Today, most home buyers around 80% start their property search online. But even with so many platforms available, users still face common issues like old listings, unclear information, and complicated buying steps. That’s why real estate apps like Magicbricks app are gaining popularity. They offer an easier, smarter way to buy, sell, or rent properties all from a mobile phone.

Thanks to features like virtual property tours, AI-based recommendations, and hassle free transactions, Magicbricks has become a trusted name in real estate. Seeing this success, many real estate agents and startups are now interested in building similar apps. If you’re thinking about doing the same, one big question is how much will it cost? Depending on features and design, the cost can range from $30,000 to $150,000 or even more. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the costs, key features, and essential tips to plan your real estate app development effectively.

Magicbricks – What It Is & How It Works

Magicbricks is a leading real estate app that brings together property buyers, sellers, and agents on a single platform. It offers powerful features like property listings, virtual tours, price comparison, mortgage calculators, and smart AI suggestions. With these tools, users can easily search for properties, check prices, contact sellers, and even schedule site visits all through their mobile phones.

As more people turn to smartphones for property searches, the on-demand for apps like Magicbricks keeps growing. If you want to stay ahead in the real estate market, working with an expert real estate app development company can help you build a feature rich app that meets your business goals and user needs.

Why Build a Real Estate App Like Magicbricks?

Investing in a Magicbricks Style App: What You Need to Know

Investing in a real estate app like Magicbricks can open up many business opportunities. Here’s why it’s a smart move.

1. Growing User Demand – As more people search for properties online, launching an app can help you attract a larger audience and stay relevant in a digital first market.

2. Strong Revenue Opportunities – You can earn through multiple sources like featured listings, in app ads, and service commissions, making the app a great income stream.

3. Smart AI Features – By using AI, you can provide users with better property suggestions, price trends, and market insights helping them make informed decisions.

4. Easier Experience for Users – An app like Magicbricks simplifies the property buying, selling, or renting process, making it more convenient for your users compared to traditional methods.

Must-Have Features for a Real Estate App Like Magicbricks

If you’re planning to build a real estate app like Magicbricks app, you’re already heading in the right direction. People today want fast, easy, and smart ways to find a home and apps like Magicbricks make that possible. To build a successful app, you need to add helpful features that make the property search process simple for users. Below are the top features your app must have and how each one can help your business grow.

1. Easy Property Search with Smart Filters

Your app should allow users to search for homes using filters such as:

• City or area
• Budget
• Property type (flat, house, plot, PG, etc.)
• Number of bedrooms
• Amenities like parking, lift, gym, and more

You can also use AI to show suggestions based on what users like or searched for earlier.

Why it’s important:
Users don’t want to waste time. These filters help them quickly find what fits their needs. Smart search features also increase the chances that users will stay longer on your app.

2. Virtual Property Tours (360° View)

Add 360-degree tours and video walkthroughs so users can look inside a property from their phone or computer. This works well for.

• Long-distance buyers
• Busy users with no time for physical visits
• First time home buyers who want to shortlist homes

Why it’s important:
People love seeing homes before visiting. This feature saves time, builds trust, and helps users shortlist properties faster.

3. Property Price Trends and Location Insights

Your app can show:

• Price history of a property
• Average property price in an area
• Nearby schools, hospitals, and stores
• Safe and growing areas for investment

With AI, you can even show predictions about how property prices may change.

Why it’s important:
Buyers want to make smart choices. When you give them real data and insights, they feel confident and are more likely to use your app again.

4. Chat and Call Options with Sellers or Agents

Your app should allow direct in-app chat or call options to,

• Contact sellers or property owners
• Speak with agents to clear doubts
• Schedule property visits instantly

Why it’s important:
No one likes delays. Quick contact builds trust, clears confusion, and makes users take faster decisions.

5. Personal Property Suggestions with AI & ML

AI and Machine Learning can help you.

• Understand what a user wants based on their behavior
• Show matching properties
• Recommend similar listings they may like

Why it’s important:
Users feel like the app understands them. It makes the search easier and more personal, increasing app satisfaction and loyalty.

6. Home Loan Assistance and EMI Calculator

Add tools that:

• Help users compare loans from different banks
• Show EMI based on interest, amount, and loan years
• Provide tips on loan approval or documents needed

Why it’s important:
Most buyers depend on loans. Helping them plan their finances makes your app more useful and trustworthy.

7. Real Estate News, Tips & Legal Help

Create a section with:

• Daily or weekly real estate news
• Articles on how to invest smartly
• Legal advice and guides for property documents

Why it’s important:
The more information your app provides, the more valuable it becomes to users. It also makes you a trusted source, not just a property listing app.

8. Verified Rental & PG Listings

Many users look for safe and verified rental homes or PGs. Your app can.

• List background verified owners
• Allow tenants to upload ID for safety
• Show only trusted properties

Why it’s important:
People want safety and reliability. Verified listings help avoid scams and build a strong reputation for your app.

9. 24/7 AI Chatbot Support

Your app should have a chatbot that.

• Answers common questions
• Helps users find listings
• Guides them through the process
• Provides support when agents are offline

Why it’s important:
Some users may not know how to use the app or who to contact for help. A friendly chat bot makes the app easier to use and helps with fast support.

10. AR (Augmented Reality) for Better Property View

Use AR to let users:

• View how furniture will look in the space
• See property interiors virtually in real size
• Get a better feel of the room size and layout

Why it’s important:
AR adds a wow factor. It makes the property experience more real, fun, and engaging  something buyers will love to use.

11. Saved Properties & Wishlist

Allow users to save homes they like into a personal list so they can.

• Compare later
• Share with family or friends
• Keep track of favorites

Why it’s important:
Sometimes users aren’t ready to decide right away. This helps them come back and continue from where they left off.

