listings and property management, involves complex features like location-based search, secure payment gateways, communication tools, and real-time data synchronization. In the U.S., there are specific challenges tied to compliance with data protection laws (like CCPA), security requirements, and user experience expectations in real estate apps.

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In this article, we will delve into the factors that influence how much it costs to build an app like Livein, providing insights into the platform and device compatibility, essential features, design, third-party integrations, and the necessary back-end infrastructure. Understanding these factors will help businesses make informed decisions when considering the development of a custom real estate app.

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Platform and Device Compatibility

Choosing the right platform for a real estate app like Livein is crucial to its success, and this choice greatly impacts development costs.

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iOS vs. Android:

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In the U.S., iOS and Android dominate the mobile app market, with iOS appealing to a higher-income demographic and Android capturing a larger share of the overall market.

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For a Livein-like app, both platforms should be considered, as targeting both user groups increases reach and engagement. Developing for iOS and Android separately requires creating two distinct codebases (Swift for iOS and Java/Kotlin for Android), which adds to the overall cost.

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Alternatively, cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter can allow for code sharing between platforms, reducing development costs and time. However, there are trade-offs, such as limited access to native features or occasional performance issues. The U.S. market’s preference for mobile apps that work seamlessly on both platforms means that development teams need to assess the tradeoffs carefully.

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Expanding Beyond Mobile:

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If your real estate app also includes web versions or desktop functionality (for property owners, for example), you’ll need to consider the added development costs for these platforms. A responsive website or PWA (Progressive Web App) could complement the mobile experience, allowing users to manage listings or view property details on a desktop. For U.S.-based businesses, providing these platforms could increase your user base, especially among real estate professionals.

Design and User Experience (UX/UI)

The UX/UI design of a Livein-like app is essential for its success, particularly in the real estate market where users expect a seamless and intuitive interface to browse properties, manage listings, and communicate effectively.

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U.S. User Preferences:

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U.S. users tend to prefer simple, clean designs that offer quick access to essential information. In real estate apps, high-quality images, easy-to-read property descriptions, and straightforward navigation are crucial for keeping users engaged.

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For example, an interactive map for location-based searches, clear calls to action, and a well-organized layout that makes browsing properties easy can drive up user engagement. Users in the U.S. also expect features like sorting options, property previews, and easy-to-find contact information for landlords.

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Focusing on UX/UI design will likely require more time for testing, iteration, and user feedback to ensure that the app is functional and attractive. This investment will, however, lead to improved customer satisfaction and retention.

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Integrations with Third-Party Services or External Systems

Integrating third-party services is an essential part of building a real estate app like Livein. These integrations help enhance the app’s functionality and provide value-added services for users.

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• Payment Gateways: Integration with services like Stripe, PayPal, or Square for seamless, secure transactions.
• Geolocation Services: APIs like Google Maps for displaying property locations and enabling search filters by proximity.
• Identity Verification: Services like Jumio or Onfido can help verify tenant identity and ensure security when handling sensitive data.
• Property Data Feeds: If you plan to include data from multiple real estate sources, you may need to integrate APIs or partnerships with MLS (Multiple Listing Service) databases or other property listing platforms.

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Each integration comes with its own licensing costs, API fees, and development time to ensure smooth functionality and compliance with security standards, all of which contribute to the overall app development cost.

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Database & Back-End Infrastructure

A solid backend infrastructure is crucial for storing and managing property listings, user profiles, rental agreements, and payments. For a Livein-like app, this typically involves:

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• Database Management: A large, scalable database (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB) is needed to store property listings, transaction records, and user information.
• Cloud Infrastructure: Using cloud-based solutions such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure ensures scalability and fast access for U.S. users, especially during periods of high traffic. These platforms can support everything from data storage to security features.
• Real-Time Data Syncing: The app should be able to update and sync property availability, user messages, and transactions in real-time. This requires high-performance back-end systems and efficient data management practices.

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Choosing the right back-end infrastructure is a critical decision that impacts app scalability, data security, and overall performance. It’s essential to consider both short-term and long-term requirements to avoid bottlenecks as the app grows.

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Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

Ongoing maintenance is essential to keep a Livein-like app running smoothly. This includes bug fixes, security patches, and regular updates to introduce new features or comply with changing regulations.

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Security Updates:

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Given the sensitive nature of the data involved (e.g., payment details and tenant information), continuous security monitoring and regular updates are required to ensure compliance with data protection laws like CCPA or PCI-DSS for payment systems.

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Feature Updates:

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Over time, adding new features based on user feedback or market trends is important to remain competitive. This may include introducing new search filters, improving messaging capabilities, or integrating with more third-party services.

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Bug Fixes:

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As with any app, bug fixes are inevitable. These fixes must be done promptly to ensure that users do not experience disruptions when using the platform.

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Ongoing maintenance can add significant costs over time, especially as new features and security updates are introduced.

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Team Expertise and Location

Building an app like Livein requires a highly skilled team of professionals with expertise in various areas, such as custom app development, back-end engineering, security, and UX/UI design.

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• Mobile Developers: Skilled in iOS (Swift) and Android (Java/Kotlin) app development.
• Back-End Engineers: Developers who can build scalable infrastructure and manage large amounts of real-time data.
• UX/UI Designers: Designers focused on creating an intuitive and visually appealing experience for users.
• Security Experts: Professionals who ensure that all sensitive user data is protected and the app is compliant with relevant regulations.

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The cost of hiring a US-based team will vary depending on their expertise, but U.S. developers often command higher rates due to the competitive nature of the market and their familiarity with local regulations.

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Hidden Costs & Miscellaneous Factors

QA & Testing: Thorough QA and testing are essential to ensure the app’s functionality, usability, and security. This process can be time-consuming, especially if it includes stress testing for scalability and security audits.

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App Store Fees and Guidelines: Submitting the app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store comes with associated fees (e.g., $99 per year for the App Store, a one-time $25 fee for Google Play). Each store also has specific guidelines that need to be followed, particularly regarding user data privacy.

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Legal and Compliance Costs: Ensuring compliance with U.S. data protection laws (CCPA, PCI-DSS) and rental-specific regulations can incur legal costs. Regular audits and updates to privacy policies or terms of service might be necessary to stay compliant.

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What Makes This App Category Unique in Terms of Development

Developing a Livein-like real estate app presents unique challenges, such as managing large databases of listings, integrating secure payment systems, and ensuring real-time updates across the platform. The US market expects top-tier security, intuitive navigation, and seamless interactions. Additionally, compliance with local data privacy laws, secure payment gateways, and communication systems between tenants and landlords makes this category more complex than other app types.

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Want to see your app idea brought to life? 

At Scrums.com, our expert team of U.S.-focused developers can customize your project, advising you on the most efficient ways to build your app. Whether it’s a real estate app, social platform, or fintech tool, we’re here to create something exceptional. Reach out for a custom development estimate today, and let’s turn your vision into reality!