12. Push Notifications for Updates

Notify users when:

• New properties match their search
• Prices drop on saved listings
• Agents respond to their messages

Why it’s important:
It engages users and encourages them to return to your app. More visits mean more chances of conversion.

Key Factors Affecting the Cost of Developing Apps Like Magicbricks

1. Features and Functionalities

The biggest factor that affects development cost is the range of features you want in your app. A basic real estate app will cost much less than a feature rich one with AI, chatbots, and AR.

Basic features include:

• Property listing
• Search filters
• Property details
• Contact options

Advanced features include:

• AI-powered recommendations
• Virtual property tours (360° view)
• Augmented Reality (AR) for interior visualization
• Chat and call integration
• EMI calculator and loan comparison
• AI chatbots for support

Advanced app features demand more time, effort, and increased development costs.

2. Design and User Experience (UI/UX)

A well designed app doesn’t just look good, it keeps users engaged and makes navigation easy. The cost of UI/UX design depends on.

• Custom visuals and animations
• Personalized user flows
• Responsive layouts for different devices
• User testing and iteration

A clean and simple design will cost less, while a visually rich and interactive design will increase your overall development budget. Good design is essential to attract users and keep them engaged.

3. Platform Choice: Android, iOS, or Both

The cost also depends on whether you are building the app for.

• Android
• iOS
• Both (Cross-platform)

Building for a single platform is less expensive, but limits your audience. If you want to reach more users, you’ll need to build a cross-platform or native app for both platforms, which increases development time and cost.

Tip: Start with one platform if your budget is limited, then expand later based on user demand.

4. Backend Infrastructure and Database

Apps like Magicbricks need a strong backend to handle:

• User accounts and authentication
• Property listings with images and videos
• Real time updates and data syncing
• Search history and saved properties

This requires setting up:

• Cloud servers (like AWS, Google Cloud)
• Secure databases
• Admin dashboard for content management

A complex backend means more time, security checks, and higher development cost.

5. Integration of Third-Party Services

To make your app work better, you’ll often need to integrate third party tools and services, such as:

• Google Maps (for location based property search)
• Payment gateways (for premium listings or subscriptions)
• Chat APIs (like Firebase)
• Analytics tools (like Mixpanel or Google Analytics)
• CRM or email services (for customer engagement)

These integrations often come with additional licensing fees or usage based costs, which add to your overall budget.

6. Use of Emerging Technologies

Magicbricks and similar platforms are using AI, ML, AR, and VR to enhance user experience.

• AI & ML: Used for smart property recommendations based on user behavior.
• AR & VR: Allow users to view properties virtually, reducing the need for site visits.
• Chatbots: Help with 24/7 customer support and property search guidance.

Adding these technologies improves your app’s quality but also increases the cost significantly due to the need for advanced developers and longer development time.

7. Location and Size of the Development Team

Where your development team is based will greatly affect your costs.

Besides location, the team size also matters. A full team may include:

• Project Manager
• UI/UX Designer
• Frontend & Backend Developers
• QA Testers
• DevOps Engineer
• Business Analyst

While hiring a larger team might increase the hourly cost, it can also help speed up the project timeline.

8. App Development Time

The longer it takes to build your app, the more you’ll pay. The timeline depends on:

• App complexity
• Number of features
• Revisions and feedback cycles
• Testing and bug fixing

Estimated timelines:

You can reduce time and cost by using agile development methods, where features are built and tested in smaller phases.

9. Testing and Quality Assurance

A bug free and smooth performing app requires thorough testing. This includes:

• Functional testing
• Performance testing
• Security testing
• Usability testing
• Cross platform compatibility testing

You’ll need to test both the frontend and backend thoroughly. This process takes time and adds to the overall development cost but is crucial to avoid app crashes or poor reviews after launch.

10. Post-Launch Maintenance and Updates

Once your app is live, you’ll need ongoing support, including:

• Regular bug fixes
• New feature updates
• Platform compatibility updates
• Server maintenance and monitoring

Some developers offer maintenance packages on a monthly or yearly basis. Even if not included upfront, it’s wise to set aside 15–20% of your development budget for post launch maintenance.

11. Marketing and App Store Optimization (ASO)

Developing the app is just the first step. You’ll need to invest in marketing to reach your target users. This may include.

• App Store Optimization (keywords, screenshots, descriptions)
• Social media marketing
• Google Ads
• Influencer promotions
• Email campaigns

While this is technically outside of development, it’s a crucial cost to consider for your app’s success.

Detailed Cost Breakdown for Developing a Real Estate App Like Magicbricks

Now that you know the key factors influencing the cost of real estate app development, let’s look at the actual investment needed. On average, building a real estate app like Magicbricks can cost anywhere between $30,000 and $200,000. The final cost depends on how advanced your app is more features and complexity mean more time, effort, and resources.

Here’s a simple breakdown of cost based on app complexity:

Keep in mind, these are rough estimates. For a more accurate cost, it’s best to speak with an experienced real estate app development company. They can guide you based on your business goals, preferred tech stack, and feature list. A well planned budget will not only help you stay on track but also ensure your app meets user expectations and stands out in the competitive market.

Final Thought

Creating a real estate app like Magicbricks requires careful planning, investment, and execution. The total cost depends on factors such as features, platform selection, development team, and third party integrations. A basic app may cost around $25,000 – $50,000, while an advanced platform with AI, AR/VR, and data analytics can go beyond $2,00,000.

If you are looking for a reliable real estate app development partner, Team Tweaks, a leading mobile app development company in Chennai India, brings 12+ years of expertise in crafting high quality, user-friendly applications. Whether you need a custom built real estate app or a Magicbricks like platform, our team ensures a cost effective and scalable solution tailored to your business needs. Ready to build your own real estate app? Get in touch with Team Tweaks today.